Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1896-06-30
EAST COAST OF FLORIDA.
suPER5 HoTELs AND A PARADISE FOR
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS.
From st Augustln to Miami, on Blscayn
Bay.

w ueu tue orange BKOWluB lnuu51
attracted public attention to Florid
from all parts of this country ant
the outside world the region know
as South Florida, which has no clearl,
defined northern limit, immediatel,
Immediately forged to the front al
the most promising part of the State
for investors and the most attractive
four tourists. While South Florida''
development 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 little known
comparatively because of its limited
means of transportation.
1t was in 1885 that Mr.. Henry M.
Flager of New York City became SO
charmed with the climate and the
natural attractions of St. Augustine
that he conceived the idea of build
ing there hotel which should be
suited in every way to the tastes of
the most exacting of Florida's tour
lists. The result was the Hotel Ponce
de Leon, which occupied nearly three
years in it's construction, at 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 appoint
ments in the world. To it has since
been added the Alcazar and the Cor
uova in this city, the three with their
surrounding constituting group
whose palatial proportions cannot be
equal while the century lasts.
The man who conceived all this
and carried out his ideas so success
fully, did not confne his work to st.
He became convinced
that the region lying along the At
lantic Ocean, southwark from st.
to Key West, was capable
of great and profitable development.
He at once began the work of open
ing 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 Jackson.
vile, st. Augustine 81 Halifax River
Railway, running from Jacksonville
TO st. Augustine, from st. Augustine
to East Palatka, and from East Palat-
ka coastward to Ormond and Dayto-
ma. Then followed the extension of
the line southwark through Titus
vile 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 extern
sion running from Palm Beach to
Miami on Biscayne Bay. The entire
system covers more than 400 miles of
territory and penetrates region that
is not only picturesque and beautiful
in it's natural scenery, but much of it
unlike the face of nature anywhere
else 10 the world. Its climate is ex-
quisite in winter and much cooler
than other parts of the semi tropics
in summer, the influence of the ocean
and particularly of the Gulf Steam
tempering it through all seasons of
the year in such way as to 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 fash
ionabe procession and supplies its
present and prospective needs. At
Ormond -ou-the-HaIifax the Hotel Or
mond-since Mr., Flager acquired an
interest in it, and had it remodeled
and refurnished-has become one of
the most popular resorts in Florida.
Its location is beautiful and its ap-
pointments are of the best. People
of fashion assemble there for three
months in the year and invaIids and
people of quiet taste find it delight
full home. The schedules Of the Flor
ida East Coast Railway are so ar
ranged as to keep the Ormond in
close touch with the outside world
and during the season life there is
the gayest of gay.
Southwark, by easy rail stages, are
Daytona, New Smyrna and Titusville
all having excellent hotels and the
latter being besides resort, a busy
busting little city, the head of the
navigation of the Indian River.
Still farther south are Eau Gallie,
Melbourne, Niece, Sebastian, St Lu,
Gle and Fit. Pierce, where the rich
and productive pineapple country is
found. At these places as we'll as al
Ankona, Eden, Jensen, Waveland
and Sewell's Point, are immense
Pineapple plantations which are rap
idly making their owners rich now
that Flagler railway furnishes them
with quick transportation for theil
fruit to all markets.
From the pineapple district the