The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-02-20
FLORIDA
And Points of Interest on the
Way.

that perhaps would like to hear of our
trip-so as many know, Tom and
left Bellefontaine January 9th on the
morning train for Cincinnati: met
some frien6s on the train who wishe d
us many blessings and a fine trip.
At Urbana we lost a link from the
chain of friends, and at Springfield,
where we were detained two hours, we
found when starting our company
quite broken, but We pushed on with
bright thoughts, taking in the fine
country, reaching out on all sides,
covered with the beautiful snow.
When fifty miles south we found, to
our surprise, more snow than at
home, but concluded it was one of
old natures freaks and went on to
1.-THE City Among the Hills" and
found kind friends to greet and wei
come US to their care and keeping
until next morning, when we left for
the Sunny South, but found snow
through Kentucky and far into Ten
nessee. Our view of the B uegrass
region of Kentucky was not so broad
as we had pictured in imagination,
still the broad acres and rich Waving
pastures told of thrift and happi-
ness.
We halted at Lexington. but so
short a time, we could not locate
things; saw the old hero Clay's mon
ument, in the distance. with other
marks of historic renown. We
crossed the Kentucky river whose
bridge is some $50 feet above the
water, but are SO soon carried beyond
the chasm we hardly realize our sit
uation before we are across and away
from the seeming danger The
southern part of Kentucky looks thin
and much worn. AS we enter Ten
uessee the fields look barren and un-
Inviting. We see here and yonder
ldilapidated huts with the outside
chimneys topped out with sticks, the
rude home of the long ago slave,
The trip over the hills. through and
around the mountains was to US
rather more startling than throug b
the hills on the Stormy Northern
I've reached Chattanooga at 1880 p
IN. in good shape and soon found
lquarters for the night. The next
lday was spent visiting the Nationa
cemetery, where IA, 900 of the braves'
of the brave sleep silently on. VIZ
saw the engine and tender at the
|, West Atlantic depot, so remarkable
, in its connection with the rebellion
Mission Ridge, noted point in his
tory, stands high up, southwest
marked as General Brage's head
, lquarters. But of all yet seen Lookou
, Mountain is the grandest. w
] boarded the train and ran to the foo
: of the mountain, where We halted t
consider whether we had the nerve f
ascend the incline, which is at a
/ angle of 10 degrees. We resolved [
/ go and found the ascent steep enoug
= before reaching the top, where "
drew long breath, and was Statistic
with our bravery. The day was co,
E and chilly, but perfect atmospher
i for sightseeing. The incidents on an
about the mountain, the view of tn
i. river below and the mountains an
different States in the distance,
p Just wonderful to the unskilled eye
: We put in the day at points of hi:
I toric renown and thought the tim
q well spent. We took the train mex
d morning for Jacksonville, throug
+ lGeorgia's red lands, poor in agricu
n tural products, bat rich in man
d places with minerals. Rockmart
# noted for its different marble qua
= ries, and in some parts gold is foun,
We halted at Atlanta. but were me
with fierce wind, filed with sand,
boarded our train, thinking to find
more genial cline further on. "
Preached Jacksonville about midnigh
spent a day looking over the int
e es ting features of the city The o
trich farm of $50 birds seemed I
strike US old farmers, so we tarrie
to learn theirhabits:they weigh fro
l. $50 to 800 pounds, produce seventy
y one hundred and twenty-five dollal
5 worth of feathers per year and sc
t for $500 to 81 900 per pair. They al
Is beauties Jacksonville is well bui
t and an interesting city. We left
n the evening for Tampa, SO passe
r through the greater part of Florij
at night, reached the city at $50 ;
e m, and soon found comfortable qua
a tiers. Tampa proper lies north {
d the bay, with a neck of the bay ruI
l. ming up the east side of town. TIL
II Hillsborough river comes down frol
t the north and borders on the ives
II a suburb lies west of the river and
T called West Tampa Tampa Height
c is north one-fourth mile and is a res
/ dence part of town and is high wit
Il plenty of room. nice yards full {
: palms and other tropical plant
t Zbor City is to the northeast one an
d one-fourth miles, connected wit
n city by electric cars. Cigarmakin
G is the great industry of Tampa an
lsuburbs. Two hundred factories ar
" situated in different places, some {
e them running 900 hands. There al
:. two great railroad systems, the Sc;
board Air Line and Atlantic Coas
Line, with different steamboat line
reaching out to all parts of tn
world. Extensive fisheries are dow
+ the bay within forty miles, froI