The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-16
GROWING TAMPA.
4 steady and Rapid Growth in Bust
ness and Population.


Tampa. Fla. Aug. ia few weeks
ago your correspondent dropped in on
this now-ealIed Magic City and was
struck with surprise at the wonderful
growth OF the past two years. To-day
the waves Of progress roll higher If any
thing than they did when 1 was last here.
Perhaps one secret Of this may be found
in the almost daily excursions being run
to this city from every direction, by
rail and steamer. For nearly four months
these excursions have brought crowds Of
people here, and tomorrow three ex-
cursions are expected. Now the motto,
Quick sales and small profits" adopted
by the Tampa merchants. has caught
the crowds and made business brisk.
There seems to be little abatement
in the number of visitors. and all are
struck with the rapid growth Of the
city and its many suburbs. Thus the
fame Of Tampa has gone abroad and
merchants, mechanics, lawyers, doctors,
etc, are moving here to try their for
tunes with those already settled. Some
have made a good move, while others
are likely to fail in their undertakings.
Now in the matter of new buildings,
a visiting carpenter and contractor told
me to-day that with hundreds OF new
buildings Of all styles and sizes going
up 1t is almost impossible for carpen-
ter from outside to strike a job. II is
true that many persons who come
in search Of employment fail to sue
coed, but there is a steady increase in
the population and business of the city.
What for the future? Well. when these
cheap excursions cease the regular win
ter tourists will be coming to Florida.
and nothing is more certain than that
they will come to the West Coast. only
here will they find the orange and lemon
trees in hearing and other semi-tropical
fruits almost uninjured by the late freeze.
Tampa will have the benefit of much Of
this fruit traffic the coming season. with
the probable assurance of steady in
crease each succeeding season. This traf-
fic alone will be big item. Then comes
the immense increase in cigar
factories that are the basis of
the rapid suburban growth Of the
city. Added to these are the phosphate
industry and the fish and oyster trade.
of course, the northern visitors and
winter residents spend a good deal of
money here and keep business lively in
the retail stores. Tampa has been quite
a newspaper center, and besides several
local dailies. the Morning News and other
big dailies have large sales. Fitch, the
leading news dealer, has doubled the size
of his store 10 meet his rapidly increasing
business. / was surprised at the big pile
OF the Morning News that daily passes
over his counter, an evidence that the
people here appreciate a first-class
journal
The whole west coast country is draw
ing to il a large increase of population,
as the idea has gone out that it is below
the so much talked of frost line. and
orange and lemon cult ure will be safe in
vestments there. Til rop this winter will
be larger than was a Sc anticipated ana
viii be sold at very handsome profit.
Good Florida oranges always find ready
purchasers, at profitable prices. Reports
indicate a good quality of fruit now on
the trees.
One grand Improvement now under way
and that will be completed in time for the
opening of the famous Tampa Bay hotel
is a new iron drawbridge over the Hills
borough river almost in front of the hotel
1t is a slow and difficult job. and foot
pasSers cross on a narrow temporary
structure just below the bridge, while car
riages and teams are compelled to go
round by the West Tampa bridge. OF
course this is very inconvenient, but after
a few months of this Inconvenience the
city will have q handsome, durable and
convenient iron bridge leading to the very
heart of the city. II is an expensive inn
provement to the tax payers, yet one that
will finally enhance the value of neighbor-
ing property beyond its own cost.