Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-01-27
FLORIDA
First OF Series Of Letters from the
Southern Part of Florida.
MIAMI, FLORIDA, Jan. 8, 1905.

MIAMI, FLORIDA, jan ., l9U0.
Built upon the rock, but the rock 30
soft that it can be cut through readily,
this town yet contains advantages over
some of the other towns in Florida. 1t
is healthier, it is cleaner, and it has bet
ter roads.
1t is upon Biscayne Bay, whose waters
are not supposed to be as handsome as
those of the ocean, but have the advan-
tage of shores on all sides as seen from
Miami, excepting one narrow and shall
low opening into the Atlantic, near
which opening deep channel is now
being cut by the United States.
The present channel is long narrow,
shallow and difficult one, bearing to the
southwest and not in sight from the
town. The shore opposite Miami to the
east is "a narrow reef extending for many
miles, and another similar reef still
further east, is said to be forming. The
present reef is wooded, and l am told
the United States have bought some 40
acres of the southern part, paying $500
an acre to be used in connection with
the new channel.
All the shores of the bay are distant
from three to twenty miles or more,
giving it the appearance of sea. but this
is partly destroyed by the shallowness of
the water i'll many places for long dis
tances from the shore.
The city consists of itself, and that
means a number of not very long or
very wide streets, though several are
called boulevards, and is at war with the
big hotel, which is situated in what are
termed private grounds. New boulevards
have just been begun on the other side of
the big hotel extending in a southerly
direction upon the shores of the bay, so
that eventually the hotel must be sur
rounded by the city.
These new boulevards, as we under
stand, are being laid out, because of the
purchase by gentleman from ST. Louis
Of a large tract of land now covered with
live oak, morning glories now in bril-
liant bloom), and other trees and plants
which belong to the botany of Florida, at
| leaa- Of this part of it. Included in this
tract are 16 lots upon the bay, 100 feet
in width and 400 to 600 feet in depth,
for which, we are informed, this St.
Louis party paid $500 each. These lots
will doubtless all be sold and built
upon, within "A very few years,
with handsome residences, and the
experiences of jacksonville (Which l
| first saw in 1872, then hardly larger
than this place is now be repeated.
Jacksonville now claims to have over
| 49, 900 inhabitants, and the river front
which then had but one building of any
size, in which | boarded a number of
weeks, is now built up for perhaps a
mile with handsome residences, some of
which are valued. with their lots, at
$50, 900 to S60, 900 or more.
The climate here is much superior to
that of Jacksonville, both warmer and
healthier and its hotel Is one of the
largest in the world. The clouds, too,
mass most elegantly over the bay, and
over the distant ocean. The city certainly
promises to be the most renowned for
winter residences of any upon the
Atlantic coast.
The big hotel is not yet opened, but is
advertised to be Jan 10. | visited it to-
day to see what comfortable rooms,
properly heated, and commanding views
of the bay could be had for, including
board; but although the building was
open and entered it and explored it for
some distance, l found no one to answer
my inquiries.