The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-01-24
FLORIDA
LIE II II e R
BY r. e. DYE


.uo doubt reveal frightful tales OF
torture under s panish rule. From
the fort south. a sea wall OF eoquina
with granite top, extends nearly q
mile 20 the government barracks. a
small park around the government
building IL CALLED 1.-The Playa" and
Is artisticaly set in palms and other
tropical vegetation, and contains
several monuments, fountains and
the old slave market, and Oh the op
posite side OF the street Is the old
cathedral, the o d e 8 t church in
church In America. 'The Plaza" is
fay orite resort and numerous seats
are provided where one may enjoy
the beauty Of the tropical verdure,
the many evidences of antiquity and
also a fine view of the harbor. A
great attraction, and especially for
the children, is II herd Of a dozen or
more mountain. burros or donkeys
with saddles, or hitched to carts.
which can he hired for ride around
the plaza for five cents. The ami
mails although perfectly gentle, cling
TO the characteristics Of the mule
family and create no end Of amuse
ment both for the riders and the
spectators. think the prOudest
moment OF Warren and Hollis lives
was when hired a little negro boy
to drive them around in one of the
little donkey carts.
st. Georges street is the principal
business street. 1t is winding.
narrow street with little old fash
ioned shops. the oyerhanging Ual-
comics almost touching on each side.
1t Is said to be the location of an
Old Indian trail. aud one can almost
believe 1t after trayersing it's marrow
/ winding course. On this street is
located what is claimed to he the
| Oldest house in America, although
two other houses in the city cont ,st
for the honor.
Charlotte street Is another quaint
old street WHICH bears the distinc-
tion of great antiquity. There are
| numerous ancient cemeteries, mOnu-
ments and ruins which lend an air
of interest to the Old town and
OF which one never tires and can Wis
it again aud again with ever incl cas-
ing interest,
rhe little old town of st. Angus
tine with it's centuries Of antiquity,
surrounded bv swamps and wilder
ness pursued its sleepy way in OBJ
SECURITY; the narrow street of st.
George winding along the Indian
trait transac ted the little business
Of the town with unpaved street and
the Oldest city in the United States
was apparently forgotten, except in
history. For three centuries and
over slumOering capital did not
realize its opportunity, and it was
not until 1885, that n. NJ. Flagler.
president OF the Florida & Eist Coast
railway, and Standard Oil magnate,
decided to make of the city IA grea,
winter resort. At his own expense
he paved the streets Of the old city
surveyed the swamps and surround
ing country, laid out new streets or
"A grand new scrle, built railroad
tracks out into the country and fol
three years employed large force
OF men and train crews hauling IL
dirt and filling in the swamps be-
tween the depot and the old town
and today, where 2l years az,
flowed the green and Shiny water,
OF Sanchez creek with It's alliga tors
mosquitoes, and pestilencc breedin.
filth, now stands the celebrated
Ponce de Leon hotel. one Of tn,
largest and most magnificent hotel.
in the world; also the Alcazar, ant
Cordova, two other Flagler hotels
These three splendid structures witt
. their vast gardens OF palms auC
other tropical trees, their shrubs an,
fountains. the buildings with thsi
rich moorish architecture and ex
, travagant outside decorations, ar
something beyond description, anC
the luxuriousness OF finish in th
! interior are said to be unsurpasse,
! by anything OF the kind in tn
J world Mr. Flagler also erected