The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-21
TWO WEEKS IN FLORIDA.
Railroad Magnates Who Took in thu
Entire State.

Entire State.
Perhaps the largest party Of distinguished
people that has ever toured Florida has
lust completed two weeks trip in that
state A portion of tae party has returned
| north, while a good many remained in
Florida and will join ex-President Cleye-
lands party to Cuba.
The party was composed of President
Plant, of the Plant system, and wife, Vice
President Chisholm and wife, President
| Blackstone, of the Chicago and Alton rail-
road, and wife, President Newcomer, of the
| Wilmington, and Weldon railroad, and wife,
| President Mallory of the Mallory Steamship
| Line, President J. Ingram of the South
| Florida railroad, Vice President and Gen
eral Manager NJ. j. O'Brien Of the Southern
Express Company, r. B. Smith, secretary
and treasurer OF the Plant Investment :
| Company, j. A. Chisholm, George Alfred
| Townsend, Supt. d. +. Jack of the South
ern Express Company, Col. Haskell, pro-
prietor of the Boston Herald, the noted
| humorist John Wyman of Rhode Island,
and w. S. Chisholm, Jr., Esq. Three
| private secretaries accompanied the party.
| They were Mr.. Moses, private secretary to
President Ingram, and the MeSsrs Tough
| man, private secretaries to President Plant
and Vice President Chisholm.
The party Travelled in four private cars
and a Pullman sleeper. The locomotive
was decorated with flowers and bunting,
and the train was given the right of way on
every occasion. 1t created a widespread
sensation in the Land of Flowers, and one
of the morning papers. exultant over
short stop the party gave its town, came
out in a flaming head, Thirty Million
aires in Town"
w. S. Chisholm, Jr., Esq, left the party
at Tampa yesterday. He reports most de-
lightful trip. 5&Some were in the party who
had never seen Florida, and they were de-
lighted with what they saw. After leaving
Savannah two weeks ago the special train
went direct to st. Augustine. and the party
attended the charity ball at the Ponce de
Leon and spent several days viewing the
sights of the Ancient City.
Every point of interest in the state was
seen. Several days we're spent at Punta
Gorda. George Alfred Townsend was par
ticularly impressed with the place.
Every body. Mr.. CHISHOLM said was
delighted with it. Fromthere the
Plant system has spent several hundred
thousand dollars in improvements within
Short period of time. Considerable time
was spent at Tampa The new hotel, which
will probably be the largest in this country,
having a capacity for accommodating 700
people, is in progress. AT Tampa the party
left the cars and spent some time
l4SIluS. hdlIFodu mag idueS can c1UCu
fish like other people when they
are in that business, and they were on that
line during their visit to Tampa. The
Ybor City cigar factory was also visited.
1t is one Of the largest enterprises in the
south, and considerable terest was mani
tested by those of the party who had never
seen it before. Over 1000 operatives are at
work in the factory.
At most of the prominent places in
Florida the party was taken in charge BY
the city authorities and shown marked
courtesies. They were driven over the diff
ferent places, and the various points of in
terest were pointed out to them. A good
many orange groves were visited. At Or
lando they we're accorded a brilliant recep-
ton. They were met by the mayor and
council upon their arrival aud received
royal treatment. Mr.. Wyman, who was
the life of the party, and whose clever
stories afforded rare entertainment for the
tourists. in a happy manner thanked the
citizens of Orlando, in behalf of the party,
for their hospitality.
The party disbanded at Tampa on Tues
day. The Savannah delegation reached
here yesterday in Vice President Chisholm's
private car. The New York and Boston
delegation passed through en- route north.