The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-05-30

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The grand celebration a tbe eomple-
ton of the canal between lakes Dora and
Eustis, md the sinauguratiOn Of TsvAres
as the centre Of commerce for South
Florida" came of on the 18th. From
q very lengthy and thrilling description
of this promising young city, its surround
ings. and the interesting events Of this
festive occasion. by a staff correspondent
of the Union, we extract the following :
TAvAREs
Imagine white sandy beach skirling an IN
usually lovely lake for three mikes in parabolic
curve of unbroken evenness and beauty Sirnight
from the waters edge begins q gradual and
almost imperceptible slope, rising into a smooth
and easy elevation for eight hundred or a thou
sand yards through stately pines and small oaks.
and then falling away as regularly, bui rather
more rapidly TO the brink of another and larger
lake. From The crest of this ridge flashing
white through the trees can be seen the unruft1ed
surface of Lake Dora, covering tweniy-eight
square miles on the one side, while on the Other,
in full view the foamy wave-caps OF the turhu
lent Eustis, sweep over forty-two square miles OF
space. From the cupola of the new and grand
hotel soon TO be erected the delighted eye Of the
tOuTlSt can COf0pdSS IN one turn aFOunU the Daiti~
trade eIeUen lakes beautiful and clear; each an
inland sea of itself
THE ORIGIN OF TAvARES.
About eight years ago ST. Clair Abrams began
to study the future of this lake region. lie rea-
soned Teflectively that the day Of It's develop
ment must soon come Ii was goOdly region
and well watered" Aftcr various
vicissitudes of fortune, during the latter part Of
last year, after strenuous efforts, the land alter
Major Abrams possession, he having purchased
from original Spectators, and from the State. the
three or four thousand acres skirting Lake DOra
and extending backward across the peninsula 10
Lake Eustis. About this time he became assO-
ciated in a legal and business partnership with
Robert l.. Summerlin (since County Judge of
Orange)a young, vigorous and energetic Florid-
IAN who had already won his spurs in a hand 10
hand combat with fortune. Reinforced by so
able an auxiliary, Major Abrams went TO work
with will, and the united and sagaci0us Efforts
of these two gentlemen have been speedily and
brilliantly crowned with success. On
the first day OF January, not i've months ago
the woodlands axe sounded In the primeva for
est, and the foundations OF the first house were
laid among the wild pints. To-day Tavares
stands up in all The glory of forty dwellings. =
metropolitan hotel, Stores pOst-of1ice mills and
factories, and three hundred enthusiastic peo3lc-
the saucest city of its inches in existence. Tav-
from the womb of the wilderness
THE BARBECUE
About seven hundred people from the adjoin-
ing towns and cities, and a few from the meirOp
oils, with perhaps dozen lingering tourists,
gathered on Thursday TO participate in the inau-
gural jubilee of the young settlement, which
Messrs. Abrams and Summerlin in their formal
notes OF invitation had pronounced the coming
centre of population and the commercial metrop-
oils of the lake region"
ST. CLAIR ABRAMS SPEECH
Just about dusk the large crowd collected on
and around the balcony of the Peninsula, and
standing in ring of admiring friends, 81. Clair
Abrams made one of the brightest, happiest lit
tie hopeful talks have heard since Henry Grady
in his inimitable way used 10 talk to the college
boys at Athens He said, and believe he meant
it. that there were no frost lines in his affection
for Florida" de loved the whole State, and he
believed that to build up and beautify any part
OF Florida was TO help the whole of Florida"
SOUTHERN MANS WORK
"One thing wish to emphasize" said Major
Abrams Tavares, with all its hopes and pros
poets a Southern mans work. When Sanford
went up people around US said, that is the work
of Northern pluck and Northern brains, and
Northern energy. When Maitland went up IL
was credited TO Northern brains and Northern
pluck and Northern energy, and so with Orlando
and Eustis, until / grew tired and ashamed OF
the taunt, and say to-day that whatever future
fronts this little town of Tavares, want il TO be
known of all men that il is the D0rk Of southern
brains and Southern pluck and Southern energg
And l say this with heart OVERLOOKING with
welcome to Northern men or Western men, or
whoever may come TO help us build up our beau
tiul State"
On Friday night the inaugural ball was a bril-
liant and gorgeous scene. Rural beauties were
sprinkled in charming and fresh prOfusion among
the city bred danes, and the evening was the
brightest and gayest and shortest in the annals
of Orange county.
THE TAyAREs THAT Is To re-
And now let us sum up the chances which
this South Florida bantling has for a future: In
the first place its ground is now progrts sing
at u wonderful rate. Thirty-fve new dwelling
houses are under contract To he completed within
three months. Inquiries and applications for
lots and lands are coming in daily in great num-
bers. When all the houses under contract are
built and all the lots bid for are occupied Tavares