Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1926-03-11
S. c. EGGERS TELLS
OF FLORIDA TRIP

Mr.. Editor: May / have space
in your paper for a brief account of
my recent visit to Florida
Going from Boone to Winston-Sa-
lem by bus l took the train there at
80 p. m. for Jacksonville, Fla, ar
irving there the next morning at a.
bout 9 O'Clock. immediately after
breakfast in Jacksonville where | was
joined by party of twenty-five we
were put on one of the fine De Luxe
Hollywood busses, in which we trav-
elled more than four hundred miles
down the East Coast, stopping and
observing at the following towns and
places: On leaving Jacksonville we
We're shown the city with the main
points of interest pointed out and
then we crossed the St. Johns River
on very fine bridge "A toll bridge
1t cost the bus $1.50 and each passen-
ger ) cents to cross. The St. John
is a beautiful River. After leaving it
We were taken through one new de-
velopmcnt after another, which shows
the wonderful boom in building and
real estate throughout Florida. n
One of the most interesting things
we saw \were the large fields of po-
tatoes already planted and a little
railroad station by the name of Spud
in this vicinity is the largest potato
market in the South. Nearby is the
village of Elkton, large turpentine
plant. Next We came to Hastings a
place where Mons are grown in very
large quantities. Then we pass the
cities Espaynola and Bunnell and then
one of the many large deposits of O.
Jus Rock, the material with which
roads are made. This material is ta-
ken from the earth in the form of
sand or soft rock and after being ex-
posed to the air for a short time it
becomes as hard as rock and when
it is oiled makes very fine road and
this plan of building roads makes it
much cheaper than the way in which
we build them in our section. The O.
jus rock gets it's name from the In
dians. Ojus in the Indian language
means plenty. We also have this le-
gend of it's name A traveller asked a
native negro what the material was
that he was moving with shovel.
The negro replied, "O-Jus-rock."
Then we came to the Tomako River
fine fishing stream, later to the
Great Halifax River. We travelled "a
long this river for quite distance
We saw a number of places where
the River had been dredged and ca
mails cut, using what earth was taken
from the river and canalG to build
the earth up so as to be above the
water, hence they call it built up
soil. Then we came to the city of
Datona, very fine city, a noted re-
sort, crowded with people from all
parts of the country. Then we came
to Port Orange, another resort noted
for its fine golf courses. The next
was the city of New Smyrna, one of
the first white ports in Florida and
where the white people used to pro-
tect themselves from The Indians.
Then we came to Oak Hill, and
Titusville, two fine towns, full of re-
sort people, On leaving Tituswille we
start on more than hundred mile
drive down the Indian River. the road
being in sight and close by the river
the entire way. This river has a
width of 8 to Ia miles, and is very
shallow except in the channel which is
kept dredged for navigation. All sea
fowls of various kinds are seen, swim
ming, diving, wading, each one do
ing according to his kind, and too
the large fish could be seen jumping
into the air for foods, and lodging
the sea gulls to keep from becoming
their prey.
Coming to the city of Cocoa we
spent the night at, the Oak Hotel on
the bank of the Indian River. Here
we enjoyed good nights rest with
the good food they served and es-
pecially the fine fish.
Early next morning we were on our
way down the Indian River. We soon
came to the city of Eucallie, and
crossing the river to Melborne, and
just below, looking across the Indian
River to the left we could see what
is called Ocean Gap. Here a gap has
been cut in the shore of the ocean, so
when at high tide the sea water runs
through this gap into the Indian River
giving it supply of salt water at ev-
cry tide. AS we passed we could see
the breakers dashing through the gap
and white foam leaping high in the
air, showing the terrific force with
which the waters were hhrled against
the shore.
Then we came to Vero, which is
called the Gateway to the Tropics.
Vero is on the frost line. All tropical
fruits are grown below this city and
Immediately below we came to and
passed through the largest orange
grove in the county. 1t is said to be
by IL miles. The trees were full Of
the fine fruit. 1t certainly is pretty
sight. Then we came to a field of