Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-02-04
81. Petersburg, Fla,
January 81, 1898.

would like to tell you
something OF this, my second visit to
this beautiful town, and, first OF all, OF
the delightful weather in this the most
favored section OF Sunny Florida. With
the exception Of day or two last week,
the air has been ~ balmy the entire
winter as during May in Virginia. It is
seldom that one seeks fire here, anu 30
far as the temperature is concerned, it's
all that one could wish.
ST Petersburg's growth since | was
here two years ago has been magical
Sixth avenue, the business street, and on
which Is located the Detroit and other
hotels, has shcled streets, taken from
deposits OF fish bone shells, etc, found in
the creeks and bayOus. which make "A
beautiful and substantil roadway. 1t Is
a beautiful sight looking shoreward from
the bay. A gradual rise OF 60 feet to the
half mile brings out prominently every
| portion of the town, and the pier which
runs out three-quarters of mile to deep
water. always presents some features OF
interest to the stranger, besides afford
| lug splendid place for the disciples OF
Izaak Walton to cntce the finny Tube.
The boat from Port Tampa, nine miles
over the bay, connects here daily with
| the train for the famous winter resort OF
the Plant System, Bslleair, eighteen
miles west. Just Yves OF the town, and
within the corporate limits. is beauti'
full fresh water lake, fringed with orange
groves and pineapple farms. file ilne'
apple industry has proven even more
lucrative here than orange growing, nc
| doubt owing to the water protection OF
this sub-peninsula. With pineapple:
there lie not so long wait for the fruit
AS with oranges. They will produce in
from fifteen to eighteen months, aftei
| first setting, and thereafter only need
cutting out, leaving one shoot to each
stand. I The industry is growing daily
and it is safe to say that two year:
hence this will be the greatest pineapple
country In the world. The fruit grows
extremely large aud the flavor is OF the
finest. st. Petersburg has two weekly
newspapers. the second number OF The
| Sub-Peninsula having been issued last
week. BY the way, its mechanical de-
partAcnt is presided over by a Virginia
boy. Mr.. Il. b. Smith, who learned the
trade with the late A. A. Little, on the
| Fredericksburg News.
The late "cold snap" as it is called,
did some damage to the young orange
trees and .uavas "a Kind OF apple,
about the size OF the Ben Davis, and oil
p .rpetuil growth,) but thi- evening had
some oranges right off the trees, and
never saw better fruit anywere. By car
~ spring there will be plenty Of guayas
and mangOcs. most delicious and
healthful fruit. In the market nOw.and
| during the entire winter, can be found
celery. tomatoes and in fact, vegetables
of all kinds. Strawberries can be raised
here almost the entire year, and the
tobacco latter three crops year, is said
to be az fine as any grown IN CUBA, IN
some instances bringing - per pound.
There j. no doubt in my mind, having
visited all sections OF tho state. but that
St. Petersburg aud vicinity enjoy many
natural advantages not possessed by any
o.hcr section OF Florida.
The fishing is very fine here usually,
but for some reason the past two weeks
the fish have been biting slowly, 30 | took
4 run to Quarantine, some twenty miles
below. which is also United States
cOaing station. There had quite an
exciting time with shark which
hooked, but finally, with the aid OF some
half dozen men. lladed him safely. lie
measured feet inches, and was al
together an ugly looking customer.
Another one. measuring II feet2 inches.
was taken last Saturday at the pier at
St. Petersburg. Have had great sport
among the birds, and barring an en-
counter with foot RATHER, which was
soon dispatched but not until he had
made several strikes at the dog and my
! sell. have met no wild yarmints' worth
mentioning. At Quarantine landed 4
groupers weighing sixty pounds. On
our way up we passed two OF Uncle
SAM torpedo boats lying at anchor in
the bay. The navy is well represented
in Florida waters, within easy call 0,
Havana and the people here are very
/ anxious that Gen. Lee will have some
] thing for them TO do over there besides
exchanging diplomatic cOurtesies and
attending balls and dinners while thOus
ands Of unfortunate human beings are
dropping i'm the street. and behind thC
forts OF Havaug from actual starvation
The FlOridians. oi course, feel the effects
OF the Cuban war more keenly than those
OF other parts OF the United States, and
they say thatif Mckinley, Read & Co
will hands of they can raise men anC
money enough in Florida to drive the
Spaniard. into the sea. The war is q
great drawback to this country. particu
larry to Tampa City the cigarmakers OF
that place alone sending $1,000 per
month to their unto rtunate but patriotic
cOuHtryaen.
A letter frSm home several days since
| informed me OF the extremely bad
weather you have been having lately,
which makes me wish all the moro yot
could enjoy the delightful climate here
am writing at an open window ant
enjoying just such weather as we have
in our beautiful Valley in June.
actually believe if the people OF Virginia
and the more northern states had the
| slightest idea Of conditions as they really
exist in Florida. the state would not b'
large er cough TO entertain the guests tC
say nothing OF those who would make
this their future nome. have not found
the spring OF perpetual youth, for which
ronce de Leou united 50 assiduouslT
but am thoroughly satisfied with my trip
and know that am greatly benefited