The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-17

Cuba especially for the editors ana
everybody for once smoked cigarettes
without being ashamed OF themselves.
At 4 O'Clock In the afternoon we re-
turned all with the avowed intention or
making n trip to Cuba with tho jolly
Captain Handian.
At s o'clock Monday evening we left
Tampa for st. Augustine, where the
convention was TO meet, and where we
were to spend four days. We arrived
at 0 o'clock the next morning. Great
preparations had been made for our re-
ccptlon, committee having met US ut
Jacksonville.
The Alcazar hotel having been made
the headquarters OF the association.
most OF the delegates stopped there, put
Il number took advantage OF me low
rate offered on this occasion by the
Ponce de Leon, which Is known as one
OF the finest hotels In the world. a
number also stopped Mt the CordoVn.
l will not attempt TO describe the
three hotels, the Ponce de Leon. Alca-
EAR and Cordova, built by Mr.. Flagler.
the multi-milllonnlre. Standard oil ana
railroad man. He must have seen n
wonderful future for st. Augustine
when he converted the low swampy
ground surrounding the old town into
DGhuIllul llWuS iiltl pullk NHSAN WI sA'~'N
palaces OF stone that can only be appre-
ciated rightly by seeing them
The local committee had prepared an
elaborate programme for the editors
and our four days sojOurn there was
very enjoyably spent. The meetings OF
the association were held In the assem-
bly, room OF the Cordava, and while
very interesting. were made us short us
possible. a reception and lunch given
by the ladies' of St. Augustine at oId
Fort Marion, a dinner ut the Ponce De
Leon, a dance at the st. Marco hotel,
dancing and bathing ut the Casino. an
oyster roast OF the ocean beach on
AnastAsia Island, n visit to the light
house, the celebrated CoQutna quhrries,
from which was taken all OF the coqul-
nn or shell rock with which the fort,
sea wall and old Spanish houses OF 81.
Augustine were constructed. the old
slave market. the cathedral. the beauti-
ful memorial Presbyterian church
built by Mr.. Flagler, and many other
places OF interest served TO make the
four days stay st. Augustine very
pleasant ones to all the visitors
Up until year or so ago st. Angus
tine was the Mecca for all northern peo-
pie who went to Florida to escape the
cold winters OF the north, but Mr.. Flag
Ter has found that his Investments
there have been paying and has ex-
tended his railroad on down along the
coast for 900 miles to Fort Worth. Sat
urday morning we left st. Augustine.
The western train had been attached to
ours, making a solid train OF fourteen
Pullman and two baggage cars We
were scheduled TO stop two hours at
Dnytona, n town OF 1000 inhabitants.
beautifully situated on the banks OF the
Halifax river, about sixty miles south
OF st. Augustine. The citizens We're out
In force to meet US with all kinds OF We
hicles from the common farm wagon to
the tnlly-ho coach, or II you chose n
bicycle.
was struck by the number Of wheels
and on inquiry was Informed that over
500 bicycles were owned by the 1900 res
Idents. II certainly was an Ideal place
for whcelman. The two hours ride
was delightful and ! think DaytonG Is
destined to be one OF the finest resorts
In Florida In the near future. A ride OF
half an hour brought us to Ormond,
where we were to spend Saturday night
and part OF Sunday. The Hotel Or
mond is located on n peninsula between
the Halifax river and the ocean and is
surrounded by beautiful drives. The
time here was spent in boating on the
river. driving and strolling on the ocean
beach, which stretched out for twenty
miles along the coast, rs smooth as a
floor. Sunday At 2 p. m. we started for
Palm Beach. $50 miles further south,
which we reached at o'clock in the
evening. Here. TO my mind. we found
the garden spot OF Florida. The Royal
POincinna Hotel Is situated on mar
row strip OF land. from one-fourth to
one-half mile wide. lying between the
ocean and Lake Worth, and surrounded
by groves OF tropical fruits and plants.
The grounds, as well rs every one OF
the GOO rooms. was brilliantly lighted
with electric lights and looked. ~ we
crossed the bridge over the lake, like an
enchanted castle rising in the midst OF
fairy land.
The train stopped right at the en-
trnnce OF the hotel and the crowded. 500
were all comfortably located in their
rooms within fifteen minutes.
This hotel was built on the completion
OF the railroad to Fort Worth in 1894,
and was informed the first winter
was so crowded with guests that Mrs,
Ulysses Grant slept on n cot In the par
lor Last summer the Palm Beach
Inn. n fine hotel Of $50 rooms, was built
to accommodate the increasing demand
for this winter Here we fiFSt saw the
oranges growing on the trees. The
heavy freeze OF last winter almost en-
tIrely wiped out the orange trees OF
Florida. We passed hundreds OF groves
where the old trees had been killed by
the frost, cut down to the ground and
new ones planted. II will be several
years before Florida oranges will he
plentiful In the northern markets again.
II was common occurrence to meet
man who has moved into one OF tho
little towns and gone TO work nt some
thing to tide him over until his orange
grove again puts forth It's golden fruit.
The two days ut Palm Beach were
very pleasantly spent In fishing. sail
ing on the lake. bathing in the ocean
In surf that rivals any on the At
lantic coast. Standing on the ocean
beach the waves made by the Gulf
Stream can plainly be seen about mile
from the shore. The water here on the
goth day Of January was Il degrees
Fahrenheit. and the atmosphere com
pnratIvely az warm. The ground on
this narrow strip between the lake and
ocean has become very valuable, and is
owned mostly by rich northern people.
who have built fine houses and spcnd
their winters here. Mayor Swift, OF
Chicago. has one Of the finest. We
visited the farm OF fifty acres owned
by n Mr.. Clark. of Pittsburgh. He paid
$4,000 for the place. and he has eX-
pended rs much more In improving II.
on this place we found oranges. lemons.
bananas, cocoanuts. ninenpplcs, aS well
az tomatoes and Rll the smaller fruits
and vegetables, ripe and ready for use.
was Informed that the Royal Poln-
clnna, open for guests from the LIST OF
January to April IL last year, cleared
Mr.. Flngler over 100000. but not salts
fed with this grand achievement tho
railroad is being extended on south
through the Everglades, and next year
ut Rlscayne Eay. gcvcnty-fivc miles
further south nnnthcr grind rnRntt will