Smyrna times., 1893-04-26

prospect pleased Mr.. Mccormick. He
paid Mr.. Geer his price for the prop
erty and soon began to create what is
now acknowledged to be the most
beautiful home in South FIorida-a
home that has become famous bevoud
the seas.
Other Northern people followed Mr..
Mccormick, buying homes, notably the
Bartons, father and son, at Palm Beach
and Mr.. c. l. Cragin, of Philadelphia.
who has made beautiful grounds north
of the Lake Worth Hotel.
Property advanced to $3.50 per acre
for lake and ocean fronts, and peoDIe
said it was too high and that such
prices could not stand. A little later
they had to pay 5000 per acre if thev
wanted it, or they waited to buv il
cheaper next winter and had to nav
$3.50 or more. And SO on, down to the
beginning of the present year, when
choice lake and ocean fronts were sell
ing at $3.50 to $3.50 per acre.
In the meantime steamboats, had
been put on the Indian river between
Titusville and Jupiter, railroad had
connected the latter place with the
head OF the lake, and good, swift
steamer had come on the lake, giving
this region fairly comfortable but
rather slow communication with the
North. The hotel accommodations
had been increased at both Palm Beach
and Lake Worth, but could not keen
pace with the influx of winter visitors.
During the present season many persons
have had to occupy tents put up bv the
hotels and boarding houses, and have
found such accommodations, after
trial, so healthful and pleasant in this
glorious climate, as to prefer them to
any other.
Early experiments with the pine
apple having proved very successful.
especially on the west side. a LARGE
acreage was put in the fruit last sum.
mer, and many pretty houses were
Dullt on both the east and west sides.
Mr.. Flagler announced his intention
OF building his railroad down the east
coast; the county road was made from
the foot of the lake to Bay Biscayne.
and stage line put on the route: a
daily mail, which is not as daily as it
should be, was established; the tele.
graph was extended to Palm Beach.
and with the grandest winter climate
under the sun and the most beautiful
and extensive tropical growth in the
United States, Dade county in general
and Lake Worth in particular. entered
the New Year in a position to rapidlv
approach reputation and prosperitv
heretofore undreamed of by the most
enthusiastic residents.
Men of taste, culture and money
escaping from the trying winter of the |
north, came, looked on the enchanting
prospect, breathed the healthful and
invigorating air, and wrote a check for
q winter home.
When Mr.. Flagler decided to extend |
his railway system down the east
coast, his attention was naturally |
turned to Lake Worth. He knew of !
the climatic conditions existing here as
they exist nowhere else on the CONT.
nent, and was familiar with the tender
tropical growth which flourished in
this land of almost perpetual June
Mr., Flagler, like all successful men
always plucks an opportunity when II
is ripe, and decided that here must he
> great and beautiful hotel, surrounded
by spacious grounds and tropical
groves, where might be accommodated
the thousands who are longing to enjoy
The comforts and health giving sir, of
his new and enchanted tropical won
1erland.
Mr.. Flagler came here a few weeks
lgO, accompanied by Mr.. J. f. Ingra-
nam, his general agent and manager
If his railway system, looked carefully
over the ground, weighed the advan-
ages of different properties offered for
he hotel site, made liberal PROPOSE
ion to our people by which they NAV
'ecure the early completion of the
Dad to West Palm Beach, and the
'esult OF the visit was the purchase
asst week, by Mr.. Flagler, of the Nc.
Cormick place and adjoining properties
amounting in all, to nearly one hum
ired acres. Other valuable property.
exceeding two hundred acres, includ.
ng Captain POrter's property at Palm !
Beach, has been secured by purchase
II option, and e shall now expect to
ee on the shores of Lake Worth. such S
hotel, with such surroundings as J
My the original ideas, liberal mind q
progressive spirit and ample means of /
Or. Flagler can create. q
The natural advantages of this loca- !
ion for such an undertaking are GER /
ainly unequalled. Tropical palms
nd trees in vigorous fruitage and e
hrubs and vines from the warmer q
lines of all the world are here in o
lVish array, and we might say that to t
ne surroundings of Mr.. Flagler's trop- t.
'al hotel ON Lake Worth, little will Il
eed to be added, v
MIR. Flagler has not yet given his Y
lans to the public. but it is sufficient t,
} know that he has taken an active d
lterest in the Lake Worth region.
Whatever we might imagine he will do a
ould probably fall short of the result. ii
only remains for the people of this ei
'vored section to give his enterprise Al
le hearty and unsel6sh support which
he undertakings of all liberal-minded Fl
en deserve. SCOTT WAY. Il
Palm Beach, March 25, 1898. F