The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1904-03-18
WHeT HE'S DONE FOR FLORIDA
FIsgIer's Work Interestingly Told in
New York Psper-He Made a
Flower Garden of a wilderness.

Flower Garden OF Wilderness.
The Troy N. " Budget, in a
lengthy article on Florida, among
! other things says:
Florida owes much to H-nry NJ.
Flagler. Mr. FlagIer has not merely
caused two blades of grass To grow
where there was but one, but has
opened up hundreds of miles of terri
tory, making it possible for others to
cultivate the soil and develop its re-
sources.
THE WORK OF BUT FEW YEARS.
The settlement Of the East Coast of
Florida has been the work of less
than a score of years. Twenty years
ago, vhen Mr.. FlagEer made his first
visit to this city, there were less than
half a dozen resorts in the state.
Coming to Florida then meant COM
ing to st. Augustine, Jacksonville and
half dozen outlying towns. The
beautiful days, warm, bright and
sunny-the superb moonlight nights,
the sailing over warm seas in Febru-
airy, was a new and OverpOwtrIng
sensation to the wOrld-wearied man
of business. 1t enthused him; like
the wine of old Spain, it intoxicated
him-he wanted others to enjoy it;
his fellow business men to come b ere,
and, while breathing the delicious
air, laden with the bouquet of the
orange blossom and the jasmine, to
enjoy the luxuries they were accus
toned To in their northern homes.
The spirit of old Spain that had
sent forth the early settlers in search
of wealth-Ofthe fountain of youth"
was everywhere; it came from the
old fort as he looked from his win
d0ws in the san Marco, the narrow
streets, the Overhangiug balconies
and he determined to reproduce the
splendor and beauties of the Old
World IN the new-tO transform the
old town into bit Of ancient Spain.
This resulted in the building Of the
Ponce de Leon, the Alcazar ana
Casino, the Turkish baths and the
construction % well-paved streets.
GREAT HOTELS AROSE.
Fourteen years ago Mr.. Flaglsr had
not been south Of this point. But he
loves the warm, sunny land, and was
induced to visit Lake Worth, then a
beautiful spot, the the winter home
of wealthy nOrtherners. Again the
dangerous tropical air, the OdOr of
the pineapple, the staLeliness of the
waving frOnds of the cOcOanut palm
cast their spell over hum. Again he
yielded to its influence, and builded
that thousands of others might share
the enjoyment. The construction of
the two hundred and eleven miles of
railway followed, connecting Titus
VILE with Miami on Biscayne Bay.
At Palm Beach. on Lake Worth,
great hotels arose, and failed to en-
terrain all who came; these were en-
larged again and again, each year
made more luxurious.
BUILDING or MIAMI.
Ten years ago the town of Miami
contained one huse. 1t is now
thriving city, with sewerage, water
system, gas and electric lights. Mr..
Flagler spent several hundred thou
sand dollars on the channel prepar-
ing the way for the government
work. He has been instrumental in
establishing a line of steamers to
Havana, shortening the sea voyage
many hours. He has established
line 10 Nassau and erected a hotel
there, improving another and adding
that to the list of winter resorts that
Florida is now famous for.
NOT LIMITED TO PLEASURE.
But the results of Mr.. Flarler's
investments on the East Coast Of
Florida are hV no means limited TO