The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-08-18

full to tarry long within her gates.
(Applause.) The traveller also passes
Ormond-beautiful Ormond, with her
marvellous scenery and the greatest
automobile beach course in the
world.
New Smyrna, Titusville, Cocoa,
Rockledge, Fort Pierce, and numer-
Gus other towns greet and charm the
traveller as he is whir1ed through this
delightful religion on his journey
toward the far south over the line of
this twentieth century railroad, equip
ped with every possible modern con-
vienience. Later, down the line he
comes to Palm Beach, the garden spot
of the world" 1t is utterly impossi-
BILE to describe Palm Beach. No pain
ter has yet been born who can faith
fully reproduce on canvas the ravish-
ing beauty of Palm Beach. No mas
ter of language is blessed wit a suff-
cient vocabulary to impart to those
who have not seen it the lightest con-
ception of its surprising beauty.
Within two hours ride of Palm Beach
the traveller comes to Miami, the
Magic City, of Florida. Scarcely Is
years old, Miami has a population ap-
proximating $4,000 people. She has
paved streets, sewerage, electric cars,
and every possible improvement and
CONVENIENCE known to our modern
municipal life. In addition to this,
she is situated in a rich fruit and
truck growing region, with both rail
and water transportation to the mar
kets of the world.
A little distance below Miami be-
gins that portion of the Florida East
Coast Railroad which, crossing the
sea from key to key, connects the
mainland of the state of Florida with
the island city of Key West, and
which as an engineering enterprise
ranks second only to the great Pana-
ma canal. For more than a hundred
miles across the sea this magnificent
| ly equipped railroad has been con-
| structed at the instance and under
the direction of the master mind of
Henry M. Flagler, the greatest devel-
oper whose presence has ever blessed
our fair state. A few short years
ago the entire eastern side of the
state of Florida was practically an
uninhabited and an uneXplored wild
erness, but Henry NJ. Flagler, with
that keen foresight which has signal
| ly charactized his long and success
full business career, saw the vast pos
sibilities of that region, which only
required the developing touch of
transportation facilities to bring them
into full fruition. Having satisfied
himself that the task was worthy of
the effort, Mr.. Flagler called to his
aid Hon. Joseph r. PARROT, now pres
ident of the road and other able lieu
tenants, and actively began the great
work. Difficulties Vulnerable were
encountered, and as it was not so
promising an enterprise in the way of
returns on the capital invested, Mr..
Flagler builded the great highway
} with his own private means, and l
am told that no bonds were ever
issued and sold until the stupendous
task of building the extension across
the sea was begun.
In behalf of the citizenship of the
beautiful city of Key West; in be-
half of my own constituency, the peo-
pie of the second congressional dis
trict of Florida, and in behalf of the
people of the entire state, | tender
you, Mr.. Speaker, the membership
of the house, and all the people of
America, an invitation to visit us on
the occasion of the celebration of
the completion of this gigantic en-
terprise. (Applause.) Our homes
will be opened to you; our hands out
stretched to greet you; our hearts
will throb gladly as we extend to
} you a generous, MISUNDERSTANDING
southern welcome. Those of you who
come by rail will have the opportun-
/, ity to travel more than 400 miles
through the greatest congressional
district in all the union, over as mag
nificent ralIroad as exists anywhere
within the broad domain of the repub-
lie. (Applause.)
! Passing through the great congress
sional district which have the honor
to represent in this historic chamber
you then. enter the next best con-
gressional district in the United Stat
es-the first congressional district of
Florida-so long and so ably repre-
sented by my distinguished colleague,
Col Sparkman. chairman of your COM
mittee on rivers and harbors. CAP
plause.) After travelling a short dis
lance in Col. Sparkman's district you
reach the city of Key West. What