The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-03-18
GREEN Gown SPRINGS, FLA.

EDITORS MIDLAND JOURNAL:
Midst the song of birds, the fra
grance of flowers, and the lowing of
cattle, which hold an inherent right to
the walks and streets of this town,
we wish to encroach upon the good ma
ture of our worthy editors the third
and last compilation of what we saw
and heard during our brief stay in
Florida; which we regret to say, was
to some extent abridged by the un-
timely and unexpected departure of
our worthy companion, who with an
Unsuitable thirst for more genial sur
roundings, and where the sun did not
rise in the North, and set in the South,
and where midday was not one p. M.
and where one did not freeze twice a
day. and burn up at midday, and where
the letter r is never used in accent
in the face of all these blessings, she
turned her back upon us with light
heart, and the= train that bore her
away soon became invisible through
the flood Of tears that washed the track
to Lynchburg.
Well, Messrs. Editors, I am like the
man at lunch scanning the bill Of fare,
beginning at the top, taking each item
in turn. During the meal fight was
kicked up which he had to see, and
by the time he got back, he forgot
where he left off, many articles on the
menu card being in French. Upon
scanning a second time, had not this,
and had not that. Fearing something
might be missed. he began at the top
again So, Messrs. Editors, if I go
over the old bill of fare again, you
know I did not tick it off.
| W. - ~ -.
is a very neat little town, situated on
Hillsborough Bay. In 1900 this town
had 1900 inhabitants, at the last CEN
sus, taken in 1908, $4,000, now they es-
innate 10000. The streets are very
narrow along the river and r. r.
track, while in the newer and residen-
tial part they are very wide, and the
city enjoys good system Of street car
service. The pioneer Of this town was
Henry Bradley Plant. whose father
owned land far beyond the borders of
Tampa, and by the enhancement of
lands, and by their combined efforts
doomed this town, building the Allan
tic Coast Line from Jacksonville via
Palatka and Sanford, owned the Sou
thern Express Co., built steamboats,,
established daily lines. built the Tam
pa Hotel at a cost OF $3.000,000, which
is city within itself, and for the es-
pecial use of the hotel, handsome
depot, all of which. are as near fire.
proof as engineering genius can devise.
The casual observer will not fail to
note Mr.. Plants emblem, the Crescent,
and no one has ever. learned his mean
ing. or of what it is symboical The
china, silver, furniture. rugs, station
-
must go back to our arrival at this
town, on the eve of February IA, 10
p. M; 276 miles, south east of Jackson
Vile, with 10000 tourists to care for.
was enough to cause great apprehen-
sion in our as well as the minds of
others for a place to spend the night
But as soon as we stepped off the train
the din and cry of the hackmen was
enough to, for the moment, dispel all
fear as to being grandly entertained,
but we did not stop to prate with them
for we had secured hotel guide, and
soon found our hotel and engaged the
only room left in the house, and in
less time than can tell 1t / saw lots
refused shelter, and by midnight bed
rooms had to be given up to ladies and
men lay on the parlor floor, like sheaves
ample and good. After a good nights
rest-for no cars run after 10 P. M. or
earlier than A. M.-we started to do
up the town. Our first impulse was to
visit the different churches. No display
of wealth, as one sees in Jacksonville,
excepting the Cathedral, which, though
not as large, is in keeping with any
part of the Congressional Library, and
IN our stroils we came near the dock,
where was lying in harbor one first
tenders of the States The officers and
crew on the Italian war ship were the
handsomest ever saw, it was the gen.
a word of English. We had not the
privilege of going aboard, but as she
lay at the dock could see the guns. 16
After 1890 we had the pleasure of see
ing the crew on the coast defense boats
go through the drill, then we went
eve. we walked over to West Tampa
to see this beautiful hotel, whose rates
are from IS to $35 per day, and take in
feature to me, as all fairs are similar.
was the maneuver of air ships, and see
ing the State troops engage in sham
ly to Nebo City to see the genuine Ha-
vana cigar made. The daily output
from this one house is $4,000. What
where cigars are made? From there
we went to the famous sulphur spring.
with an outflow of one and a half
millions gallons an hour. This is a new
resort and in time. Will be one of the
winning cards in Florida. In the P. M.
we took trolley for Port Tampa by
way of Ballast Point. Port Tampa is
another place where Mr.. Plant spent
millions. building a harbor, by dredg-
ing and filing in, and erected the. larg-
States and they too stand as living
monuments to their names. The finan-
Sia worla sPescqlases Pc great dsal on
terprises. Had these two men. been
permitted, to enjoy a few more years
we would have seen two financial
giants pitted against each other. one
trying to absorb the other.
Our next place to visit was st.
Petersburg. situated on the west coast
OF Tampa Bay, and about 60. miles from
the former city, accessible only by
boat, which we took, at A. M. and
reached st. Petersburg IL. 40. This is
a most beautifully located city. The
thing that was OF so much interest on
our way from Tampa to st. petersburg
"a ho orIro nd