The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-01-26

Coast Railway from Miami farther on
TO Cape Sable, there TO brave the winds
and waves Of the Florida Straits, and
linking the scores upon scores Of small
islands together into . chain extending
from the extreme point Of mainland to
the rock-built, far-to-Seaward island Of
Key West, IL indeed, a unique and
mighty conception of the mind of man.
The contemplation of this wonderful
scheme reminds one Of the vast changes
that have been wrought in that south
ern latitude, in the past few years, by
the brain and effort a single individual.
Grand and many are the transforma-
tions made in all that territory, especi-
ally in that region lying south of San
ford, on the st. Johns, where, little
more than half a score Of years ago it
required a strong imagination to picture
what is now reality.
At this time, few were the villages,
and of towns there were none, in all
this wild domain; only few rough log
houses near each other, termed settle
ments, separated by 20 or maybe 40
miles of dreary wilderness. These
were the homes of the only inhabitants
-rough-mannered cattlemen, who i'm
vited no immigration to interfere with
their laws of custom and we're jealous
of their squatter sovereignty.
For two hundred miles of southern
course, a traveller would have moved
amid such scenes until the northern
shore Of Okeechobee lake is reached.
To the south of this the far-famed Ev-
erglades-t reptile-haunted swamp,
extending south as far as land extends;
on whose inaccessible islands dwell that
uncOnquered aborigine- the Seminole.
One day two lines of steel, beginning
at the very portals Of refined civiliza-
ton, pushed their way, mile after mile
toward this distant wilderness, and to-
day the most fastidious Of multi-milliOn-
aires places his delicate wife and child
in a private palace car and they, after
a few hours Of swift and pleasant jour
neying, find themselves the guests of
an hotel that is envied by world-famed
rivals, in company with hundreds of
their class within few miles and near
neighbOrs Of the Seminolel
1t does not suffice to say that the man
who has performed these wonders did
so for selfish reason, for self-aggran-
dizement alone. The only safe critic
rion, the only infallible way is to Judge
a man by acts and his actions by their
results.
This being true, we must accord Hen
ry NJ Flagler high need of praise for
results undoubtedly achieved. For he
II was who thus dared to endanger his
means and his reputation as a fnancier
by building a costly line of road, which
for hundreds of miles is bound to a mar
row strip of land on the one side by an
ocean, on the other by a non-support-
ing, bowling wilderness; depending al
most entirely upon the wisdom Of a ca
PRECIOUS public.
And who can enumerate the many in
stances of kindness shown, of valuable
free contributions he has made to en-
Dloyees pensions, lands donated, hos
pitfalls for the sick and disabled super
OF these we learn but what
of those we hear not of-kind deeds !
lone in secret Who can deny that the
whole State of Florida has been bene-
ited by the fame and prestige he has
lone so much TO give her?
1t is but just to say that it is impossi-
Bile for the opponents of Mr. Flagler to
prove that the public welfare was not
the uppermost, predominating thought
IN his mind when he worked these won
iers, that patriotism is not his ruling
passion. Who hath the wisdom or pow
er to search another's heart and lay
bare the thoughts and sentiments surg
ng there.
~-~-~-~---~-----~--~~~--
Speaking Wednesday night at the an
lual banquet of the Confederate Veter-
ms Camp of New York city, General
Frederick d, Grant, commanding the
Department Of the East, United States
Army. proposed an informal resolution
hat steps be taken Immediately to
make January 10, 1907, the one hun