The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-08-20

CraVorJln0 terrace, dreaming OF n0r TO
whom they were sent, having but scant
leisure for dreaming at other times. He
thought it good to occupy a hut at this
place also as sort of spring house. In
deed he ultimately removed most Of his
apparatus here and made it the head
quarters for his analyses of the abundant
material found in his researches. In ad-
dition to the other pretexts in mind, he
might affect, in case of discovery, to be
taking baths for rheumatism or to be a
rapt devotee of science. They would set
him down for visionary, or even a lu
natic, but this would only the better
withdraw attention from the vital inter
est at stake.
"When other needed preliminaries
were accomplished" he wrote, II had to
inaugurate extensive Improvements in
my way of gathering and protecting the
deposit. felled some trees where the
lower margin of the forest encroaches on
the canyon, slid them down and drew
them along on kind of sled. My idea
was to erect all efficient barrier against
the searching heat and deleterious fumes
from the boiling stream, one behind
which | might have secure access to
the golden spring. l therefore made two
very large, heavy frames Of wood. l
nailed cross pieces upon these and small
err pieces again crossing the first. Then
| bethought me what material, strong
enough for the ordeal it would have to
endure, would be suitable for filing the
interstices.
''In making my way along q ledge at
the top of the lower slope of talus came
upon a strange substance in strata white
reddish or green, embedded amid SER
pentine rock and soapstone. It was ap-
parently mineral, and yet it was soft,
even silky, to the touch, and elastic and
pliable as any vegetable fibers. Surely
this was the far famed asbestos, a ma
terial indestructible even by the fiercest
heat or fame. Nothing could have been
more opportune for my purpose. con-
veyed large quantities of it to my cabin,
prepared the fibers, and with this
thoroughly interwove the lattice work
Of my frames. which were then ready
for use.
''To put them in place hoisted them
with small derrick to the top of the
platform that had been my first lookout
point, and from there let them carefully
down. l secured them above by sup
ports weighted with stones, and below
the sharpencd feet of the posts were let
into holes by degrees prepared for them
in the rock.
81 next made an improved course for
the flowing metal, the first one having
more than once given way at weak
points. l made it longer, too, arranging
an even grade for it across considerable
yawning interval, and | removed the re-
ceiving trough to Il greater distance.
The new receiving trough was larger and
more smoothly finished within than the
former, and | was even capable of Law
ishing a little ornament upon it, for what
did apparatus so closely identified with
the garnering of this wondrous treasure
not deserve? For a while set up q small
wheel in the cold brook, capable of send
ing stream into the trough to quickly
chill it's contents, but this | afterwards
removed for fear of detection. Further
more | scattered rough fragments of vol
canic Stag about in every direction, to
artfully conceal, as hoped. all traces of
human handiWork.
Nor was this enough. felt it nee
essary to form around all the works and
the entire place. including my hut,