The National tribune., 1910-02-10
ST. CLOUD A GREAT TOWN.
The Way Michigan Comrade Describes
1t to Friend i'm q Private Letter.


Comrade James Buckley. Petoskey,
Mich, sends us copy of the Petoskey
IEvening News, containing the following
letter from Comrade VIM. l.. Curtis.
Mr.. Curtis is President of the First Ma
tional Bank at Petoskey, a gentleman
of large business experience and man
who has been all over the United States,
looking at it with clear, practical eye.
The letter, which is addressed to Com
|rade Buckley, reads:
| MY Dear Friend: Had q few mo-
ments this morning after returning from
st. Cloud with Mr.. Hankey, and thought
l could not do better than drop few
Hines to you. shall not try to describe
all that is being done over there, except
to say in general way that the whole
proposition is simply marvellous. To see
a town in the short space of time take
on the growth that st. Cloud has is the
lgreates work of the kind 1 have ever
Iseen or expect to see.
Mr.. Hankey knows all of the gentle
men personally, and believes them to be
gentlemen. After the hotel burned for
a short time there was a wet blanket
thrown over it all, but the fire was
lGodsend to st. Cloud. Day before yes
terday I saw a telegram from Senator
Lynn, saying: Get the head engineer
to clear off at once and erect new no
tel with so rooms" The hotel will be
built of brick, and there will also be
power house, electric-ligft plant, ice
plant and water works. Mr. King at
once went to Jacksonville and contract
ed for brick for all of these buildings.
ana 80 men We're at once set to work
clearing off and digging trenches for
the foundations of the hotel Two cars
! OF brick are already here in Kissimmee
to be sent over this afternoon. Believe
me, there is no hot air about this These
are solid, cold facts, and you cannot
find growler in all st, Cloud this
morning
| Il also saw instructions from head
quarters to put the price on all of the
uhsold lots, between the second street
| east of yours and first street west, at
$3.50 for corner lots and at $500 for
central lots. They tell me they are SELL
ing at that, but this do not know from
personal knowledge, still 1 do not doubt
1t. Have been on the first lot you bought
many times, and think it one of the very
best in the town. VIII not try to saw
what it is worth, but it is very valuable.
Mr. Hankey's six lots and mine are
lalrly well situated, and are on the next
street west from yours. We have cleared
| ours and are now fencing them. and |
think will plant some trees and get
them in shape for ourselves or some
one else to build on. We think st.
Cloud gives promise of the greatest
Winter resort in Florida. The climate
cannot be beaten, and the lake that this
colony fronts on is certainly one of the
! prettiest that 1 have seen in Florida
The men who are already here are
good, misunderstanding men, and you
could have good time with them. Mr.
iankey is having one of the times of
his life talking over army times. We
both like it here, and feel fine as silk.
Mr. and Mrs. George Williams are
here, and go over to st. Cloud to-day to
stay. Think they have fine quarters
and are well satisfied. See Mr.. Ruch
often, and he looks fine, little like a
Western cowboy. His lots are well To-
Gated, and he has a bungalow on one of
them that would make his friends laugh
II they could see it. His property is in
the business part of the town and is
good, too; also Andrew Quallins is fine.
1t is too bad that Andrew had to leave,
for L think he was on the road to
good thing. In my judgment he always
had a good head for real estate, but
think he would not make good wood
chopper. as he is a little too lazy. He
is not worker like Hankey and myself
Few are. All of the Petoskey push are
well, think, and feeling fine.
Regards to all my friends.
"Wm. L. Curtis"