The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-15
PLANTS LATEST PURCHASE.
THE PUNTA GORDA AND PUNTA
RASsA STEAMBOAT LINE.

An Important Addition to the Plant
System-The New Plant Hotel
Christened "The Klssimmee."
Progress of the BelIeview-The
Grand Duchess About Ready.
Work on the New Car Shed In Sa-
vannah to Begin Mt Once.
President Plant of the Plant system was
in the city yesterday en- route to New
York, after having made a trip over the
system in Georgia and Florida. He was
accompanied on his tour Of inspection by
Col. 3. w. Wrenn, passenger traffic man>
ager; Mr.. Frank Q. Brown of Boston,
president of the Florida Southern, and
Mr.. Plants secretary.
Mr.. Plant has secured control of the
steamboat line, heretofore operated by the
Fort Meyers Steamboat Company, run,
ning from Punta Gorda to Punta Rassa,
on one of the keys, and touching a,
Reeds wharf and Matthew's wharf, On
Sanibel Island. This is valuable acqu.-
sition to the SYSTEMS steamer line, as the
islands communicated with are produc.
tive of fine fruits and vegetables and fur
nish large amount of commerce. Punta
Rassa is the point from which cable com,
munication with Key West is obtained.
Sanibel Island is a beautiful gem of the
Gulf, Mr.. Plant said, is very productive
and has an Industrious and energetic
population. He was informed that the
farmers on the island raise between 400
and 800 acres of truck for northern mar
kets during the winter.
Mr.. Brown purchased a large tract on
Captiva island, beautifully and pic-
turesquely located, on the banks of the
famous Sanibel pass, the celebrated tar
pom haunt, and extending across a mar
rover portion Of the large island. so that
the surf bathing Of the Gulf and the still
water bathing Of the pass can be INDUCED
in by club members and visitors, for it is
Mr. Browns purpose to organize club
and erect handsome quarters on the prop
erty. He will take up the matter at once
on reaching Boston.
Mr.. Plant also announced the name of
the Motel he secured at Kissimmee some
time ago. The Tropical has been widely
known as a splendid hotel and 1t will
lose none of its fame or favor under the
systems management and Mr.. Plants re-
christening as 1.-THE Kissimmee
Mr.. Brown said that the party was not
only pleased with the improvements that
are being made by the system on the
west Coast, but was surprised as we'll
At the Tampa Bay hotel and the adjacent
grounds a Veritable paradise is said to
exist The Casino, the new theater, with
It's adjuncts Of bathing pool, club rooms
. and pool rooms and bowling alley is COM
plete in every detail. One very unique eff
feet that will be produced will be the en-
powered procenium, with It's banks of
tropical fruits and foliage plants set in
places prepared at the sides and trained
to meet in an arch overhead.
The Belleview, the hotel being built near
Clearwater, came in for a full share of
Mr.. Browns admiration. The grounds
about the hotel and the location of the
building, he said are perfect, and moth
ing that could add to the identifying of
the surroundings has been left undone.
Two hundred and seventy men are now at
work on the hotel. and it's completion is
expected in ample time for the winter
tourists southern flight.
Mr.. Plant was asked about the Grand
Duchess. He said that report of the pro-
gress OF the work on her had just been re-
ceived, and 1t is very favorable. The build
ers will have another preliminary trip out
of Newport News the last Of the week.
but the date for the official trial trip has
not yet been fixed.
Work on the new car shed for Savannah
will commence soon. Mr.. Plant said, but it
will not be an edhce of any very imposing
appearance. 1t will differ from the old one
in few material points, the most impor-
tant being greater stability than its storm
wrecked predecessor possessed.
Mr. Plant. accompanied by Mr. Brown.
left last night in Superintendent Dun
hams car for New York, his own private
car being left here for repairs
Col. Wrenn will leave for Atlanta to-
day.
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