The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-08-01

trips over the springs and along The
river, and we enjoyed one of such
trips. 1t was a sight we will never for
get. The bottom of the deep pool and
the beautiful coloring was as plainly
seen IS though they were out in The
brilliant sunlight Schools of fish swan
at the very bottom Of the boat and at
one time we fed them. The plainly
marked vertebrate of some prehistoric
monster was seen on the bottom of one
pool. At another place were the re-
mains Of rowboat, covered with scum
and marine growth. But at one end of
the boat the prov could be seen to be
reinforced with copper. Where did that
boat come from2 If its history were
only known, what interesting stories
it might tell. For this is believed 10
have been the famous fountain of youth
that Ponce de Leon sought for, but
finding it and bathing in it he yet
could not regain that glamorous youth
he sought so urgently
The circular basin at the head Of he
springs is 400 feet in diameter and
around it million dollars has been
spent in resort buildings and improve
ments. We stopped here to eat lunch
after viewing the. marvellous beauties
of the springs and then turned east
ward for Daytona Beach.
Before we leave this part of Florida,
we wish to mention one other item of
interest We have spoken of passing
through scrubby pine timber in vari-
GUS pars of the South In nearly all
such timber we found the trunks of
the trees had been gashed, cutting away
the bark for a length Of from "a 10
30 inches. Cups at the bottom caught
the sap or pitch. The sap is later col
lected, treated in special STILL and
turpine extracted This is said to be
quite an industry in parts of the South.
Many Fountains of Youth.
And another thing that deserves
mention. Ponce de Leon must have had
hard time finding that fountain of
youth and he must have visited practi-
cally all parts of Florida, for at nearly
every place we visited claim was made
to Ponce de Leon spring. There must
be hundreds of such springs in Florida.
But whether or not the famous Span
lard ever visited them, it makes good
advertising for the springs
That day we easily made the drive
across the state to Daytona Beach,
speeding along, on good highways and
through citrus groves some of the way
and through pleasantly wooded country
wherever the citrus groves were not
to be seen. We arrived in Daytona
Beach in the late afternoon and found
what is said to be one of the pleasant
est little-cites in Florida II was pretty,
clean and very attractive But although
driving through most Of the city from
the west we were not satisfied until
we had driven down to the famous
beach And when we did, what a sight
our eyes beheldl That was our first
view Of the Atlantic ocean, our first
view Of what could be called tropical
ocean water. It's beauty is beyond our
powers Of description. The blueness Of
that water was lovely beyond belief
| was enthralled by it. And / shall re-
member it with happy thoughts to my
dying day.
OF course we couldn't leave Daytona
Beach without driving down on the
famous beach, This we did and drove
the car up and down the packed sand,
which is almost as smooth as a floor.
On this famous beach international
speed Contests have been held and there