Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-06-25
THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA.
Superb Hotels and Paradise for Fruit
and Vegetable Growers.

superb uOtelS anu faEuulSe lOT rTult
and Vegetable Growers.
When the orange-growing indus
try attracted public attention to
Florida from all parts of this coun-
try and the outside world the re-
gion known as South Florida,
which has no clearly defined north
ern limit, Immediately forged to
the front as the most promising
part of the state for investors and
the most attractive for tourists.
While South Florida's develop
ment has been going on the one
section of the state that had the
greatest future before it, the finest
climate, the most fertile soil, the
greatest variety of products and
the greatest natural attractions, the
East Coast country, remained lit
tie known comparatively because
OF its limited means of transporta
ton.
1t was in 1885 that Mr.. Henry
NJ. Flagler If New York City be-
came so charmed with the climate
and the natural attractions OF st.
Augustine that he conceived the
idea of building there a hotel
which should be suited in every
way to the tastes of the most ex-
acting of Florida's tourists. The
result was the Hotel Ponce de Leon
which occupied nearly three years
in its construction, at a cost of
nearly 100000. 1t was opened
for its first season in January, 1888,
and it is considered to be beyond
doubt the finest structure in all its
appointments in the world. To it
has since been added the Alcazar
and the Cordova in this city, the
three with their surroundings con-
stituting a group whose palatial
proportions cannot be equaled
while the century lasts.
The man who conceived all this
and carried out his ideas so sue
cessfully, did not confine his work
to St. Augustine. He became con-
vinced that the region lying along
the Atlantic Ocean, southwark
from ST. Augustine to Key West,
was capable of a great and profit
able development. He at once be-
gan the work of opening it up to
travel and settlement and to the
transportation of its products. AS
result the Florida East Coast
Railway sprang into existence.
This system comprises the old
jacksonville, st. Augustine 81 Hal
flax River Railway, running from
Jacksonville to st. Augustine, from
St. Augustine to East Palatka, and
from East Palatka eastward TO Or
mond and Daytona. Then fol-
lowed the extension of the line
southwark through Titusville and
the Indian country to Palm Beach
on Lake Worth with a short line
from Orange City Junction TO New
Smyrna, formerly known as the
Atlantic & Western railroad. Re-
Gently there has been added an ex-
tension running from Palm Beach
to Miami on Biscayne Bay. The
entire system covers more than 400
miles of territory and penetrates a
region that is not only picturesque
and beautiful in its natural scenery
but much of it unlike the face of
nature anywhere else in the world.
Its climate is exquisite in winter
and much cooler than other parts
of the semi-tropics in summer, the
influence of the ocean and particu-
larly of the Gulf steam tempering
it through all seasons of the year
in such way as 10 make it always
comfortable and healthy.
Every year the ambition of the
Florida tourists is to reach farther
southwark and eastward and every
year capital keeps ahead of the
fashionable procession and sup
plies its present and prospective
needs. At Ormond-on-the- Halifax
the Hotel Ormond-since Mr..
Flagler acquired an interest in it,
and had it remodeled and refur-
nished-has become one of the
most popular resorts in Florida.
Its location is beautiful and its ap-
pointments are of the best. Peo-
pie of fashion assemble there for
three months in the year and in
valids and people of quiet taste
find it a delightful home. The
schedules of the Florida East Coast
railway are so arranged as to keep
the Ormond in close touch with
the outside world and during the
season life there is the gayest of
the gay.
Southwark, by easy rail stages,
are Daytona. New Smyrna and Ii
tusville all having excellent hotels
and the latter being besides re-
sort, a busy, bustling little city,
the head of navigation of the Indi-
an river.
Still farther south are Eau Gal
lie, Melbourne, Micco, Sebastian,
st. Lucie and FIT. Pierce, where
the rich and productive pineapple
country is found. At these places