Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-04-16
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after leaving Braydentown before
our boat sailed for Havana, we
put in time seeing Tampa. Tampa
in some ways reminded us of
a Northern city; it's all hustle. The
broad streets, deep with sand few
wears ago, are now well paved.
There are many things we might
ennumerate that bespeak thrift and
enterprise. The population of Tam
pa last census was a little over 10,
600 and has since grown to 65, 900,
though this place has been greatly
enlarge by Yebor City, SUBURBAN
town. This place is made up chiefly
of Cuban and Spanish people, who
are employed in the cigar factories,
which number to a hundred or
more. We visited several of the
BIC factories here. The men and
women work at desks arranged SIM
liar to our school desk, some doing
one thing and some another. In
the center of the room, on a elevat-
ed platform, man reads allowed
all the current news of the day, in
their language, hence the workmen
loses but little time or money IN
keeping up with the news or buying
newspapers. The cigar makers are
allowed II cigars apiece day be-
sides their regular salary. Tampa
is the largest producer OF cigars in
United State. The tobacco used is
Havana-grown and mostly al dark
leaf.
Returning from Yerbo City we
went around to the Cathedral in
Tampa which we found to be a
very handsome building and we
were told was the. finest in this
country.
We next visited Tampa Bay Ho-
tel. which we found a little to the
center of beautiful park of mas
sive oaks and the frail tropical
plants. The great number OF toun-
tains shooting sprays Of water into
air were made attractive by the
bright sunshine as it reflected scin-
tillating rays of rainbow colors.
The many varieties of flowers line
the walk and drive ways added adj
ditional charms to the surroundings.
1.-The interior of the hotel impress
es a stranger with wonder. Most
all the furniture and paintings ETC.,
were imported. Mr.. Plant, who
practically developed the west coat
of Florida, built this hotel at a coast
of a million and a half dollars. At
ter his death this magnificent host
lerv was sold to the city of Tampa
for seventy-fve thousand dollars.
Tourist and sight-seers can find
many things of interest in Tampa.
At the end Of our stay here we
boarded a train for Port Tampa,
where the teamer Mascotte was
waiting. At II p. M, Saturday,
we bid farewell and the huge ropes
were hauled aboard. Then the
engines were then put to work. a
ight vibration was felt and the
steamer glided on it's way down the
west coast of Florida.
Sunday evening about four p. m.
we sighted land, the first we had
seen since the night we started.
Well, when it first came into view
| thought of Columbus, how good
Mother earth must have looked to
him at one time, at least, but, so
far we had nothing to fear as the
mighty gulf Of Mexico was smoothe
and peaceable. The land we saw
was Florida Keys. We went ashore
at Key West and spent several
hours, seeing curious things of the
island. The island which contains
some 1000 acres is fiat low LAND
of coral formation. Fish, sponges
and tropical fruits seem to be the
principal products of the island
| Kew West is also noted for its line
cigars. In addition to the useful
ness of the island Uncle Sam has a
naval and wireless station at this
point.
At daylight the next morning
the Mascotte steamed around Nor
70 Castle into Havana harbor, which
is from 4 to 6 hundred yards wide
A mile around from the mouth OF
the bay, we anchored our boat, the
harbor being too shallow to ge'
nearerthan ahundred and fftyyard;
of the dock. Near where we anchor
ed our boat was a sad scene, the
mass and a part Of the hull of thu
Battle-ship Main, projecting a few
| feet out of the water, marked TIT
grave of some sixty soldiers buried
in the murky mud of the harher. Oh
the higgins decayed reafs of flower
suspended, told of dedication da.
of some patriotic friends.
After passing medical examina
} ton we were taken ashore by
small steamer where our suit case
and trunks were inspected by Gus
tom house officers, this being sat
isfactory we were allowed the RICH
: to the city.
Havana is an attractive but pc
culiar city. The massive build
ing are all painted in light colors
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