The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-17
Cwrltlon for the 1ntclllgonccr.)

E WIS OTEu0lseu III 1000. OuCe SdCl SeRLt
the editors meet In convention, and the
rivalry that Is shown by the difterent
sections 10 secure the conventions
seems to be second only to that ex-
perlenced In locating the conventions
OF the two great political parties. Per-
haps the most pleasant OF these an
nual outings was the one Just held in
st. Augustine. Florida. This conven-
ton was composed OF about 400 dele
gates. many OF them being aecompan-
led by their wives aud daughters.
Nearly every state and territory IN
the union was represented. The itinery
was admirably arranged by Secretary
Page. The delegates west of the Ohio
river went by special train from ST
Louis. The eastern contingent met at
the Metropolitan Hotel In Washington
and left there Friday afternoon, Janu-
AIRY Il. In special train Of four Pull
man coaches with one baggage car.
One chr was filled by New York state
delegates headed by Frank p. Garrett.
Of the Syracuse Times, ("Papa") whom
everyone was glad to know, The New
England states were allotted one car.
Pennsylvania delegates filled one car,
their delegation being the largest ut
the convention. It was headed by
State Senator Thomas V. Cooper, OF
Media, who was collector Of the port
of Philadelphia under President Harri-
son. and for many years chairman OF
the State Republican Committees; he
ds a firm Believer In Quay and thinks
he will be the Republican nominee for
President; r. II. Thomas. OF Mechan-
icSburS. who was elected president OF
the association for the ensuing year.
his canvas being in charge OF Mr.. II.
p, Snyder, of the ConnellSvIlle Courier
who was accompanied by his handsome
wife, and they do say that many votes
were won to Mr.. Thomas by Mrs, Sny-
der's charming manners; John *. Ew-
ing, ir,, OF Un!ontown, Pa, who was
the life OF the whole party, aud many
other prominent people whom space
prevents me from mentioning. The
fourth car was filed with delegates
from West Virginia, Maryland and
Virginia. The West Virginia cort!n-
gent were: W. s Wiley, OF New Mar
tInsvilIe. who was designated by Sec
rotary Page to take charge o. the east
ern Contingent, and he was compll-
mensed by everybody for his splendid
arrangement OF every detail: Col. e. L.
Smith and wife. of Falrmont; T. II.
Dennis and wife. OF Lewisburg: J: 0.
Thompson, OF Keyser: J. E. Fleming,
Mrs. Della Evans and Mrs. ]. G. Lag
CELL, OF Morgantown; ]. F. Thompson
and wife. OF STartinsburg: J. Slldeil
Brown. OF KIugwood: n. G. Sparry. OF
clarksburg, and J. K. Hall, OF Wheel
ing.
The special was run over the Penn
sylvania road to Quantico. where Il was
taken by the Richmond, Fredericks-
burg & Potomac Railroad to Charles
ton, S. C. A stop OF one hour was made
at Richmond for supper The next
morning at o'clock We REACHED Sa:
vanna1, Georgia, having passed
through the states OF North and South
CarolIna during the night. Bpcakfaat
was taken at the DeSoto hotel, a grand
structure occupying an entire square
and costing over $l.000.000. The fore
noon was spent In driving around this
beautiful southern city and In a trip to
the far-famed Bonaventure Cenrster-
les. Here stretch out long avenues
lined with live oak trees covered with
the graceful Spanish moss artlSticaliy
and efrectually displayed by natures
master hand. drooping almost 70 tne
carriage top. lmprcSsing one as GER
faInly ON ideal resting place for the
dead. 49,
we LEFT Savannah at 2 p. m. Satur-
day. Our train had been taken IN
charge at Charleston by Col. Il. W.
Wrenn. general trafilc manager OF the
Plan: System OF railroads. which In
clndes over 5000 miles in South Caro-
lima, Georgia, Alabama and Florida,
with direct steamer connections TO
cuba and Jamaica, We stopped at
sltwanee Sulphur Springs for supper.
This Is a popular resort and sanit7rium
located on the banks OF the famous
Suwanee river.
After supper the large dining room
was cleared and two hours were spent
in dancing 10 the music OF celebrated
coIored orchestra. Here We were to
meet the western contingent. but owing
20 some delay. they did not arrive and
al midnight We again took the train
morning, Tampa Is a city Of 2l,090 in
hahEnnts. Il Is the terminus Of the
Plant System OF railroads on the west
coast OF Florida and the port for load
ing the steamers
when the railroad reached Tampa In
1884 the population was only 500 The
principal reason for this steady In.
crease has been the establishment OF
cigar factories, the first one being l0ca.
ted here in 1885. Now there are 125 fac
torles, employing over 5000 hands,
mostly CubanS. The yearly internal
revenue collections amount 10 100000
and the custom receipts are 100000 an
knually.
4as Ia full OF Interest. YOU will And from
three to four hundred Cubans OF all
shades and color seated at their tables
siiNntly plying their trade. In the centre
of Abe room. elevated on rude pulpit,
A r1an Is reading aloud to these work
meE. He reads eight hours a day.
four In the morning md four in the
afternoon. He Is an educated SPanIaTd,
reads in the native tongue and chooses
MS own matter At Intervals he
causes 10 allow his hearers 10 COM
fneut upon what they have heard. Each
AZ ME three or four hundred workmcn
pays a cent n day for this oral Instruc-
ton.
Ing effort Of Mr.. II. II, Plant, the presi-
dent OF the Plant System, Is located on
the banks OF the HiIIsborough river, In
the centre OF n park pf l60 acres Of
groves, avenues. gnrhcns. fountains,
bridges and water ways. II IL certain
~ one OF the grandcBt structures ever
designed for a winter resort. over 1900
feet long, four stories high, each room
an outside room. The Interior is fur
nishcd and decorated In the most cx-
ouislte taste. The furniture is mostly
imported. There are cabIntcs. paint
ini,s, stntunry, bric-n-brac-ln fact
nothing that artistic taste can suggest
ar unlimited means purchnEe ls want
ing 10 make the Tampa Bay Hotel one
OF the most luxurious and attractive
hubble places OF abode on the American
continent.