The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-03-02
SAM JONES WRITES ABOUT
THE LAND OF FLOWERS
WEST PALM BEACH. Fla.

am spending this week in the Land
!, rr,,its and Flowers and fashion.
r~,,,v Mr.. Flagler has made the
N 80, coast of Florida a veritable Ed
en- and deserves the gratitude of the
people of this growing state. His
railroad iron extends 400 miles south
,.on, Jacksonville, and was told that
can thousand men will soon be put
on the work of the Kye West extern
.,on which leaves the mainland of
FLORIDA about S5 miles south of Miami
and follows the line Of the Island
Kevs TO Key West. Perhaps forty
miles will be bridged by steel and con-
crete pillows at an enormous cost and
they predict that trains will be run
ming into Key West in four or five
vears-.hen the United States will be
in five hours boat ride to HAVANA.
Then we will have to annex Cuba, not
for wrath but for profits sake.
spent two days in Miami and it's
the gem city of Florida They claim
5000 In population, and it is a most
beautiful place. California has no
Mace more enchanting. The hotels, the
public buildings, the residences, the
hank and business buildings and the
driyeways are as fine as money and
brains can make them. Here they
have the Royal Palm hotel. and there
are others, not OF the FYagler group,
lust as fine and just as full of guests,
and they are full. My, what a place
10 enjoy yourself and spend your
money! Millionaires and men of all
grades find a place here. Single meals
from $3.50 down to Is cents. Board
from 81 day to $50 day for a sin
gle person, and each class enjoy their
stay at Miami. 1 found many Geor-
gians there, and they are all doing
well in their business and trades.
have not SPENT two days more pleas
antly anywhere.
suppose Mr.. Flagler is now getting
reasonable returns for his investments
down here in Florida. Freight and
passenger fares on his road are up to
the top When you buy a round trip
ticket over his road you can travel at
cents a mile each way, and straight
fare is. cents mile, SO you will take
notice you save what the boy shot at
nothing. A seat in his parlor cars
only cost you about a cent a mile.
Freight. am told, gets the balance of
your pile. Something to eat comes high
down here; IS cents for a chicken, 80
cents a pound for beef, eggs and but
ter out of sight, but the higher
commodity is the better you relish it.
| remember when side meat was 20
cents a pound / really enjoyed eating
II. All kinds OF fruits and vegetables
grow down on the east coast, oranges,
grapefruit, peas, potatoes, lettuce, etc,
etc, and tomatoes grow in greatest
luxuriance down on the peninsula.
| was charmed with SUBURBS of Mi
ami the hammock land around the
city. covered with the vines and ma
tive trees of infinite variety-the CO.
coanut orchards. the pineapple fields,
the grapefruit and lime frRit The
jungies of Africa are not more impas-
sable than these hammock forests are
when untouched by the axe. The roads
are built with native rotten lime
stone. II is easily blasted and worked,
and when put down and run over by
the road machine it is smooth and
very hard. 1t is sort of mixture be-
tween cement and asphalt. 1t worries
me to see this new country with it's
splendid up-to-date roads, and north
Georgia roads almost impossible, and
we either too stingy or too idiotic to
rail- In line with the balance of the
world on the good roads program.
Our last grand jury in Barlow coun-