The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-01
PROSPERITY IN
SOUTH FLORIDA.
Weather FOrecaster BOyer's Obser-
VatiOns During Visit.

NuNAOhA NlSAts
Forecaster II. B. Boyer of the
Weather Bureau, who has just returned
from a trip along the East Coast and
South Florida, talks interestingly of
the rapid development of that section.
1.-THE advent Of the East Coast Line
Railway has worked wonders" he said,
land what was a wilderness of sand,
scrub palrnettos, and other growths,
has become a great agricultural coun-
try in the last fifteen years. From
Miami northward for more than half
the length of the peninsula there are
thousands upon thousands of acres of
pineapples, and the yield this year
promises to be exceptionally large.
1.-The East Coast Line is now push
ing down from Miami to Cape Sable,
a distance of ninety miles. Already its
advent has had the effect of booming
that section, and there are evidences
of another lively little town about to
spring up.
THE objective point of the road, in
the opinion of most people who have
watched its development" said Mr..
Boyer, lis Key West. They can easily
ANANh AAltS punt ny bOlllS ONGI lllG
keys, and can take advantage of the
Fand for more than two-thirds of the
distance. The keys are very numerous
and are separated only short distances
so that the construction of a railroad
over them is feasible. 1t is also be-
leVed that the government will assist
in the building of the road as far as
Key West, as the strategic value Of
that place was clearly demonstrated
during the Gnn h.
and the fact that railroad reached
it would greatly increase its value as
naval station. The town itself is
showing increased activity.
THE government is making great
improvements in its Key West station
and Is spending thousands of dollars
there. 1t is the only port with a deep
harbor on that coast and it's location
also makes it very valuable. The gov
eminent is improving it's Notifications
and is doing all that is possible to make
II lmpregnable. Work is also being
pushed on Dry Tortugas with the OBJ
Ject of making 1t a sub-station to Key
West. Here also Notifications are be-
ing built and coaling sheds are being
installed. The work of dredging chan
nelS is being carried on as rapidly as
possible and improvements are being
made in every line.
Fort Jefferson, one of the largest for
tificattons in the entire country is also
coming in for its share or improve
ments," said Mr. Boyer. almost the
entire old structure will be razed and
IN its place new and more modern
fertilization will be built" While at
Fort Jefferson, where the prisoners were
taken after the Civil War, Mr.. Boyer
visited the cell in which DR.. Mudd of
Baltimore had been confined. THE
cell is in bastion on the groundloor,"
he said, and over the door the in
scription which the prisoner cut is
sttll plainly visible. The full text of
the inscription was He who enters
here leaves life and hope behind OF
this there are only about twelve let
tiers remaining the others having been
removed by relic-hunters, the entire
letter being cut out and carried away.
The part of the inscription which Is
still remaining Is very distinct and the
import of the whole can be easily made
out,
There is every evidence of Develop
ment also in the section of the state
which was formerly nothing but ever
glades," said Mr.. Boyer. Two canals
are being cut through here and the
drainage system which these will in
troduce promise to make this hitherto
uninhabited country one which will be
open to settlers and which will assist
In the fruit yield that has made Florida
famous. The general prospects through
out the state are bright, and business
is in very healthy condition. Every
one of the many little towns that dot
the peninsula is fiourishing and their
prosperity is on a good solid basis. The
yield in all the products for which
Florida is noted promises to be unusu-
ally large, and every resident of the
state interested in these matters show
ed evidence of the general prosperity"