The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-02-16
IN BELLE-AIR, FLORIDA.
Region of Good Air, Good Scenery, Good Fruit and Good Chances for the Industrious.

Belleair, Fla, Feb. il, 1901. To the Editor of the Journal and Courier:
 Having answered many inquirint
 letters, I take this opportunity of an
 swering others. Florida is mostly pc
 ninsula jutting out in the water foul
 hundred miles or more, and is nearly a;
 long as the whole of New England
 while we are on the b-peninsula, wes
 coast, and thirty-five miles long and sl>
 miles wide, Tampa and Old Tampa bay
 east side, the Gulf of Mexico the other
 On the west coast is a bluff for twenty
 miles and fifteen to fifty feet high. Or
 this bluff are the twin towns of Clear
 water and Belleair Clearwater is an
 old settled town, has several churches
 Masonic and Odd Fellows hall, several
 stores, wagon shop, ice plant, two ho-
 tels and several boarding houses,
 Bellealr is a new town of four years
 growth, two churches, stores, wagon
 shop, electric light and power plant,
 water works, photograph gallery; also
 boarding houses, public hall and col
 liseum. With this is included an acre
 of ground, in which is a lake, the whole surrounded by a concrete bicycle race
 course, the finest to be had. The Plant system of railroad trains stop here six
 times day. There is a good prospect of another railroad from Tampa to Clearwater and St. Petersburg, or southern end of the peninsula.
 Florida has fine climate the whole year around, and this sub-peninsula is the best of Florida being high dry and healthy. Nearly surrounded by water, it is favored from frost more than those further south; while we do have an oc- casional light frost, seldom a freeze. When we do the whole state suffers as well, Up to February 11th not frost. Right here it is so healthy that the Uni ted States government established its convalescent camp for sick and wound- ed soldiers during the Spanish war and in tents. We get good breeze nearly all the time, which keeps the air clear and healthy. No sultry nights, but re- freshing sleep and very few mosquitos.
 Here in Belleair the large hotel Belle view is situated, under the management of J. F. Champlin, on the high blum overlooking beautiful Clearwater bay the islands and the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico and an unobstructed view for miles up and downthe bay coast. And from nearly every window of the hotel one can watch the steam CTS and vessels on the gulf. To go to the island step down to the hotel wharf take the steam launch and In a short time you are there. On the beach gath CT the fancy sea shells go in bathing if you like, or stroll on the hard, smooth sandy beach for miles. See the palmet- to groves, sea grapevines, hige morn- Ing g-glories, the mangrove bushes or their stilt-like roots, or rather finger ends, and many other trees and bushes, vines, sea oats, etc. Then if you wish you can take a sailboat going north, passing the many fine houses on the bluff, many with their private wharfs each with sailboat or naphtha launch Passing Clearwater town, then over to he island and back, going south two or .hree miles to the Narrows, passing on he way lovely houses, but these can hardly be seen owing to the mass of rees and vines meeting the waters of he bay. Overhead are seen the large birds flying languidly along, while the mailer birds are there in numbers and lere and there schools of fish are jump ng out of the water, and the pelican md fish hawks are not idle in gathering hem in. On bright sunny day, Of which there are many, you will enjoy vour sail and be sorry when back to the tarting point.
 If fishing is your choice, fishing boat will take you to the bay for gunt, sea rout, French mackerel, out to Grooper 3anks for grooper, to the Pass for tar }. ,on. dozens of varieties of food hsh rom one-half pound to one hundred nd fifty pounds. Surrounding the ho- el are acres of fine lawns, with drives nd walks. concrete and shell. These re lined with borders filled with flow ring shrubs, vines, flowers and all in ull blossom while the lawn is dotted nd grouped with oak and orange, gua- a. cocoanut, cabbage, palm, palmetto { nd native trees
 To the north is the winding lagoon, ,ith fancy bridge at the upper end, yhile south at distance is the ravine nd ramble, with walks. bridges, rustic ouses, vines, ferns, palm. banana and r plants and natives of all sorts. oining it to the east is one of the finest off links in the state; ninety acres or lore. covered with good turf; ra- inc, a pond, palmetto scrub fences, itches and bunkers from come of the azards here The championship of the florida Golf association will be held ere in Belleair.N Striking out in the ountry in several directions are bicy- e paths miles in extent, while roads ,ad out to the homes of settlers, many lrrounded with orange groves now 'aded with their golden fruit. Many ring rom five to forty dollars to a undred and sixty dollars. Among tho any is the Markeley grove, also P, J. alleys grove, as fine an orange as any
 the state He is shipping his fruit to rivate families all over the United tates, to Europe, and even to Russia. elleair has also several fine covered neries growing the large fancy pine. 0 see thousands of pines. with their .rrated leaves shooting up arm high, ith their gorgeous red blossoms or iniature pine, as it were, and the ne-apples in all directions six, eight Id ten pounds, is sight to remember. hen there are the strawberry farms, so vegetables of many varieties.
 In regard to living here; if young an who is industrious, has good wife
 help him, has a mind to live without xuries, he can get along. The soil is ma of If oood some nnor inc same aa