Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-02-13

sessions, was provided with some interest
ing and enjoyable programme.
As we stated in a previous letter this
tour of the party upon the west coast Of
Florida, was under the auspices of the
famous Plant system of ralroads and
hotels. On the east coast it was under
she direction Of the Flagler system, ana
nothing was omitted by its wide awake
officials that could in any way contribute
to the comfort and enjoyment of our
party.
What the Plant system has done and is
doing for the west coast of Florida, the
Flagler system has done and is doing for
the east coast. With its magnificent hotel
properties this system IS easily one of the
greatest in the world; but it is scarcely
less remarkable than has been the busi-
ness career and achievements Of its pro
jector. Mr. Flagler was st St. Augustine
and Palm Beach when cur party was in
those places, and many of them enjoyed
the opportunity of meeting him person
ally. The following description by a
Chicago correspondent, gives an excellent
picture of him. There Is not more I'M
obtrusivc man about his hotels or rail
way. He is very much such a looking
gentleman as Mr.. Marshall Field. With
the same white hair and mustache but
rather more pronounced features Mr.
Flagler dresses elegantly but plainly.
affecting the cutaway type of coat and
alternating with. q silk and stiff hat He
wears patent feathers and black cravats
He is said to be about sixty, and looks it,
with a kind face that is not without
evidences Of sorrow and tribulation.
have it rather direct that Mr. Flagler is
worth between sixty-five and seventy
millions, and that he has fifteen or
twenty of them planted in Florida. He
is assuredly a natural born developer, a
prince among millionaircs, with no small
or penurious ideas, and far seeing. ANY
ordinary man would speedily have gone
down under the multiplying investments
and responsibilities that his Florida career
has recorded He is unselfshly dcyeloping q
Florida, in that he cannot hope for present
returns upon his lavish investments, and
not until the next or future generations
will his motives and nobility be fully
appreciated He must already have at
least 5000 men on his Florida pay rolls,
and these represent on the accepted
average from $1,000 to 25, 900 population
indirectly dependent upon his disburse-
ments. The three St. Augustine hotels
(Ponce DeLeon, Alcazar and Cordova, }
require at high tide from 500 to $50 help
the Ormond $50, the Royal Poinciana
and Palm Beach Inn 600, aud the Florida
East Coast Railway, in all $500 This
season the Flagler hotels have common
warehouse In st. Augustine, from which
all supplies are issued except immediate
market stuffs The chain Of palace hotels
is developing giant requirements and
systematic management
Mr.. Flagler is gentleman of broad
gauge He docs nothing by halves 1t is
not ten years since he began his immense
work of developing the east coast of
Florida, and the results have been little
short of marvellous. The Flagler railway
system begins at Jacksonville aud extends
to Biscayne bay, Il distance of nearly 400
miles, and affords its patrons first class
service. 1.-The building of the ponce
DeLeon, " says the Chicago 100, REQUIRED
improved railway facilities from Jackson
vile to ST. Augustine, between which
only little narrow gauge plug existed.
necessitating a ferry across the St. John.
Mr.. Flagler began in the right way.
bought and broad gauged the little road
bridged the st. John, and no broader
road or trains now leave the Jacksopyille