The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-14
FLORIDA'S FUTURE.
Observations of Tour Through
the State.
TIL GREAT NUMBER OF VISITORS.

rival, mat is EOUibeTH California.
1t is nine days from New York to Los An
gcIes. 1t is forty hours from New York to
jacksonville. That sums up tue situation and
leaves Florida without a rival as the winter
resort for this continent and in command Of
the constantly widening market Tor caily yegc-
tables and tropical fruits.
! California was doomed into consideration by
the railroad, which sought to divert winter
travel from its natural channel and throw it
| into vague and remote places, by low rates and
alluring schedule. This cut Florida's winter
travel short last season. Nine days Oh sleeper
! is expensive, and, added even to the low pas
senger rate, maize a California trip costly
while TO business man there was no conput-
ing the loss Of time, or to an invalid the
wearing physical discomfort
The railroads, which have meyer treated
Florida fairly, appear this season to accept the
inevitable and agree that the great winter
! highway will reach from New York and Chi
cage to this peninsula. The ycstibule train,
PIT on this winter from New York to Jack
sonyllc, is immensely popular, and win be du-
/ plicatcd next season from all principal north
eln points.
A passenger on the vestibule train tells me
that when he left New York, on January 30th,
every seat in the train was sold
| up to the Goth Of February.
| 1t costs about ten dollars extra from
| New York to Jacksonville on the yestibule
above the straight fare and sleeping car. The
yestibne train is simply six cars thrown into
| one, making sleopingrcoms, library, dining
room, snolingroom, barber shop and bath
rooms. In the diningroom meals arc served
table d llote at one dollar, and the menu
equals that of the Fifth Avenue hotel. There
are no stops for meals, but the passengers eat
and sleep on the train. There were one hum
drod and twenty passengers on the train with
my informant, and the estimated receipts for
the train were "a 200, with running expenses
of perhaps 81 200, 1t is tho perfection of
travelling.
TLoHIpA's GROWTH IN EIGHT YEARS.
Eight years ago was in Florida.
What has tho state gained since that time?
Then, went over two railroads which were
little more than two streaks OF rust and the
rght-of-way." They reached no farther south
than Gainesville The South Florida was just
begun as n narrow gauge from Sanford.
From Sanford a boat line was just
put on to Rock Ledge-it was grayely stated
that steamers could not be run on the Indian
river.
On this trip go through Florida in special
ear supervised by Felix Larroa Incompatible
cook and caterer), finding broad gauge rail
transportation to every part of the state. a
fleet Of steamers run on Indian river. There
rail lines to Charlotte IIarbor on the gulf,
and to Titusville on the ocean. More than
100 miles of railroads have been built in the
past eight years, costing about thirty million
dollars. This enormous amount repre-
sents progressive investment, for the state
must grow up to the roads Four great sys-
tens are in control. The Plant Investment
company the Florida Railway and Navigation
company the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key
West company, and the Florida Southern.
ceiling i'll the diningroom and rotunda cost
SIPS 900. Think of that! The painting of the
ceiling in the parlor cost S2so00. The parlor
carpet cost $1l 600, A single mantlepiece in
the parlor cost $l7 600.
Do you comprehend these fguresY In the
parlor there are 100000 worth Of paintings
hung on the wall.
The Alcazar, which is intended to hold the
cafes, billiard rooms, bars, bath rooms, tennis
courts, bowling alleys aud theater for
the Ponce de Leon hotel, will he,
when everything is finished and equipped
three times large as the Kimball house.
MIR, Flagler's hotel Investment will represent
&5,0000 COO and he will have the finest hotel
on earth.@
HOW IS THIS GOING TO FAY?
Look ut the figures.
MIR, Flagler ought TO get six per cent gross
on his investment, which would give him four
per cent not Six per cent on s5,000,000 is
100000. The hotel has, say, three full
months OF business that would make the rent
100000 a month,
Think of thatl Three thousand dollars a
day for rent. But the hotel and Alca2ar, when
finished viii accommodate twelve hundred
people. Five dollars a day, the minimum
Nig az ,,f a.
The present hotel accommodates about six
hundred and fifty peonlc and is tull 1t
is probable that the rates viii average six dol
lars a day from top to bottom of the house.
OF course Mr.. Flagler does not hope 10 get
-four per cent ON his investment at present 1t
was rumored he had large collateral invest
ments in st Augustine, the ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Of which would lessen the cost Of his hotel
This is not true. lie simply had forty or fifty
million dollars and had never INDUCED him
self lie determined 70 have paythiug as
he grew older and this hotel is his toy, and he
is having heap of fun with it.
In everything the hotel is perfect Mr..
SeaNy who manages for MIR. Flager, was
selected as the best hotel man that could
be found, and approves tie so,ec-
ton. The chef was Tor four years
chef for tho emperor Of Brazil. Ii was he Who
PktEiitt INC y tistilN uintl, ana
he is tho first in his profession A unique
feature Of the hotel is the library. which viii
be in the second story. II will DO fitted up
just as private library would be, except Of
course, that 1t will be more expensive. The
guest of the Ponce dc Leon will have. not only
his own art gallery, but his own library.
ITS EFFEcr ON FLORIDA.
What effect Will this hotel have ON Florida
Ii will make St. Augustine the great winter
resort o. this continent. Tie ama1ement Of
those who have seen the Ponce do Leon this
season VIII bring thousands 60 see Il next sea-
son. Men and women wiz cross America to
spend day og two Within It's walls
Mr. FlSgicr and his friends Win make ST
Augustine worthy OF th.s hotel Already tic
Casa Monica, another hotel. IS timer than any
thing else intho country, except ,he Ponce lie
Leon The ACagar, when finished. viii SUI
pass the wonders Of both these hotels There
is talk oi canals being cut which will make
81. Augustine, more than ever The American
Venice. Everything that mpY,y and tas.c cam
do 20 attract the pleasure seekers Ci the ANarld