(from the February 20, 1887 EUFAULA DAILY TIMES)
"...About the Bay itself, I could write much. It is certainly a very large sheet at that. Our party reached an arm of the Bay called Fannin Bayou, near North Bay. We went thence in a sailboat; (we had no wind,) to the main Bay. As we were passing down that part of the bay I saw a wharf built out in the water, and was told, that cattle were shipped to the West Indies, as many as 500 at one time on one vessel. A vessel of capacity drawing before loading nine feet, and after loading, thirteen feet.
There is an abundance of good anchorage inside the Bay, and never less than seventeen feet of water on the outer bar. The tide only varies to about sixteen in this bay. I was told that while the depth of water on the bar would not admit large ocean steamers, it was ample for all coasting vessels.
The water is clear, the bottom of pure, white sand, no sediment, no mud, for the reason that no streams of any magnitude empty into the Bay. I saw large quantities of sea-weed left on the beach by the waves, not black, and offensive to sight and smell, as I have often seen it, but looking like grass, dried , in the sun. By the way, I am told it is very find fertilizing land, when properly handled and that supply is almost inexhaustible.
Fresh fish and oysters are in great abundance, and our party feasted on them, and were well cared for, at the hotel, kept by Mrs. Allen, assisted by Mr. Beck. I take pleasure in commending this Hotel to visitors to the Bay.
...St. Andrews town is about eight miles from the Gulf, and through the courtesy of Capt. Ware, we had a splendid sail to that point, going down in a little over an hour and returning in forty-seven minutes. The innumerable sea-gulls, the numerous flocks of wild ducks, the sportive porpoise, the beautiful bay, with just breeze enough to show white caps here and there, all tended to the pleasure of this sail. I would like to repeat it, and I hope I may have a chance.
And never having made this trip and seen the country, I am more anxious than ever to have this railroad. Shall we have it? If the people along the line will do as Dothan did, and has promised to do, the Road will be built.
Rub out the conditions and roll up the subscription list, this is what these people did and i hope their liberality will be rewarded by having the depot just where they want it. I hope as the surveyors go down the line, and the people are called on again, that they will all manifest the same spirit as DO-THEN."
~ S.H. Dent - Eufaula, Ala. Feb. 20, '87
"...About the Bay itself, I could write much. It is certainly a very large sheet at that. Our party reached an arm of the Bay called Fannin Bayou, near North Bay. We went thence in a sailboat; (we had no wind,) to the main Bay. As we were passing down that part of the bay I saw a wharf built out in the water, and was told, that cattle were shipped to the West Indies, as many as 500 at one time on one vessel. A vessel of capacity drawing before loading nine feet, and after loading, thirteen feet.
There is an abundance of good anchorage inside the Bay, and never less than seventeen feet of water on the outer bar. The tide only varies to about sixteen in this bay. I was told that while the depth of water on the bar would not admit large ocean steamers, it was ample for all coasting vessels.
The water is clear, the bottom of pure, white sand, no sediment, no mud, for the reason that no streams of any magnitude empty into the Bay. I saw large quantities of sea-weed left on the beach by the waves, not black, and offensive to sight and smell, as I have often seen it, but looking like grass, dried , in the sun. By the way, I am told it is very find fertilizing land, when properly handled and that supply is almost inexhaustible.
Fresh fish and oysters are in great abundance, and our party feasted on them, and were well cared for, at the hotel, kept by Mrs. Allen, assisted by Mr. Beck. I take pleasure in commending this Hotel to visitors to the Bay.
...St. Andrews town is about eight miles from the Gulf, and through the courtesy of Capt. Ware, we had a splendid sail to that point, going down in a little over an hour and returning in forty-seven minutes. The innumerable sea-gulls, the numerous flocks of wild ducks, the sportive porpoise, the beautiful bay, with just breeze enough to show white caps here and there, all tended to the pleasure of this sail. I would like to repeat it, and I hope I may have a chance.
And never having made this trip and seen the country, I am more anxious than ever to have this railroad. Shall we have it? If the people along the line will do as Dothan did, and has promised to do, the Road will be built.
Rub out the conditions and roll up the subscription list, this is what these people did and i hope their liberality will be rewarded by having the depot just where they want it. I hope as the surveyors go down the line, and the people are called on again, that they will all manifest the same spirit as DO-THEN."
~ S.H. Dent - Eufaula, Ala. Feb. 20, '87
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