The Republican journal., 1905-02-02
LETTER FROM FLORIDA.
The Royal Poinciana. Pineapples and In
dams,
Correspondence of The Journal.)

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, Jan. is,
1905. The Hotel Royal Poinciana open
ed Saturday with long list of guests.
1t is one of the largest hotels in the
world and one of the prettiest as re-
CARDS its grounds and surroundings.
The house is built north and south with
several wings, the rooms commanding
fine views of Lake Worth and OF the is
lana whose grounds were made so at
tractive by Henry NJ. Flagler. The
house has l, 300 rooms and l, 700 persons
may be seated at once in the new din
ing hall. To care for SO many guests
requires large force of help, who must
be sheltered and fed, and also an able
and experienced manager, which the
Royal Poinciana has in the person of
Mr.. Fred Sterry, who keeps the entire
domestic machinery running smoothly.
Palm Beach has often been referred
to as Paradise. Out of an island of
swamps and bars has grown beauti-
full tropical garden. The swamps have
been filled with rich earth, the walks
are bordered with foliage and stately
palm trees, and there is rich profu-
sion of beautiful flowers. Palm Beach
and Lake Worth, 500 miles below Jack
sonyille are in the cocoanut region.
Lake Wor is really lagoon, and
Palm Beach the reef which forms the
lagoon and in which the tide Gibbs and
flows. A steamer the Lady LOU
plies on the lake and is well patronized
bv northern visitors. She is built in
the style of the Mississippi river steam
ers. but has a glass bottom which en-
ables the tourists as they sail to look
down upon the beds of coral, fish,
and other submarine features. Palm
Beach is about a mile wide and on 1t
are situated two hotels, the Poinciana,
above mentioned, and The Breakers.
Both are we'll filled in the tourist sea-
SON
ON the western shore of Lake Worth
are pineapple plantations which each
wear increase in number and in pro-
duction. The pineapple grows much
like cabbage, bnt the fruit is sur
rounded by a bayonet-like growth. The
plants are easily grown. Last Sunday
| visited the beautiful winter home of
Mr.. Fred S. Dewey. who has a fine
pineapple plantation, and in future
letter ! will deal with the pineapple
and its growth.
have had the pleasure of meeting
very popular attorney here who claims
Maine as his native home, and that is
Hon. Hutson B. Saunders of Ellsworth.
He is engaged in the practice of law
here and meeting with good success.
He has been here number of years
and says that he does not expect to
ever make Maine his permanent home
again.
Thirty miles west of the city is Lake
Ocheechobee, with settlements of Sem
inoles. These Indians often come into
the city and do trading and sell veni-
son which they secure in the woods.
Some years ago the Government is said
to have issued orders to have all the In
dams removed from the Everglades
and placed on the reservations in the
west but many of the Indians escaped
lutO the Everglades where they have
since made their home and only come
out as occasion requires. They are
very reserved in regard to their num-
Der, but they are said to be decreasing.
The officials sent out by the Govern
ment to move the tribe reported, and it
is now understood, officially, that there
are no Indians III the State. They dress
very much in the old STYLE with feath-
ers beads and moccasins and blankets.
When they visit the city they usually
spend day or two and trade with mer-
chants, and they bring IN large quanti
ties of venison. | believe they are not
expected to kill deer in this vicinity,
but as the Government does recognize
that there are Indians in Florida, who
is to be punished?
ORRIN J. DICKEY.