The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-03-12
TAMPA BAY HOTEL.
It Leads as Resort The extensive grounds
and other attractions.
CORRESPONDENCE of The journal. ]

Correspondence of The Journal.
TAMPA, FLA, February, 1908. Dur
ing the past week we had severe cold
spell which threatened to ruin the
orange crop by the blighting of the
buds. On the night Of the 18th, ice
formed and the thermometer went down
to 35, which was very radical change
from s. and vicinity during the proceed
ing two weeks. While the south affords
delightful winters it must be admitted
that the sudden changes of temperature
are rather trying.
The grounds about the Tampa Bay
Hotel comprise some 81 acres, very
prettily arranged for beauty and the
pleasure of the guests. West of the
house are the golf grounds, which are
not eXcelled in Florida. There are good
tennis courts, summer houses and rustic
seats in the park OF live oak and orange
trees, where birds sing sWeetly and
where the oleander, our house plant in
the north, grows with little care. Here
is located the annex of the hotel
with some so rooms, used as offices or
bachelor quarters. Here is the Exhibit
ton building. 100 by 50 feet, three stories
in height, built for exhibiting the ex-
ports and curios of Florida; and
in the background are the colored
quarters The grounds are laid out
with figures of stars, half moons
circles, and with fountains in the midst
of artificial ponds, where small alliga-
tors, turtles and fish abound. Pal
metos, palm trees, orange and live oak
trees, cacti, oleanders and southern
cedars, with shrubbery, furnish shade
and give picturesqueness to the place
The walks are of concrete, bordered
with a hedge of low green cedar. In
front Of the house is variety OF flow
ers, including roses and tropical plants,
and beside the street is network OF
wire woven full of Cherokee roses,
which when in leaf and blossom make
| a beautiful hedge. The exhibition build
ing has many attractions and is visited
by the strangers in Tampa as well as
! by the guests at the hotel. Here may
be found a large collection of native
birds, the work of experienced taxi
dermists; choice grasses, leaves and
specimens of Florida plants, all en-
closed in glass cases. Another section
contains minerals and such ores as
Florida possesses; another fine photo
graphic collections and the wood
growth and in others crabs and shell fish.
There are exhibits OF sand, cotton,
rock, basket-work, tobacco, glass ware
of Florida make, crockery ware, lum-
! ber and a great variety of other things.
Among the most interesting are the ex-
hibits of sponges and coral from Key
! West and vicinity and the freaks and
curiosities. The flags of all nations
are suspended about the hall with por-
traits of presidents and generals in the
background.
One department which recalls a sad
story is that devoted to the relics of the
battleship Maine, which was sunk in
Havana harbor. Here can be seen the
searchlight, the skylight from the cap
tain's cabin, and some Of the cartridges,
with other relics.
The children, as we'll as those of ma
ture years, are always interested in the
miniature railroad and train which
represent the Plant System train. The
engine is chiefly made of wood, some
twenty feet in length with the tender
and is very good imitation of ironwork
1t is represented as hauling freight cars
laden with lumber, cotton, oranges
turpentine and other products. OF the
State. The cars are about fifteen feet
in length. Then there is full rugged
! model about ten feet long of the Plant
| Line steamer Florida, which carried to