The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-07
PLANTS BIG INTERESTS.
A CHAT WITH THE PROMOTER OF
THE PLANT SYSTEM.

THE PLANT SYSTEM.
Bis Observations During Two Weeks
Trip Through Florida-The Tide o.
Travel Heavier Than 1t Has Ever
Been-The Damage to Florida by the
Freeze Overestim sted-Mr. Plants
Winter Excursions-Cuban Travel.
Mr.. H. B. Plant whose arrival in the
city was mentioned in yesterdays MORNING
NEWS, will remain to the board of trade
dinner tomorrow night. Mr.. HIM. Flagler,
Mr.. Plants associate in the development Of
Florida, is expected to arrive in time for
the banquet.
Mr.. Plant is staying in his private car at
the Savannah, Florida and Western depot,
where he was seen yesterday. He appeared
to be enjoying good health in spite
Of his seventy-odd years and greeted
his callers cordially. He has just
returned from two weeks trip in Florida,
| where he has been looking after his various
interests.
Mr.. Plant said the travel southwark this
year has been very satisfactory, especially
| that which travels "hrst-clsssn and pays the
highest prices at the hotels.
! The vestlbule train has carried a larger
! number OF passengers than up to the same
date last year, and all the large hotels report
the number Of guests as greater than the
number TO the same date last year.
THE FLORIDA CROPS.
! Mr.. Plant thinks the reports of damage
| TO the Florida orange and vegetable crops
! by the cold weather in January were greatly
exaggerated. The injury to the present
crop of oranges he found to be very slight,
only the young foliage OF the trees being
slightly frost-bitten. The vegetable crops
| north Of Ocala suffered considera Die loss,
but not as large as has been generally sup
! posed. South Of Leesburg and about Lake
| Alfred and Winter Haven, great vegetable
growing centers, the damage was very
| slight. Mr.. Plant SAYS there are several
hundred acres in tomatoes alone about
! Lake Alfred and the damage to these is not
| over per cent
One OF the objects Of Mr.. Plants visit to
| Florida at this season was to arrange for
the new departure in his passenger steam
ship service to the West Indies. The steam
| ship Halifax Of the Canada-Atlsuttc Com
plny, in which Mr.. Plant is largely inter
ested, will be brought south, as already
announced by the MORNING News, to
make three excursion trips from Port
Tampa to Nassau and Jamaica. A very in~
teresting programme has been arranged for
these excursions. The Halifax will leave
Port Tampa on her first trip on Feb. 16.
IN THE WEST INDIES.
The voyage will occupy about eleven
| days, giving one day at Nassau, with ample
time to visit this lovely elsie of the summer
sea-" Three days will be given in Jamaica,
which will be spent in Kingston, the capital
| city OF the island; a railroad ride over the
scenic line of the Jamaica railway to Bog
| Walk, and a carriage drive through
| tue lovely Rio bre valley to Spanish
Town; a carriage drive through the island,
visiting banana and sugar plantations and
| the celebrated government botanical gar
| dens at Castleton. On arrival at Kingston
Tuesday morning, after b-eakfast on board
! ship, passengers will be- taken to Myrtle
| Bank hotel and be entertained there until
| after breakfast Wednesday morning, when
| train will be taken for an excursion 20 Bog
| Walk, and a carriage drive to Spanish
| Town, where lunch will be served at the
Rio Cobre hotel, returning by train to
! Kingston in time for dinner at the Myrtle
! Bank. The following day will be spent in
a carriage drive across the island through
sugar and banana plantations and tropical
| scenery of the most beautiful description.
| After a visit to the botanical garden at
Castleton the ship will te again Joined In the
afternoon at convenient north side port,
sailing that night for Port Tampa.
The Halifax is one OF the finest passenger
vessels plying on the Atlantic coast. The
second excursion will take place about
March l and the third about March 49,
! ALbeE DeE buATu TRIP bu6 haIlIAA Will De
| returned to her regular run between Boston
and Halifax. These excursions are more
in the nature of an experiment. Mr.. Plant
| is confident, however, that they viii prove
very popular, in which case they will be
continued next season.
VISITORS TO HAVANA.
Mr.. Plant has received from the govern
ment of Cuba record of the number of
passengers land ng at Havana and the
number departing from there by the vari-
GUS steamship lines to that port during 1892.
Those who landed numbered $3.50 and
those who departed 2S $50. The report
showed that those who came from New
York, Colon and other ports, except Mexico,
Spain, Por Rico, Tampa and Key West.
we're 1850, while 8, l66 departed. Special
mention was made in the report of the
! Plant steamship line between Port Tampa,
Key West and Havana, distance of 500
miles, Key West being 10l miles from
| Havana.
The two vessels of this line, which are
devoted principally to the carriage of pas
sengevs and the " est Indies fast mail, make
the trip between Port Tampa and Havana
In twenty-five hours, the OhYette, one of the
vessels, being probably the fastest vessel of
its kind flying the American flag. The
report showed that the line had carried
during the year ,946 passengers TO Havana
and taken s, l43 away, and the comparison
with the traffic otherwise was such as to
elats MIR. Plant very highly as demonstrate
ing the popularity OF the system among
those who wished to make q safe and
speedy journey in comfort.
Look to your interest. You can buy Saliva
ton oil, the great pain-cure, for 25 cents-ad.