HEALTH. 73 



Now, however, that our beautiful State is being trav- 

 ersed in all directions, further and further day by day, 

 with the wonder-working rails of steel, and great throbbing 

 steamers, speeding over land and water, the days of yellow 

 pine casings, like many other things tolerated of necessity 

 in the past, are rapidly passing away, except in localities 

 far from transportation lines, and these are not so many, 

 even now. 



Artesian wells, with their iron pipes, circular wells, 

 bricked or cemented, these are the coming wells of Flor- 

 ida, furnishing pure, clear water from the very first of 

 their being. 



Settlers who have been accustomed all their lives to the* 

 free use of ice during the warm months find the summer 

 temperature of the Florida water-supply one of the great- 

 est crosses they have to encounter in their new homes; 

 they get used to it after a while, but where ice can not be 

 had to cool it, and either spring-water at a temperature of 

 80°, or well-water, if drawn from as much as thirty feet 

 below the surface, at about 70°, is all one can get to 

 quench thirst, the contrast at first is hard to bear. 



The writer found it so years ago, when there were no 

 ice factories in the State ; but there are many now, and 

 but few places on the line of transportation where ice can 

 not be procured, and that, too, at very reasonable rates, 

 from one half to one cent per pound. 



While the Florida waters are generally pure, it does not 

 by any means follow that they are so because they look 

 clear and have no unpleasant taste or odor ; this is usually 

 considered the test, but never was a greater mistake made. 



Water, not only here, but any where, may possess these 

 qualities, and yet be utterly unfit for use, because contain- 

 ing the germs of disease in mineral ingredients, and other 

 water, like that of the St. John's and Ocklawaha rivers, 



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