The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-08
FLORIDA'SGROWINGPORT
THE TAMPA OF TO-DAY AND OF
HALF A CENTURY AGO.


Wonderful Development Of the New
Commercial City OF the Gulf-Ths
Increase in Its Commerce IN the Last
Few Years-What M. Plant is Dol 6
for the New Port-ISs Advantages
and Opportunities-A Savannahian's
RecoIlections Of the Town in the
"Thirtiss'
Capt R. g. Fleming and Mrs. Fleming,
Miss Eleanor Fleming, Col J. Il. Estill and
Messrs. r. G. Fleming, Jr.. Heman Charl-
ton and William Crane returned from
Tampa yesterday morning. The party had
= pseasant trip, the cold waveinot overtak-
ing them until they reached Port Tampa,
the great commercial city which Mr.. Plant
is building on the shores Of the Gulf.
Port Tampa is ten miles distant from
West Tampa. the site of Mr.. Plants new
Tampa hotel. which opened with great
ecldt on Thursday. At 1.-THE Port" as it is
called, are extensive wharves and ware
houses Originally the port was established
for the use Of the ships Of the Plant Steam
ship Company plying to Kay West and
Havana; now steamers run regularly to and
from Jamaica, New Orleans and Mobile.
Large shipments Of western produce and
manufactures enter Florida by way of the
last named city, and are distributed from
Tampa throughout the state as far north
as Jacksonville.
Foreign steamers come to Port Tampa
for phosphate rock, that new source Of
wealth for Florida. Capt, James Fi:zger-
aid, a gentleman not unknown TO fame and
TO Savannahia1s. is superintendent Of the
steamship lines and is general factotum IN
all matters incident to its affairs at home or
on the deep blue sea.
AT TAMPA BAY.
Tampa bay is an immense body OF water,
and with little improvement will be one of
the best harbors on the Gulf coast. A De-
cuiIarity about the harbor is that q channel
once made remains forever open, as there
is but little tidal current, and the bottom,
which is Of sand and shell rock, is easily
dredged and does not wash into the cuts
when once removed.
The United States commission to select q
site for a navy yard on the Cult coast, con-
ststing of Capt. Bince, u. S n. ex-Gov.
Perham Of Vermont, and Maj. Has
brouck, u. 8. A, and Others are spending
some time at Tampa examining its advan-
tages 1t is understood that they have
spoken most favorably about the bay as the
proper location for the proposed work.
Admiral Walker proposes to make Tampa
bay the rendezvous for the white squad
ron, and viii have a series Of naval reviews
and evolutions in the harbor this season.
sAvANNAHIAN's RECoLLEcTIoNs.
Speaking of Tampa yesterday, Savan-
nah's venerable and respected citizen, Mr..
Charles Gross, said that be was in Tampa in
1887 he was there as a member Of Company
E, Fourth United States artillery, serving
under Col. Zachary Taylor (afterward a
general in the Mexican war and President
Of the United States against the Seminole
Indians. OF course in those days there were
no railroads Mr.. Gross command went by
transports from Fortress Monroe, Va, to
Tampa. At that period of its history about
all there was Of Tampa was the United
States barracks and few stores. 1t was a
dead town. The few Spaniards who had
lived there when Florida was a province Of
Spain had left the country on the cession Of
Florida to the United States, and the In
dian wars had kept other settlers from tax
ing their places.
HALF A CENTURY AGO.
That was over half century ago.
Mr.. Gross, though 76 years old, is
still hale and hearty and carrying on
his weil-kno Hn tailoring establishment. It
is doubtful IL there is another veteran of
Gen. Taylor's army, which brought to a
close the Florida wars, still living. 1t was
upon MIR. Gross return from Florida
in '3S that he first saw Savannah. He
thought it the most beautiful city lac had
ever seen, and determined TO come back to
1T when he should have left the army. He
returned in 1910 and made it his home. At
that time Bay street. was the favorite prone
made for the ladies, and was largely occu-
pied by private residences. On either side
of the street were Pride Of India" trees,
for which Savannah was then famous. Mr..
Gross remembrances Of Tampa and Sa-
vannah are interesting in connection with
the present close relations between the two
cities. The distance between them can now
be Travelled in as many hours as it then
took days.