The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-03-09
THE SOUTH IN wINrER.-vI.
TAMpA, Fla, Feb. 26, lS0l

st. PeterSOurg mtgnJ Oe termed the
jumping off place, in fact the wharf up
on which the trains land you, runs out
into the bay 1000 feet, to water Is feet
deep, along side which large steamers
haul to load and unload. The town
boasts of the usual churches, schools
stores. fisheries, ice factories, hotels and
bathing pavilions, also tobOggan slide
into the bay. This town is nearer the
Gulf and has deeper water than any
other on the west coast. 1t is some Il
feet above tide water and slopes gradu.
ally to the water's edge, three quarters
of mile, and is one of the very few
places in Florida this winter with hotels
full and running over. A shell is found
here in great numbers, called Panama.
They are from one to three inches long,
about the size of ones finger, and make
very pretty ornaments, many being used
for watch charms.
From the dock. the fishing is excel.
lent. Spanish mackerel in great num.
bers, are caught from the pier. Oysters
are also to be had in unlimited numbers.
Steamers make daily trips to Tampa and
the Port, Tampa, a distance of some u
miles by water, has passed the expert.
mental stage, and it is full f1edged city
of 1000 inhabitants, or with it's 4th
ward, Ybor City, 10000. 1t has two
lines of electric street cars, and is the
terminus of two steam railroads. 1t al
so sports paved streets, part of which
are made of tree trunks, cut some 9 10
10 inches long and set on end, the bal
ance of the paved streets are made of a
species of lime, wet and spread like
cement. When dry it is hard and very
white. We find it trying to the eyes in
this every day sun.
The Justly celebrated Tampa Bay
Hoter' is located here, being in the
Plant system, the others of which are
located at Port Tampa, "The Inn," 8
miles distant, and "The Seminole" at
Winter Park. We will not attempt a
description of the Tampa Bay Hotel, as
we will not be able to do it justice.
The cost has been estimated at two nil
lions. One room, the parlor, is filled
with furniture and bric-a-brae from
every nation, and is made merely to look
at, not to use. We were kindly shown
through the building and grounds. No
expense has been spared to make this
one of the finest hotels on this conti-
nent. Cheapest rate is five dollars daily
and up, way up.
Trains run every few hours to Port
Tampa, where steamers are taken for
Key West and Havana, reaching Key
West in % hours, and Havana in 8 hours
more. Leaving Port Tampa, Monday
evening at s o'clock, one arrives at Ha-
vana Wedue sday morning at o'clock.
Steamers also leave here for Mobile,
leaving Port Tampa on Saturday, at s
p. M, reaching Mobile at s a. M. Mon
day.
We visited an ice factory and were
shown through the same. Water is
pumped from driven wells mot as we
drive at the North, but drilled and
cased), sometimes $50 feet deep. 1t is
then distilled, which leaves it very hot,
as it comes from the distilling engine.
1t is pumped into tanks In the upper
floors to cool. Ammonia is then ex-
panded until one drop is enlarged, or oc-
cupies the space formerly used for one
hundred. This expansion causes the
intense cold necessary to freeze the
water, and you can trace the exact spot
where the expansion takes place, on the
outside of pipes conducting the same.
Within three inches the pipes will be
free from anything to indicate its con-
tents, on the one side as ammonia comes
from the engine, while on the other side
pipes are covered nearly three-fOurths
of an inch with ice. The distilled water
is run through rubber hose to oblong
square zine receptaeles about one foot
square bV three long, and if filled, will
hold 200 pounds ice. These zinc boxes
are nearly submerged in brine contain
idg 80 per cent. salt. These boxes are
surrounded with coils of pipes, through
which the expanded ammonia is forced
for about twenty-four hours, when the
boxes are raised from the brine, run on
trucks to hot water faucet which is al
lowed to run over them for q few mo-
ments. The box is then inverted, and
out slips the cake of ice, so clear one
can read large print through it. 1t is
then run into the packing room where
it is lightly covered with light excelsior
and sewed in sacking, when it is ready
to ship. 1t is sold by the pound at from
one half to one and One-half cents, as to
customer and amount taken, or five dol
lars per ton.
The water, while freezing, is covered
with floor to protect from dirt and
evaporation. Many people use the ice
for drinking purposes, allowing it tC
melt, as it is the pursst water to be had
A piece Of our Northern ice the same