West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-04-19
THE SOUTHLAND.
An Interesting Letter From the Land
or Orange blossoms.

Dear Sir -
If you will allow me space 1 will
give you few Florida items tha,
may be interesting to some of my
friends in Preston.
We are enjoying the good old
summertime-sun shining therome-
ter at 10; hens cackling; rooster's
Growing; birds singing; flowers
blooming; corn knee high potatoes
in bloom, with plenty of new green
vegetables. These are no rarity
here, as they are on the market all
winter.
Picnics are In order here any old
time. A party of us Northerners
made up party OF 6S and took a
trip on the G.. & G.. X. X. south
IS miles through farming com
munity and had the pleasure Of
visiting several farms on our trip
where we saw the orange in bloom
and ripe fruit at the same time.
We found the farmers in the best of
spirits, having had a good crop of
oranges that had brought fair prices.
Several had sold their lettuce crop
on the ground for 1000 per acre.
Cabbage is good crop and bring
ing fair prices. A little colony Of
trucksters at Coleman predicted in
the opening of the season that they
would ship from SO, 900 to 100, 900
crates OF cabbage--they have already
passed the 10000 mark and will
reach the 100, 900 mark by the
time the season is over. They are
now worth $3.50 per crate and
have netted the growers over 81 90
per crate the season through and
have put over tIoo, 900 in the hands
of growers, which number less than
100 families, and puts this little
neighborhood in a good condition
financially as any trucksters in the
state. The strawberries are a good
crop. They bring fancy prices in
the early part of the season in
January aud February. They are
selling here now at IS cents per
quart.
We had most enjoyable trip in
the little party of 68. There were al
states represented and one part,
from England.
Florida is not a resort for the
common people only, but more for
the wealthy. Other writer's have
given you descriptions of the hotels
at St. Augustine and other places,
but | have not seen any account Of
the hotel at Lake Worth and its
vicinity, which, like all the Southern
East Coast country, has developed
rapidly since the advent of the
railway, which has converted il
from a region secluded because
difficult OF access, and has put it in
quick touch with the rest Of the
world. Lake Worth has the largest
tourists hotel in the world-The
Royal Ponciana. Its length from
the north entrance to the south
entrance is o34 feet. II the wings
were stretched in one continuous
line it is said il would cover dis
tance equal to seven New York
city blocks. The halls and corridors
in the guests portion of the hotel
measure 10, 600 feet, or a little
more than two miles; the main
dining hall covers two thirds Of an
acre, and will seat over 1900 peo.
pie; the kitchen and pantries
cover II, 900 square feet; the hotel
contains 1906 guest rooms and
400 private baths; there is an army
of more than 1900 employees, and
the pay roll exceeds 81, 500 per day;
twenty-five tons of coal are con.
sumed each day; the daily cost OF
provisions aggregates S2, 500; items
Of the daily consumption of meats
o5 turkeys, I3S legs of ham, roo
dozen sweaibreads, and GOO lbs OF
roast beef. A Royal Ponciana
lunchen requires I2o capons, and
to meet the call for quail or squab
when listed on menu, a thousand
birds are required per meal. The
hotel is Lighted by more than 70, ooo
electric lights.
1t is impossible to go into a des
cription Of the grand architecture,
paintings and decorations or even
give you a faint idea of the ground,
surrounding these magnificent build
ings, the great variety Of plants,
palms, palmettoes, hedges etc,
Nothing but a visit to the land ot
flowers will give you any conception
Of the beauties and magnihcence o.
these winter resorts where thousand,
enjoy themselves, bathed in tn,
sunshine and famed by the sweet
pure atmosphere perfumed with