The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-04-14
MAINE PEOPLE IN FLORIDA
PROMISE OF A BIG ORANGE CROP.
SUCCESS OF A WALDO COUNTY
MAN IN THE HOTEL BUSINESS.

MAN IN THE HOTEL BUSINESS.
Correspondence of The Journal
| MAGNOLIA SPRINGS, FLA, March 20.
1904. The orange groves of Florida are
now heavily laden with white perfumed
blossoms. and if the blossoms do not
blight and there are no early frosts the
big crop of last season will be dupli-
Gated. An orange tree if not pruned
and cultivated is much like the wild
thorn bush we find beside the old stone
walls in the north. Some of the trees
may grow larger but are covered with
big thorns which make the picking very
disagreeable as if one comes in contact
with them the result is sure to be some
ugly wounds. In semi-cultivated state
the orange trees hold the shape of the
thorn tree and while healthy do not
the same size and shape as those of the
apple trees at home, but have a more
polished surface and are of greener
hue. The cultivated tree by pruning
attains a growth very much like an
apple tree, but does not grow larger
In the large orchards the trees are
planted in rows wide enough to permit
OF fire between them and at frequent
intervals pile of pine wood is laid, so
! that in case of freeze the wood can be
, lighted and the orchard saved from
, damage. Oranges shipped north from
here have sold readily and brought
good prices.
Mr.. 0. D. Seavey, manager of the
Magnolia Springs Hotel, where spent
the winter, is Waldo county boy, who
by perseverance and grit has worked
himself up in hotel management. He
is not only the manager, but one of the
heaviest owners in the O. D. Seavey
Co., which own and operate the hotel
and grounds. Mr.. Seavey was born in
the town of Unity and when a young
man went to Water3ille, and after at
tanning his education engaged in the
hotel business. He built and managed
for some years the Elmwood at Water
vile, and later opened the Ponce de
Leon at st. Augustine, and was also
manager of the Champlain House at
Lake Champlain. He is now the man.
ager during the summer months of the
Aspinwall Hotel in Lenox, Mass, which
is beautifully situated in the Berkshire
hills, and one of the most popular re-
sorts in Massachusetts.
Among other Maine people who have
been with us this winter are Miss Mar
cha l.. Alexander, popular young resi-
dent of Eastport, who with her aunt,
Mrs. Geo. W. SWEET of Philadelphia,
has been here for the season. Miss
Alexander is a sister of Jefferson Alex
ander of the Belfast Gas and Electric
Light Co., and has been among the
most popular young ladies in the house.
Mr.. A. d. Blackinton, who was here
some weeks with Mrs. Blackinton and
a party of friends, is Rockland man
and graduate of the University of
Maine. He is now in Scranton, Pa,
where he is engaged in civil engineer
ing, but spends his summers at the
''Samoset." Rockland. Mr.. F. Willis
Rice, editor of the National Hotel Re
porter in Chicago, who spent few days
here on his way home with Mrs. Rice
from a Florida trip, is native of Ban
gor and has many friends in the Queen
City," where he spent many years be-
fore going west. Another Bangorean
is Mrs. Allen, wife of BENZ. Allen of
, Chicago, who was born in Bangor, but
has spent the greater part of her life in
Chicago. Somehow there is feeling
of brotherhood about Maine people
wherever they are found and pleasant
acquaintance are quickly made.
We had as a guest here last week,
Col. Caleb Wick of Youngstown, Ohio,
who is reputed to be worth his millions,
but is very quiet and insignificant
looking person. He attained consider
able notoriety previous to his visit here
by losing $4,000 while gambling at
Palm Beach, Fla, where he was done
up Dy gang OF "Sharpers, but he
rallied easily from the loss after reach
ing here. Mr.. and Mrs. d. w. Thomp-
son, who have been here from New
York and are just leaving for the Pa
citic coast, are the parents Of Mrs.
Sully, wife of the cotton king" Daniel
Sully, whose deals in cotton and subse-
quent collapse gave him a wide noto-
riety.
This week we have been harvesting
the hay on the lawn and the big lawn
mower drawn by mule power (the pre-
vailing power here) has reaped quite
"bunch" OF green. My letters from
the south will close with short sketch
of Palatka, where 60 next week, and
l shall then return home.
ORRIN j. DICKEY.