Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-02
TOURIST TRAVEL HEAVY.
NORTHERN PEOPLE FLEEING
FROM SNOW AND ICE.

What the Transportation Lines are Do
3nE-Fiorida Travel Fifteen Per Cent.
Heavier This Year Than Last-The
Demand for Special Cars Greater Than
Ever Before--SsvEnnah's Lack OF no
tel Facilities.
south.bOund travel is booming, say
railroad and steamship men. This is just
about the height OF the season, aud the
trans portatiOn companies claim that they
are carving more tourists than ever be-
fore The IS deg. above zero cold wave,
which swept down from the Northwest and
chilled the alligators in the st. Johns and
the oranges in the groves, checked the
travel for a few days. The interruption,
however, was short-lived, and as The cold
wave receded the wave OF tourist travel
came on afresh.
Mr.. Richardson, Ofthe Boston Steamship
line, Gen. Sorrel, OF the New York line,
and Capt. J. b. West, OF the Baltimore
steamship line all stated that their re-
spective lines have brought more people
South since September, 1880, than during
the corresponding months OF 1884 and
1885.
Mr.. James J.. Taylor, OF the Savannah,
Florida and Western Railway Company,
estimates the increase in the number OF
people carried into Florida thiE season at
from 10 10 10 per cent, over last year.
Two weeks hence the railroad traffic is
expected 10 be heavier than now. Florida
has q rival as d winter resort In Cali
fOrnia. and California excursions promise
20 become equally as popular as eXcur-
sions to Florida. Tourists with unlimited
cash are showing an increasing pertiality
for trips in special cars.
The Savannah. Florida and Western
railway has a side track at Jacksonville
which is called the especial car track"
and GU which there have been as
many as eight special cars at one
time. An elegant car with sumptu'
Gus apartments can be rented from
the Pullman Company for from $50
10 S55 per day. All OF the Southern roads
will have these special cars for eighteen
first-class tickets. il a party wishes to
make q trip from New York 10 Jackson
vile Ia a special car IL will cost the price
of eighteen 1rst-class tickets and $40 or 500
a day besides. The luxury comes high,
but there are a good many who will have
IT. The Pullman Company furnishes por-
ters and caterer, II the eXcurslonists do
not prefer to carry one oftheir own. With
guns, dogs aud fishing tackle, a we'll
stocked wine closet and pantry, these
special car tourists 'do' the south IN
great style. and doubtless with much
comfort TO themselves.
Notwithstanding the increase in travel
Savannah does not seem to be attracting
any considerable number of the tourists.
The steamship men say that they do not
think that 10 per cent. OF their
passengers stop in Savannah longer than
twenty-iour hours. Every one comedies
In the opinion that Savannah loses great
share OF the tourist travel because she
has no big hotel. The hotel men them
selves have reiterated time and again the
statement that the hotel facilities Of the
Forest City are inadequate.
A gentleman who has just returned
from a trip through Florida remarked
yesterday that the FlOridians are CON-
planning of a falling off this season in the
tourist travel.
This same gentleman says that the
orange groves around Tampa aud along
the Manatee river DO not seem 10 have
been hurt much. There is still a great
deal Of fruit on the trees along the Man
atee. BE tells Of one grower who, when
he heard the cold wave was approaching,
picked all of his fruit, which he has since
sold at a handsome figure, thereby clear
lng a snug little fortune from one crop.