The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-03-31
LETTER FROM
MR.. SWIFT
Pleasant Experiences al S. Peters.
burg His .heaIih Steadily
improving.
WILL SOON RETURN HOME. ETC.

witt SSSV hC UnN NUMB, EIC.
ST Petersburg, Fla. March 10Th. 1910.
To The Free Lance.
For several weeks it has been nv in
tehtlon TO write The Free Lance and
star something about the CITY of Der-
petual Sunshine and flowers - Svbere
your correspondent has been residing
Tor the past few months.
81 Petersburg rs termed a west coast
Town ana situated about 275 miles south
OF Jacksonville on Pmellas peninsula.
us name was given To II by Russian
clvli engineer at the time the a &.
railroad was built. i'm honor of the preat
city OF the same name in his native land
lhe peninsula at this point is from
IlNe TO seven miles wide. with beautiful
Tampa bay on the east and south. Boco
Ceiga bay on the west. Boco Ceiga bay
IS separated from the Gulf of Mexico
10y number of KEYS" which are
very long narrow islands. so common
along the east and west coast of Florida.
AT frequent intervals these islands or
pays are cut through by passes connect
ing the gulf with the numerous BAYS
along the coast.
st, Petersburg is live. hustling
town, with almost all of her residents
boosters. There. Of course. NAV be
lew knockers here, but they are
so wofullyin the minority that they can
not retard much the growth of the town.
In lsyO the city numbered 270, and
ABOUT tins time or little later the A.
=, l.. railroad Was completed. and in
iSoO the population was l 200. The city
now has a permanent population OF
about 1900 and has had over ten thous-
and tourists this winter. spending from
two weeks TO four months.
Ii Is noticeable fact that these
tourists, or large majority of them.
are not OF the wealthy, ultra fashion
able class, but are substantial peopIe.
who come here To escape the rigorous
winters of the north and in search of
health amid this land of sunshine and
flowers.
The delightful climate of St Peters
burg is, OF course. its chief drawing
card, but there are other attractions
winch make II desirable place Of res
ldence, The boating and fishing af-
lord pleasure TO number Of people
( The city of st. Petersburg has had a
splendid mid-winter chautauoua which
was much enjoyed by the tourists
The town has up-to-date stores and a
stranger is at once impressed by the
hrst-class grocery and meat stores.
These stores are strikingly clean and
attractive All kinds of soaked meats
may be purchased. The town has more
miles OF good sidewalks than many
cities of twice it size. sewerage sys-
TEN, electric lights and electric street
railway, splendid school system from
kindergarten to high school. to which
children of all tourists are admitted free
of charge; churches of all denomina-
tons. Many people come here for a
few months and are so attracted by the
advantages of the place that they be-
come permanent residents. buying prop
erty and boosting" the city
To your correspondent, located as |
am at 4OS Beach Drive, Tampa bay is
one OF the greatest attractions of the
city. IL is the most beautiful body of
water ! have ever seen and il is an un-
failing source of pleasure and interest
to me. The many cOlors of its water,
from deep blue and green TO gray, and
the infinite shades made by the refec-
uon OF sun against the clouds | have
heard many people speak in what
thought eXtravagant terms about the
beauties of the sunrise, but descriptions
fail to give an adequate idea of this
splendid sight. | confess to have wit
messed this beautiful spectacle oftener
IN the past two months than before in
my entire life. | have been sleeping
out on porch for a month and my cot
IS so situated that face east and look
out over Tampa bay, so without much
sacrifice have been able to enjoy this
splendid sight. There the bay is alive
with boats from the large steamboats,,
often IN the evening as many three at
the docks at one time, TO the small gas
ohne launch with its chug-chug and
fitting lights.
A great variety of shells are gather
ed here and your correspondent has
quite little collection, most of them
picked up just in front of our house.
The fishing here attracts many tour
lists, and while had not been fishing
Tor at least ten years before coming TO
81. Petersburg. | have become an en-
thusiast. My first venture was award
ed by catch of fine Spanish mack
erel. Last Monday your correspondent
made a catch of 80, the most of them
trout and sheepshead The tarpoon.
kingfish, granper, red snapper are
larger tsh, but they are found in the
gulf. The mackerel and sheepshead
are quite gamey and afford real pleas
ure in landing them.
The railroad dock, which extends out
IN bay more than half a mile, here is a
great resort for fisher-folks. | have
seen more than 400 fishing from this
dock at the same time, from the bare
foot boy to grey haired capitalists, all
bent on landing some member of the
tinny tribe. Have often wished those
expert fishermen, Rev. X. A. Williams
and Rev. j. II. Henderlite, might try
their skill here.
But / am making this letter too long
| am continuing to improve and expect |
to get back to Fredericksburg and at |
work by about 10th of April.