The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-03-10

shaw and Mr.. and Mrs. F. A. Wardwell,
chartered delivery wagon with two
large seats and one small horse and a ma
tive driver and took a delightful drive
out i'll the suburbs, making one of the
most enjoyable days on the trip. Oh
course we can not speak for the horse,
who though attached to the party was
not one of us; besides none OF us were
heavy weights except w. ]. To most Of
that party, it will be long remembered
that on that day for the first time, they
saw growing, bananas, oranges, lemons,
guavas, cactus pear. grape fruit, pine
apples, and perhaps other fruit, besides
many strange and new forms of tropical
growth. Many gardens of early vege-
tables were seen, mostly however just
started, while each lady had permission
to pick from bed one ripe strawberry.
In this locality the frost seemed to have
been absent in the great freeze of six
years ago and we saw some magnificent
orchards of orange trees, some of which
were twenty years old and foot or more
through at the ground. The fruit is
gathered the first part of December, anc
at the time we were there, the white Of
the blossom was just peeping through
the green covering. Some of the yell
low fruit is permitted to remain on the
trees. where it will keep in good preser-
vation tor many months, and is after
wards picked for late market Pine
apple cultivation is costly. Several
"pineries" were visited. About five
acres was in the largest. The apples
grow quite close to the ground, on
stems, with large cactus-like leaves
about in the same style us kohl rabbi
grows. The whole pinery is surrounded
by high fences made of boards or lath,
covered completely over with a lattice
work of lath, over which, to protect the
plants from both sunshine aud frost is
stretched canvas cloth. Only the very
earliest were ripe and they were held at
fancy prices.
On our way back on our ride here, we
visited some yer. curious mounds, built
away back of historic times, consisting
entirely of oyster shells. They were
about forty feet high, conical in shape,
perhaps hundred feet in diameter. One
OF these mounds is being utilized to
pave" the streets Of the village and
makes splendid road. Mammoth
oyster shells, far larger than are ever
seen in modern times, are found among
the rest.
Farther down Tampa bay near the
gulf are other towns and villages. AT
Palmasola lives Mrs. J.C. Bridges for
merly Miss Ruby White, neice of Mr..
w. ]. Kneeshaw, who resided in Penn
bina for some years. Visiting with her
this winter are Grandma Kneeshaw and
Miss Hazel Knecshaw and with whom
Mr.. and Mrs. w. ]. Kneeshaw spent a
pleasant stay of a week or more. Near
by is Palmetto, the home of our former
friend and resident of Bathgate, Isaac
F. Houston. We regret exceedingly the
brevity of our stay prevented our meet
ing him. Mr.. and Mrs. Kneesllaw visited
him and reported him doing we'll finan-
cially, but that the climate did not seem
to agree with his own or his family's
health. 1t is claimed that this Tampa
Bay region is mostly free from frost and
Mr.. Kneeshaw was so pleased with it
that he bought partially improved farm
near Palmasola. He however does not
expect to remove there until he can sell
his share in the ''X-Rays."
St. Augustine, said to be the oldest
town in the United States, has much of
interest to the visitor. Here old and
new are stangely mixed. Just on the
edge of the frost line, tropical growth of
palmetto and palm are abundant. An
old and somewhat extensive fortifcation
would bear pages of description legend
and history. Just now it is used as a
prison for military criminals. An open
building supported by massive pillars is
said to have been the slave market, and
fronting on the square in which it is sit
uated is an ancient cathedral. Some old
narrow streets, six to ten feet wide, with
overhanging balconies projecting from
ancient buildings, are picturesque if not |
while other streets lined
with splendid modern buildings, are
wide and spacious, and finely paved.
At Tampa, the "Plant SYSTEM" which
runs railroads and steamships, have spent
thousands in beautiful buildings and
other improvements, but at St. Angus
:ine Henry D. Flagler, the Standard Oil
has spent millions in beautify-
ng the old city. Someone in our party
asked native "How the people lived in
Florida?" The answer was: For three
months we live on Northern Yankees.
md on hog and homlny for the rest oil,
he year." For this great influx of winter