A TRIP THROUGH NORTH FLORIDA.


try, including lumber and turpentine.


Its climate, being


drier than that of Jacksonville, is thought to be more fa-
vorable to those consumptives who are in advanced stages
of the disease, and the place is a favorite winter retreat


for such invalids.


its name.


Lakes almost surround the town, hence


Three miles south is Alligator Lake, which has


no visible outlet.


In the wet season it is three or four


miles


across,


but in winter it retires


into a deep


hole, and the former bottom is transformed into a grassy
meadow.


The following


g description of Suwanee County is from


a letter written by Mr. N.


C. Rippey to the Tallahassee


" Floridian.


quote


it because


is applicable


all this


portion


of the State, and


contains


information


of value to immigrants:

 "The county lies in a big


bend of the Suwanee River,


or at least the river forms the boundary-line 'on three sides.
There is a high ridge extending across the county east and
west, or nearly so, near the center north and south, some


four miles or so in width.


It is covered with the finest


growth of pine-timber in the county. In it is an abundance
of stone, in ledges and in bowlders. It is of a gray color,
very soft; can be easily cut with a knife or saw, and, on
being exposed to the air for some time, it becomes as hard
and durable as granite, and makes a very fine material for
building purposes.
 The country north of the ridge is pine-woods with sandy
soil. Here and there are to be found tracts of hammock-
lands, varying in size from a few acres to several hundred.
These lands contain a rich, loamy soil, and a great variety
of excellent hard- wood timber, suitable for all kinds of
building and manufacturing purposes. There are a number
of beautiful lakes scattered over the country, containing an
abundance of excellent fish. There are numerous springs,
some of them white sulphur, famed for their medical vir-
tues. There are branches or creeks gushing out of the
earth, and after flowing a few miles entirely disappear.
The country south of 'The Ridge' is more rolling and fer-