The Newtown bee., 1908-05-08

tsl ErOunu III lhc othlc, ID iloicu Aoi " dry and healthy climate. It is one ol
 the largest and most progressive, ant most attractive towns in the interior portion of the State. It has a eosmo politan population, gathered from ey cry State in the Union. People rep reseat the better element of the differ ent sections from which they come, ant
 together form a progressive, up to datt
 community. This county contains
 more orange groves than any othei county in the State, and was convinced of this fact by taking an afternoons drive where l saw hundreds of acres oi trees ladened with the golden fruit, which was a novel sight worth seeing
 for Northerner.
 The next visit of three days at St
 Petersburg. which is situated at the point of the narrow peninsular, which separates Tampa Bay from the Guli of Mexico, and is almost surrounded
 by tropically tempered water. Or this account there is but little variation in the temperature between winter and summer-the mercury ranging from 65 to 75 degrees F. in winter and
 from 75 to S5 degrees in summer, with an occasional rise to 93 degrees F.
 This is modern city, 270 miles from Jacksonville, and is composed mostly of Northern people, with a population at 4O,00O. It has made a marvellous growth since the first house was built
 in 1888. They claim there is no winter
 fesort in all Florida so popular, and no other resort where the increase of tourists has been so large. In 1900, only about 300, In 1905 there was 10, 0OO winter visitors. There is no uncleared
 land facing the trolley line anywhere within five miles that can be bought
 for less than S100.00 per acre.
 MT Albright, an eccentric old man has been years building a portion of his buildings, and fences here with shells. He says the tourists were as honest as they make them. He places his post cards near his cigar box, and advertises all to help themselves to post cards and put the change in the box. In this manner he has sold $50 worth of post cards this season, and he says his receipts are even.greater than they should be. The shores here are dec orated by silent erect ball headed tur- key buzzards, though homely. one of the most common, as well as one of the most useful of Florida birds. Another bird that would interest you is the White Pelican. A number of these pe- culiar birds stay around the wharf and sit upon the various posts in the day. They are almost as large as a turkey, have immense bill with a great bag or pouch folded up beneath which they can use Cor storage of food. They live up- on fish, and are expert fishers. When they have good catch they store the surplus in their storage bag beneath their bill until wanted. (by calling at my home you can see one mounted.) Eighteen miles across the Bay is loca- ted. Tampa, most attractive winter resort, as we'll as a business city. The climate is ideal. which has induced me to tarry here three weeks. The wealth of foliage, gigantic oaks, magnolias and palm trees, with here and there ba- mana trees and luxury of glorious shrubbery, peculiar only to this climate, adorning its broad streets and parks, make truly the city beautiful.
 In order to get good prospective view of Tampa, and measure its rate of progrss, it will do to remember that seventeen years ago it was a place of less than .six thousand inhabitants. In ten years it has grown to sixteen thousand, and within the last seven years it has increased to 43, 800 people. Tampa is preeminently the home of the Clear Havana Cigar Industry of the world, the number of people employed in the various parts of the business is over ten thousand. They manufact- ured last year 285, 600, 300 cigars and the wages paid to the workmen estimated at $9,325, ,00O.00. The lowest price paid per thousand for labor is $8.OO the highest $1OO.00. Tampa manufact- ures more Clear Havana cigars than any other city in the world, and one third the worlds production, has the largest Clear Havana factory in the world, where 1,0O5 Workmen are en- ployed. with floor space 55,00O feet While being politely shown through the same, was presented with samples of the cigars, some of which sold for $1OO.O per thousand. In company with s. s. Cunning, a Bethelite, whom l met here, we visited a large factory where we were shown cigars that sold for S1.00 apiece.
 The Sulphur Springs, five miles north of the city, is visited by a great num- Der of the people. The spring is one of the largest in the South, discharging 50,0O0 gallons of water per minute. The temperature of the water is the same through the year. 72 degrees F.
 Tampa is the financial center of an- other source of wealth, the inexhaust- able Phosphate mining industry, which lies within radius of fifty miles from this city. The phosphate shipments through the port of Tampa amounts to 511, ,OOO tons year valued at $3, 900, 900. This is shipped mostly to foreign countries. One of the captains of a ship loading this product showed me every part of his vessel, which carries 30. 900 .tons, 23.00O horse power en- zine and 25 men employed. He stated that his ship did not compare with one built later with tonnage 33,0OO, 95 feet deep, 80 feet wide and 7S0 feet long.
 The trees here are unfamiliar, there being variety of 200 different kinds, excelling all other States in number, none of them resembling those grown