The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-03-07
FLORIDA LETTER
Freeze Did Not Do as Much Damage
as Was Anticipated-Trees In
Quiescent State.

SuiSoSSit 0tatSs
Ponce Park, Fla, March 3.--Flori-
da tourists have been fortunate In
escaping the fierce cold of the north,
and yet they have not been exempt
from discomfort. This has been the
coolest winter that Florida has
had in ten years, and the fact that
the houses here are not constructed
or furnished with a view to cold
weather, has, during the greater
part of January, made 1t decidedly
disagreeable. The cold spell that
ruined the orange crop, was almost
an Ohio blizzard. Here ON the east
coast, the thermometer indicated
from "a to 20 degrees, and inland, it
was much colder, running as low
in some places as II degrees. The
freeze came, however, at time
when the orange trees were in a
dormant state, and, as consequence,
they have not suffered to the same
extent they u.d ten years ago.
For week or more, we have had
ideal weather, and once more the
tourists are abroad ON sea and land,
and, judging from their sunny faces
they are thinking that, at last their
winter of discomfort has become
glorious summer" AS proof that
Florida is overhowing with tourists,
the hotels are full, and many are
finding 1t next to impossible to find
board and bed. Florida needs more
and better hotels and boarding
houses.
For the information of those who
may be thinking of coming to Flori-
da, In the future that, If they want
the contentment and comfort OF
home life, the thing for them todo
is to rent or build a cottage and
keep house Six or eight persons, by
Joining together, can thus have more
comfort, and for less than half the
money, than can be found in any
hotel or boarding house. or course
those who have money to burn"
will be anxious to do some burning,
and, as the opportunities for doing
so are numerous, they will find no
trouble in disposing of a large block
of their embarrassing wealth. A
gentleman playfully making a speech
on the desirableness of Florida as
a winter resort, said: This is the
land of "sea and sky where the
sweet magnolia blooms" where the
sunshine never fails, and where the
knocking bird is singing all the
day." where northern tourists stretch
themselves upon the white sand OF
the sea beach, and then returning
nome-here his oratory failed him,
when a lady who was present, said,
goes home penniless." Well. that
will be the way with lots of us. And
yet 1t pays to come to Florida. Per.
sons Of feeble health and those who
are advanced In years will find that
the cost is money well spent AS
general thing those who come one
winter want to return. Almost every
day / meet persons who have been
coming every winter for from five
to twenty years, and who declare
1t to be their intention to continue
coming so long as they are able to
get away from home.
AS have spent several winters
here l am often asked to furnish in
formation in regard to Florida, as a
winter resort, and so Lave con.
cluded TO give in subsequent letter
What l know about" that portion
of the country in which have been
sojourning, and as | am not In the
hotel or boarding house business
nor dealer in Florida real estate
What l may have to say, VIII he~e
one virtue, disinterestedness.
s. Y. KENNEDY.