The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-02-20
SUNNY FLORIDA.
Gen. Supt. Sheppard Of the
P. R. R. Chats About
His Trip.

Sunny Florida will hereafter be the
Mecca during the winter season, for Jec-
sey City people. Some of its best known
citizens, who have just returned from a
trip to the world famed resorts of that
State, have described in glowing words its
wonderful climate scenery and vegeta-
ton, that from now on there will be a
steady annual pilgrimage Particularly
will Lnis be SO since one can take train
from the Jersey City depot of the Penn
sylvania Railroad, with Pullmans and
dining cars to boot, which will land the
passenger directly to st. Augustine,
transfer him in a rapid and luxurious
manner from freezing, shivering pneu-
monia climate to an earthly paradise
where people live on and on, dry up and
blow away.
Mr.. and Mrs. e. F. c. Young and their
granddaughter. Miss Natalie Smith, re-
turned last week from two weeks va
cation in Florida spent in company with
Mr.. and Mrs. Frank L. Sheppard and
Mrs. Sheppard's sister, Miss Annie happ,
who left Jersey City for Palm Beach on
Januaryf26. All of the party are now back
delighted with their visit to the Garden
of the Hesperides of America.
MI Sheppard, who as general superin-
tendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad
hasn't very much leisure during business
hours as it may be well imagined, man
aged however, to squeeze in a few
minutes yesterday to talk about his trip
to News" representative.
1T was a delightful trip we had,P' he
said, even if the season for northern
Florida was a little early. In southern
Florida we found it much warmer, of
course, uncomfortably so. But in spite
OF this the hotels in the south are well
filled, although the season hadn't opened
in northern Florida. I may say it is very
easy now to reach that beautiful State
since we have third route by which one
can travel south. Before, you know,
there We're only two, the Atlantic Coast
and the Southern Railroads, but now
there is the Seaboard Air Line, which
leaves our station here in Jersey City
which runs you direct to st. Augustine,
from which point you can branch out to
all parts of the State. It's a splendid
train with Pullmans and every convsn-
pleasant experience
Time never hangs heavily on the travel
lers hands in Florida There was boat
ing, riding through the jungles, fishing
and every other pursuit desired to health
lily occupy the mind and body. In Mr..
Sheppard's party besides Mr.. and Mrs
Young, were the well known New York
contractor Mr.. John D. Crimnins, and
that better known actor, Mr.. Joseph JEFF
ferson, all of whom spent hours in Turing
fish from Lake Worth. Mr. Crimmins
made the record in one day with a catch
of 50 fish. with Mr.. Sheppard and Joe
Jefferson a close second and third
The fish we caught were sheepshead
and pompano blue fish," Mr. Sheppard
continued, and then added with knowing
smile, "the pompano will cost you a dol
lar at Delmonico's.''
A curious feature of the resorts was.
said Mr. Sheppard, that interest in them
changed with the seasons. Some were
less attractive during one period, and
more attractive at another. After the
first of March that was the proper time
to visit the northern resorts of the State
before that time during the winter proper
the southern resorts were preferable.
Speaking of the improvements of tae
State by great capitalists, Mr.. Sheppard
made the interesting statement that
Florida was practically divided into two
points. That in the east was the Flag
ler," named after Mr.. H. M. Flagler, who
has spent millions in developing it; and
the western part the PLANT" after Mrs.
H. B. Plant. Closing brief but interest
ing talk, Mr.. Sheppard advised those who
could manage it to visit the most beauti-
full State in the South.