The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-05
FLORIDA FULL OF TOURISTS.
St. AuGastine's Hotels Crowded-The
Biggest Travel in Three Years

ST. Augastine's Hotels Crowded-The
Biggest Travel in Three Years
ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA, March 4-St
Augustine is the gayest city in the world
Two thousand tourists are inside Of its
gates. They throng the promenades. fill
the hotels, and keep the busy little metrop-
oils in a hnbbuh. Mr.. FlaGleras big hotel
exhausted its accommodations for incoming
guests several DAYS ago. The Alcazar is
full and the Cordova is like beehive. The
numerous other hotels which loom up on
every block are doing everything they can
TO accommodate the people The influx OF
guests for the last few days Is phenomenal,
and the people of the little city begin TO
woader what is coming TO pass.
st. Augustine IS the Ponce de Leon and
THE Ponce" is ST. Augustine They are
associated t gether. Ole is famous for its
ancient landmarks, and the other is re-
nowned for its modern beauty.
OF all the happy men who skim about St.
Augustine, the proprietor of the Ponce de
Leon comes nearer being the haopiest. He
mixes and mIngles with his guests at the
table, in the parlors. and, in short, every
where except in the bath rooms. The Al
cazar is Mr.. Flagler's hotel also, and
il is just across the grand promenade
rom The st. Augustine bonanza. They
ind room down stlirs TO put a jewelry store,
a china store, a Chinese shop a millinery
and book store. These are the only rooms
in the big building that are not full of
people. One of the clerks said tonight
there are about 1000 of the idle rich in the
city. He was asked if that was all they
would get is season, but he did not reply.
lie gritted his teeth and shook his
Eray head like a man before he
commits suicide. IL was learned upon
good authority from different source that
the crowd swells every day. and the hotels
IRE at a loss to know how to provide for
them. The dining-room at the Ponce de
Leon will not accommodate all the guests
at one time. The Ponce can accommodate
nearly 500 people. That many are there
COW, including the fashionable people OF
the country and few dudes
Already the tourist travel south has been
greater than it has been for three years.
The trains going in and out of Florida are
crowded. Tourists are not remaining
long this season. but that is over
balanced by the great number that has
come south. It is believed that the travel
will increase after Lent. Not only is st.
Augustine full of tourists. but the entire
state is thronging with them. They stor
at Jacksonville and see that beautiful city
and then hurry to st. Augustine to feast
their eyes.
The travel over the Savannah, Florid a
and Western railroad, General Passenger
Agent Davidson said, up to Jan. %, whe
he quit keeping count, was far ahead OF
what it has been for many years The
road is doing an enormous tourist business
He is not hopeful of lull yet He believes
that after Lent the travel will be very
heavy.
General Manager Jack of the jackson
vile, Tampa and Key West railroad, Mr..
Flagler's road, has prepared for continue
ton of the tourist business. He has been
taxed this season in the passenger
line. He believes that Lake Worth
is to become the garden spot of Florida
although st. Augustine and the Ponce dc
Leon satisfy pretty big craving just now
Lake Worth is 162 miles from 1itusyille
the southern terminus of the Jacksonville
Tampa and Key West railroad. TIE lake il
south of the mouth of the Indian river
The Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West
railroad has built bran new narrow gauge
aght-nlile road from the river to the lake
There are four stations on the line
Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Juno
The narrow gauge transports people from
cal fruit grows there. The temperature
throughout the year is as mild as it is in
Savannah in the summer. The Thermometer
never drops below 79o Brazil nuts arr
abundant, and cocoanuts, pineapples and
bananas are plentiful The Gulf current
swinging in between Bahama and the lake
produces the tropical effect.
General Passenger Agent Aclzerly of th,
Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West rail
road, who has explored the new
paradise, and who is perfectly
familiar with the CONFORMATION of tht
country, perfected a good schedule for carry
ing passengers to and from the lake thi:
season. and he says the route is very
popular.
While the Jacksonville, Tampa aut
Key West railroad people are looking
forward to the new resort, they still rely
upon St. Augustine. 1t is a standby
"a sure thing. Tourists will come
here when they will go nowher,
else. Modern and attractive structures
are being erected all the time, and the city
is becoming more and more famous
The new Presbyterian church being bull
by Mr.. Flagler and dedicated to his daug hte
who died last year off Charleston, is one of
the prettiest structures in Florida, and one
of the most costly edifices in the South. Il
will cost over 100000. The imposins
structure rises up from among the orang
trees, and is the first thing that the eye
. fastens on upon entering tn
ancient city. The church is
marvel of beauty, and it is all that skille
men and money can make it. 1t stands Of
the main avenue leading to the Ponce d
Leon, overlooking a beautiful orange grove
1t is reminder of the deceased, and in it
magnificence and beauty it is a picture o
sadness.