Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-06
ANOTHER WINTER RESORT.

One of Florida's Romantic and Attrac-
tive Sections Looming up as a Pros
pective Pleasure Resort.
O'BRIEN, FLA, May 4.-ThiS place and
the surrounding country having recently
received quite favorable notice from out
side parties, as a result OF favorable
notices in the NEWS and other papers,
bids fair to become something of town.
1t having been discovered that, by reason
of its many natural advantages, such as
beautiful glens, groves, and fine
natural wells and springs, or
diminutive lakes, this part of
Suwannee county could easily be made a
pleasant 'winter RESORT for Northern
visitors, as we'll as a delightful summer
hating place. several nonresident specu-
lators and enthusiasts have taken pre-
liminary steps to bring it into notice.
Recently several sections of very desira-
bic land situated at and near this place
have passed into the hands of gentlemen
from a distance, who expect to improve
the same by laying out town lots, small
fruit farms, vegetable gardens, parks, and
by erecting desirable hotel, the object
being the building up, as rapidly as pos
sible, of a neat country town.
near one ofthe attractive lakes or ''natural
wells" as they are called, which are
numerous in this part of Florida. l have
taken the trouble to carefully investigate
a number of these lakes, and have no
doubt that a brief description of them
will prove to be interesting.
DIAGoNALLY THROUGH THIS COUNTY
runs a stream of clear pure, waterknown
as Little river, which, at point three or
four miles northeast of this place, sinks
gracefully into the ground, and from that
point and for distance of seven miles
the river proper is lost sight of entirely,
becoming in every sense subterranean
river. Along the route of the under
ground stream are to be found numerous
natural wells" These are cavities in
the rock from the surface to the river be-
low, and are of various dimensions and
shapes.
IN THESE WELLS SPARKLES THE CLEAR,
pure water, which is hard, of a pale
blush color, and as delightful to the
taste as it is pleasing to the sight. Some
of these lakes or wells have water the
year round from ten to fifteen feet in depth.
ard so transparency pure and crystal is
it that the smallest object, a nickel or
grain Of corn, dropped in is plainly seen
when it reaches the bottom. These wells
and a nice string OF trout or perch can be
caught from one of them in a very short
time. Some of these wells take the shape
and size Of a carefully constructed well,
and 90 straight down. circular in
shape to depth of thirty or
forty feet. Where found on
farms or homesteads they are used as
wells and are supplied with pump or
wndlass. Occasionally a cave on a
81 r.a1I nd ~
these underground lakes, the floors of
which are smooth and slope gradually
and gracefully to the water. Many Of
the caves are large airy rooms, and torn
quite romantic grOtt0es, which may be
made useful for cellars. Finally,
THE UNDERGROUND RIVER
bursts forth from the east several miles
southwest of this town and forms beau
tiful little lake about 100 rods in circum-
ference, and from three TO thirty feet deep.
The water is as clear and transparent as
that in the wells and ''sinks" along the
rivers subteTanean course, and is filled
with fish. 1t is surrounded by a pretty
grove Of live oak, pine, cypress and other
trees. From this lake the water gradu-
ally empties into the murky Suwannee,
and so distinctive is the lake water from
that OF the river, that the line between
the two may be easily traced by the eye.
The time is not distant when O'Brien,
with a more satisfactory name, will take
a step in the direction that will make it a
delightful health and pleasure resort.
An Incorporation election viii be held
here on MAY 80, when a full complement
of town officers will be chosen, and a cor
pOrate name and seal selected. Then we
shall demand and expect the Savannah,
Florida and Western company to make
good its promises regarding better depot
facilities, more and rightful attention to
shippers, etc. kRALC.