Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-27
THE JUPITER RIVER COUNTRY.
Land values-Jupiter River-The Inside
of-v .,s Passage.
Oar. fdt1tHW- fIa.l 50ufkei9l san.
W ~, !. -. L.. e., IA 49, Z.

There is to be found, at but short dis
lance from Jupiter Lighthouse. Ella. J
and in all directions, some excellent farm
ing land, much of 1t being south of the
river. Here a 36-acre tract, in oonnec-
tion with another of 81 acres, were sold
not very long since Tor atrihe over 81, 900.
The land is high hammock, surrounded,
it is true, by deep bayOus and marshy
land, but perfectly healthy. Another
tract of AS acres of mixed hammock, with
POO cocOanut trees on it, can be bought, or
c uld have been in September last, for
81 900; and at that price it is considered
rare bargain.
The amount OF government land in this
section is large, aud is just coming into
market. In six months hence, or less
time, the State lands, through the Coast
| Canal Company, will be open tor sale
the State giving the deed. These lands
will be disposed of, probably, at govern
ment price. Oranges can be grown in
this section with profit, but require good
wind-breaks running from northeast to
southwest. The cora.llne rock is too far
below the surface OF the earth TO cause
any serious trouble to Orange-grOwers
from die-back. MangOes and guavas have
luXuriant growth.
JUPITER RIVER
is navigable for light-draught steamers,
having an average depth of tour feet tor
eight miles back from the inlet and for
saIl-Doats twelve or fifteen. IL Is, to a
large extent, an outlet Tor the surplus
waters OF the Everglades, along a portion
of their western border. On its waters is
frequently seen the ''dug-out," aud even
the barE canoe OF the Indlaa. IL has a
scenery peculiarly its owR.
sMAl smaa~NnWR WArA nk nMQ
ii lses,,e aud nob very long ago, as often seen
aIbfg Jupiter RIVER rs in the st. Luciey
Three years ago only, Capt. Shipman and
Mr.. j. A. Armour caught one weighing
200 pounds. 1t was Ii feet, . inches in
circumference, and was over II feet in
length. Tue skin was lost through ac-
cIdent. They saw three other man
atees while on that expedition, and have
but little hesitation in saying that they
are yet quite numerous in the river.
THE INSIDE PASSAGE.
Somewhat over mile westward from
the inlet, and few hundred yards from
commencement of the 'lnside passage"
TO Lake Worth, ana is naVigable for moth
Ing but row. boats, through an intricate,
narrow, saw grass channel. When with
in about 400 yards OF the lake shore, a
solid ridge of sand intervenes; this is
known as the Lake Worth HauloVer, or
the place where boats are hauled over
land to the waters OF the lake, and vice
versa.
But very few boats of any size attempt
this shallow, difficult passage, which is
at an average distance OF mile and a
nalf back from aud parallel with the ocean
beach. 1t could be dredged out at small
expense, and thus be made available for
| transportation purposes, provided canal
was cut through the sand barrier, to which
reference has just been made. 1t will
torn IN time portion Of the line of the
Coast Canal Company.
A snort distance 10 the westward OF this
"luslde passage" are the wet prairies OF
the upper St. Johns. which run parallel to
Indian river, and at a distance from it, of
from one to three miles. Back of these
are the Everglades. This is a section OF
tne State notable for wild grapes, which
grow with great luXuriance. Bermuda
-rass thrives exceed ,ngly we'll on I'M
proved land, which sells from So to $50 per
acre, according to location.
JUPITER INLET.
This inlet, as sta ed previously, is about
a mile from the lighthouse, with tue
mouth of lndla river between them. 1t
5 about 200 yards from where the bay, IN
Jupiter river, contracts 10 narrow
SUITABLE W Tue luAGb piOBfAs anu 50 SOublh-
ICES 10 the outer sand bar. 1t is about
30 yards wide and 10 or u feet deep at the
| shailowest place. This $40 feet of con-
| Jracted channel is very crooked, being in
tue form OF the letter ), while the current
through it is both rapid and strong
rushing through with the force OF the wa
ter in d mill race, especially at a time of
falling tide. while the rising one pro-
nels the water back at nearly the same
pace.
From the boat Of the coast survey TO the
ocean. a distance OF half mile or more,
aud on the south side of Jupiter river, is
TO be seen, at the proper season, sight as
rare as any on the continent. Huge fish,
IN numbers almost innumerable, swim
close to the shore and seem. apparently,
almost fearless of man. IL is an extraOr-
binary sight 70 behold. and one that never
lacks in interest. AS he who views
the strange spectacle walks along, and
close TO the beach, the fish, particularly
the pOmpino, Often follow IN tue sbOal
margin OF the stream, close to the shore,
and at times with dOrsal fins and a pOr-
zion of the tail projecting above the water
so close, indeed as to be almost within
easy reach--thus giving evidence OF that
curiosity when tinds stronger develop
ment in superior organisms.
Among the varieties OF fish noticed were
DOmpinO, mulleI, Olue nsn, Bneep S-nead,
ew-lsn, tarpon, ceryallO, red or bass
channel, and sergeant fish. Further
back, where the water of the river was
not 50 salt, where pike, gar, catfish, suck
er. comprehend, Dream, silver fish, trout
and black bass. Outside Of the BARN
he Ocean--and not so readily seen, are
king-fsh and Spanish mackerel, along
with "A host of sharks and pOrpoises.
This brings us to the ocean beach, where
we face southwark along 1t toward Lake
Worth.
THE RELATIVE DISTANCES FROM FER
NANDINA TO KEY WEST.
Taking the entire coast into account,
and starting from Fernandina, which 10
about five miles from the northern bOu n
Diary of the State, IL is exactly 81 miles
or 80 from the mouth Of the st. Johns riv-
er-tO st. Augustine, directly opposite to
which Is the inlet 10 MatanEas river and
bay, or In otner words, the entrance TO the
river. Then, still, by outside Ocean-shOre
measurement, IL is twelve miles from that
inlet TO Matanzas inlet. AnRstacia island
is formed by these TWO inlets, Matanzas
river and the ocean.
tits 81 miles from Matanzas inlet to
Mosquito inlet, and from the latter to
Cape CanaveTal lighthouse 80. Thence,
TO Indian river bar and inlet go miles
from this TO Jupiter inlet 40 miles; thence
to Lake Worth inlet, = miles--making a
total distance Of 2S6 miles.
While we are at IL let us continue this
outside passage 20 Key West. The dis