Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-03-12
'WritetOChaS.
Trip to the Sunny South.
Interesting Notes En- Route.
BY HON. s. NJ. HELLER.
BY HON. s. NJ. HELLER.

and myself and wife, left Toledo February 7th over
the c. H. D. r. R., our objective point being La
Cuba, Habana. At Cincinnati we took the Queen
& Crescent route for New Orleans, and any north
ern man can tell the difference in energy andpush
as soon as he crosses the Ohio river. They have
some fne soil aud country in the vicinity of Lexing-
ton, or better known the Blue Grass section.-
After passing Somerset, Ky would not give 81 .OO
per for all the country from the cars, until
within 70 miles Of Chattanoga, Tenn, where we
stopped to look at grand old Lookout Mountain
with its battle field "above the clouds, and hun.
dred others on the routes to Atlanta, the gate
"City Of the South" where always the traveller is
welcome and made to feel the hospitality of gent
al people. Macon is the pine lands set upon the
hills Of the empire state Of the South. Thomas
vile, noted far and wide favorte of the health
searcher and those on pleasure bent veritable
yankee Paradise y where the balmy breezes come
in zephyrs, aroma laden, from the purring pines
bearing health and new life on every new BREATH
Besides the wonderful health giving climate OF
Thomasville, the very excellent hotels of that re-
sort are attractions Of themselves.
Other stopping points of interest arc Charleston,
with its historic memories of the war, Its marks of
eArJlQuake mlbIOrluntbt Luo DVdubllul Bdiucub huu
the harbor with its forts and batteries, are all at
tractive in themselves sufficient for the request of
stop-over ticket; the old palace-lookng Charles.
ton Hotel with its heavy pillard colonade, is remi
niscence of the hotel architecture of old days. bd
the living there is of modern excellence Ashville-
noted for it's climatic advantage and scenic beauty
and its battery, park and Swannanoa hotels; Aiken
for its hotel OF comfort at Highland park, the
pineries and healthful sunshine; Augusia-for its
beautiful streets and suburbs; Savanna-for i'll
parks and hung trees, where the tourist from
the north may break his journey, find much to in
terest and good living withal.
Arriving at New Orleans in time to take in the
derful Mardi-Gras, which is sight well worth the
trip to see, 1 shall not attempt description OF
the gorgeous array and extent of magnitude as ]
should utterly fail, and will simply say that it mus
be seen to be appreciated. The city is located on
low level plain with no sewerage except open ditch
es at certain intervals the water coming within two
to three feet of the top of the ground. For city
of $50 600 population 1t has the poorest and lthiest
streets of any city in America. The st. Charles ho
tel gave US very good accommodations, and after
visit to the o. s. Mint where they make $780, 900 OF
our dads per day., the war ship Chicago (which ia
manned by 564 boys in blue), the old French Cathe
dral and the cemetery "Altar1a," where all are bur-
led above ground and the city of silent vaults Gov
l
and for beauty, neatnesB and cleanliness will equal
if not surpass, anything of the kind in America
1t used to be said that Cotton was King, and from
the amount of the export trade it wonld look ae
| though it still cut quite figure. 1t is city Of
large commercial and shipping interests.
Mobile, Alabama, our next stop, is neat, thriving
little city of 33 900 inhabitants on the Guf(where
| shipped aboard the steamer MaScOtt for Tampa,
| Fla.) Mobile has but few outside attractions. A
ride by rail to the top CT Spring HILL which is ovei
5000 feet higher than the CITY and distance OF six
miles to reach the top, drive along the coast
pike made of oyster shells which makes the finest
| drive way have ever seen, not excepting Contra
Park, N Y. And If you want To he ''tone up" mos
potentially, hunt around and find business nan
| from the North-we paid one of these vampires
$3.50 for drive over the shell road distance of si1
miles (or twelve miles out and back) for carrifg,
with two horses-time gone one hour and twenty
five minutes. The city is supplied with water from
springs, and is the finest in the South. 1t is cit.
of gardens and flowers with many fine paatial resi-
dences and a great amount of wealth. Their princi
pal production is cotton, but they grow RICE suga
and tobacco, Mobile being their shipping point. Th
city and country is prosperous and the business
men and planters are making money, even in theil
slow-going way. On an average one acre OF cottoI
produces one and one-half bales of cotton Or abou
| 750 pOu nds, and sells in Mobile at g% cents pc
pound. If the Southern people had the energy ant
push four Northern farmers they could make fvt
dollars to our one, and they will tell you they CAL
| grow their crops now, cheaper than they could il
| the days of slavery. But glance at their stool
and farming implements and general appearance o
| things you will say at once that they are at leas
| fifty years behind the North. For example, tax
their hogs all through the South, take his photo ant
you would have to write hog below for our peopl
to know the kind of an animal it was intended for
their head and nose being long enough to root OH
the second row of potatoes through the fence, AM
| rainbow backs and hams like pumpkin Seeds
| All aboard for Tampa, which is 1856 miles by waite
| around the coast of Florida Tampa is city O
some I, 900 inhabitants. 1t has been more than 30
years since Pinafo de Narvoez sailed the first shil
N hn n Nup1Onn RAJ and h
came, and De'Soto after him, the returning touris
has brought back wonderful tales of its beauties
and told fish stories that must sound improbable t,
any one who has never been fishing at Tampa
Spanish mackere weighing from "a to pounds, RET
fish, three to twenty pounds, angel fish and sheel
heads with several other varieties are caught witt
hooks and line off the wharf, and when you wan
larger game 90 out into the Gulf ten to fifteen mile
and take in the gruper red snapper and celebrate
tarapin. weighing from % to $50 pounds, and al
very gamey.
Tampa Bay Hotel is marvel of architecture an
/ construction. The grounds overlook Tampa Bay
the City and Fort Brook. From the towers may b
seen the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, twenty mile
away. In the lawns and gardens are the trees 0
the South-great oaks, orange trees and the will
lemon with their fragrant blossoms; the magnoli
and the roses also lend their perfumes. The arch
lecture is adopted from the land Of the Saracens
The horseshoe arch, star and crescent meet the ey
at every turn. The four of the whole struc
ure are guarded by round towers, surmounted b
round domes, and four more towers at the angles
the center building surmounted with minarets sug
gestve of the Mazurin and his admonition tina
there is no God but Allah, and Mahomet is tn
i prophet" The roofs are after the custom CT tn
Orient. Every part of the house is furnished in tn
most expensive aud elaborate manner, and the pal
lor looks as though Aladdin and his wonderful Ger
had some hand in Its fitting up. 1t has a capacit
of 1900 guests, and rooms and board are charge
according to location at So to $17.50 per day 70
each person. Tampa is fast becoming city G
cigars, bidding fairto rival her neghbor Havannt
one factory alone making 65,OO0 cigars daily.
Now the anchor is weighed and the good ship
headed for Key West The ships "Mascotte" an
"Olivette" leave port Tampa on the arrival of tn
West India Fast Mail, with the through sleeper
from New York, which is at night; the first loo
; from state room window in the morning show
only Whitewater everywhere and land nowhere i
, sight. When the day is clear looking from por
side distant palm may be seen far to the eastwar
on an island, or perhaps the Coast of Florida ian
shortly after noon sharp look out ahead and a Ii
tie tn the port side will show some more palm
at first only little specks between sky and water
these are on the Florida Keys, and very soon Ke
West il designated. The palm trees grow taller an
. then the shore line comes to view, and every mt
ment is of interest until the lines are made fast
Key West, where stop is made to discharge an
receive freight. drive over the city disclosed th
fact that there is not much energy enterprise di
play ed in any branch of business outside of cigar
do not think there are twenty private residences
the city that cost to exceed 81 QUO to build most
them costing from $3.50 to $500, and from the lool
ought to be excellent place for some live Yankt
to sell paints.
The ship leaves Key West at 10 D. nn and whi
asleep, crosses the Gulf stream, and when you wax
the sun Is shining over the towers Of Moro Castl
The only protective document needed is the certif
cate Of q notary public or Judge Of court that yo
are an American citizen and sou have the freedoI
j of the island with no one to question or requii
"vised" papers. Money is apassporJ and 1t Is nt
necegsary to huy Suauish gold or (uban panar h1