Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-30

it was built, was the costliest and most
richly furnished hotel in America, is
still there. and is still fun of costly brio
Il. brac. luxurious furniture, rich carpets
and other relics of it's former splendor.
I:ut the neglected condition Of the fine
grounds around 1t and an air of neglect
about the vast house, tell of fading for
tunes. 1t was too big and too costly to
pay; ard | was told that tho city Of
Tampa has Il standing option to buy it
for $l:ON It cost about S3,tI0.00N. Tho
voyage Town the vest coast of Florida
was without noteworthy incident.
The skies and waters of the Gulf were
propitious. The route of the steamers is
about IL miles Oft the shore and we saw
little land after leaving Port Tampa
until the Keys near Key West hove IN
sight. For the latter half of the voyage
tn Key West the Gulf was as smooth as
Il niillpond. and it's water had the deep
blue of the deep sea. until its hue chang
ed to green in the shsllOwer waters as
we approached the islands Of THE
Florida Keys" off the southern point of
the peninsula. Our steamer made q.
stop of four hours, from five to niue p
M. Il. Key West. and W" improved what
was left of daylight: after the Olivette
was moored by driving around the city.
II strikes one as somewhat surprising
tina ia city of 1900 souls. with trolley
lines, water works. banks and public
buildings. should have sprung up on ii
coral island of 2.ncl acres 80 miles from
the mainland. But the city is there and
is the county seat of Monroe County
Florida. 1t is n wooden city. We saw. SO
far as | remember. but one brick build
in; and hardly any of stone. Nine of
every 10 of the houses stand with their
gable ends toward tho street and remind
ed inc of the description of Albany. n.
s.. in the old geography, as "a city of
7co houses and 1000 inhabitants. all with
their gable ends toward the street
they. the houses, are thickly crowded
and a lire. one fairly started in gale.
would probably sweep the entire city
out of existence.
A Key-Wester, assured me, however.
that IL city of 1900 souls. with trolley
1.-THE best lire system of any city in the
South" Fire is used in Key West only
for cooking and mechanical purposes.
There never was a frost there. and Al. is,
believe. the lowest temperature ever
palms pink and white. clcandcrs 10 feet
tall, Hibiscus with its great scarlet
blossoms. Bougainvillaea vines in full
blossom and other tropical and semi
tropical plants. The evening WAS hot
and all the inhabitants appeared to be
cut in the open air.
Next morning as opened my state
room window. the first object that caught
of the wreck of the Maine. an iron mast
with it, maintop. and Il pile of rusty
scrapir"n sticking out OF the water near
it in the barber of Havana.
That and senator Proctor. thought |.
was what brought on the war with Spain
and gave Cuba it's freedom.
We were nrrecabl: surprised by and
have been greatly interested in the ,'ity
| of Havana 1t has a population of a
quarter of Il million. and. thanks to its
occupancy for time by the Americans
is the cleancst large city ] have ever
seen. 1t is a city Of great contrasts. most
! If its streets are not much wider than q
| trolley car and have side walks varying
from Is inches to three feet in width
Put the Parade. on which stand the
principal hotels and various public build
| ings. IS n broad ard handsome avenue
| having a cement promenade. shaded by
larral trees. running through the centre
of the street Havana has some imposing
Buildings. all Of tinted stuccO plastered
| upon thick walls Of masonry. and there
are thousands Of one story dwelling
houses all standing so close upon the
narrow side walks that the face of the
passcr-hy on the walk is but Il few
inches from the faces OF the occupants
pressed against the iron grating OF
grills. which bar the lower windows OF