Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-07-21
HE Is Disseminated.
A HOOSIER'S OBSERVATIONS CON-
CERNING FLORIDA'S MALARIA.

but Rather MonotonOus-Much That Is
Gorgeous, Tropical and Novel to q
Northerner-Up the St Johns.
There is deal Of humbug in this Florida
business good deal more than l venture
to set forth, lest I lay myself liable for
Islander. And yet there is really good
deal in the state worth SEEING and some few
things worth owning. But the things
oftenest mentioned and most highly priced
appear to me of rather the least value The
crystal lakes and pellucid streams appear,
when You stir them up, about the color Of
tan yard ooze. The land is one third under
water, and another third just above it,
while the really dry part is piney woods
When l first looked across the St Johns l
said it was clear water, clear as Lake Michi-
gan, but that is merely an illusion, pro-
duced by the reflection of a bright sky.
Once on the river, perceive it is Of light
purple hue, and as the steamers wheels
churn it up there is no phosphorescent
sparkle, as on the lake; it boils I'D like a
weak solution of liquid manure. As to the
scenery, it is simply odd; the pretense of
grandeur is laughable. OF the really roman
tic. the whole state does not show as much
as may he seen on the Wabash between
the Delphi and Lafayette How can there
be romance or grandeur where there are no
bluffs, no hills the eye can take cognizance
of, no cataracts, and no bold rocky or sandy
shores where all the streams have barely
perceptible current along the middle OF
broad lasoons, bordered by apparently end
less wastes of dark green aquatic plants and
stagnant waters Odd and curious it is to be
sure. but rather montonouS Where's the
romance in a mud puddles
Now as to health--of course I can only
know Of winter by report, for 1 came when
settled warm weather did. have been in
the state eleven days, and have caught cold
every day in the evening, within ten
minutes after the sun went down. Natural
consequences follow l write this with a
plaster on my chest and nine grains of
quinine in me-a three grain pill before
each meal to-day. The residents COM
placently remark: ut isn't the fault of the
state-it is in you" OF course it is in ma
did not expect the state to take cold be-
cause l came into it. And, to be sure, how
can it be healthful when you can't travel
two miles in any direction without crossing
a slough in which the Shiny vegetation rots
and sours, and sours and rots, and then
grows over with a yellOw-green fungus
which conceals the worst features till late in
May, then rots and shines and shines and
rots for five months more, under a tropical
sum- Does not common sense teach that il
such district proved healthful it would
make nature liar in all the rest Of the
world.
TOLERABLY HEALTfIFUL PLACES.
And yet l doubt not there are many toll
erably healthful places in Florida If a
man will get half a mile of high pine woods
and dry white sand between him and tho
nearest slough, and not work hard in the
heat OF the day, or go out after shutdown,
and take little quinine till his system har-
monies with the environment l doubt not
he can live here many years in good health,
for l meet hundreds who have done it. And
then there are some people who enjoy the
happy faculty of the negro-of sweating out
malaria as fast as it enters them. But for
one such there are three who could not sit
outdoors, or even on an open porch, here
tor half an hour after shutdown without
feeling i'll effects Very many of those who
have enjoyed good health here for years
tell me they have to take precautions
against the night air. No matter how
how warm and dry the day may have
been, the moment the sun disappears the
suspended damp seems to descend upon the
earth in a great sheet The climate is in
deed seductive, and to the glorious nights
and balmy air Of early morning l probably
owe tine exposure which has SO affected me;
but ii a man must lie by for five hours in
the middle of the day and keep in his room
after shutdown, how is he to get the good
of the climatea l would prefer less climate
and more liberty.
And yet there is great deal to see in
Florida, and it is gorgeous tropical and
novel to northerner. Take the scene be-
fore me. The setting sun casts a red and
yellow light upon the lake merely an en-
largement of the St Johns, which stretches
nearly five miles broad from the front of
the town; all around are the curious grasses,
palms, and pines, while the cabbage palmet-
toes stand forty or fifty feet high along the
Shore bare trunks up to the circular tufts
on their tops. Above and below town
shallow bayou runs inland, thickset with
spring growth till it gradually changes to
low hammock, while toward the south the
ground rises gently for mile to a sand
ridge, now covered with continuous orange
grove-400 acres of orchard, not tree in
cured 10y the noted frost, and all thick set
with the young oranges for this years crop
STEAMED AND FERMENTED
The main streets of the town are as dry
IS an ash heap-as dry as white sand ever
gets under hot sun. But the bayous above
and below send Off shallow branches which
make wet meadow back of town, and
from there one can walk either way, fol-
lowing what little current there is, till he
finds himself again near the lake 'front.'
among matted palms and spiky grass,
where this years crop is agsressively strong
while last years crop lies rotting on the
ground Ali day that matted mass has
steamed and fermented under hot sum-
and in half an hour from this time the even
ing air will watt therefor, an invisible
which will compel many sus
ceptible man to keep indoors Talk about
such a place being healthful. but talk it
to the marines and don't preach it to your
Uncle Fuller"
The trip up the st Johns is novelty
well worth taking in. The river itself is
curiosity. its most southern head is only
ten miles or so from the Atlantic; yet from
there it runs off north some 400 miles by
course and more than 200 in direct line,
and its head is no more than ten feet higher
than It's mouth. Westward from this head
the numerous lakes which feed the stream
rise. and Lake Apopka is twenty-five feet
above sea level, while not far west and north
OF that are elevations nearly 500 feet high,
though the eye can not perceive the rise. No
matter how high a lake may be, however,
the outlet therefrom has but a sluggish cur
rent: and in this vicinity, whers many
bitches have been dug, perceive that the
current thus gained has soon
brought in light white sand sufficient TO
check the stream, and l fancy that this
tendency TO CHOKE the outlets will lie cen
slant difficulty in drainage Never theless,
the Florida Drainage company has taken
big contract, and confidently PROMISES TO
redeem some 400, 900 acres o. wet ham
mock in a few yeara -"parkes" Letter In
Chicago Times
n The Island of Redonda.
O,.~ - tho s&rapCa<t communities in fine