The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-01-20


go by water from here to Tampa by
way Of Lake Okeechobee and TT. My
ers II he so desires. Here we took the
boat at sunrise for Fowler Park, 10.
Gated three miles across the lake
where we had breakfast at the hotel
there and were treated to the finest
meals of fruit, wild game and fish we
enjoyed since leaving home. After
breakfast we we're conducted out over
the lands of the Florida Drained Land
Company's tract of land which COM
prises some of the most fertile land IN
the state. This land had been select
ed in 1879 by the late Hamilton Dis
ston, (the great saw man, who after
thorough inspection of the whole
state by his party of engineers and
land experts, decided it to be the best
of all. He expended five hundred
thousand dollars in draining this land
which Is in perfect condition for the
around this tract has been settling up
this land has been held back from set
tlement by disagreement between the
heirs, who have lately been brought
together and this land offered for sale.
Everyone in our party was delighted
with the prospects for this section. 1t
being located on the Atlanta Coast
Line r. r. and lying between Kissim-
NEE and st. Cloud, two of the most
rapidly growing cities in the United
States today. Our party bought in the
aggregate, one hundred and fifty ten
acre tracts of this land.
Here / must state something in re-
gard to st. Cloud, town which has
grown from nothing but surveyors
tent fifteen months ago to five thous-
and people today. All members of the
G.. A. r. know about the marvellous
growth of this town. 1t being settled
and composed mostly of old soldiers
and their families, who desiring to
build their homes in more favored
cline, away from the Ice and snow of
II
could enjoy the whole year in the op-
en- air in their gardens amid the flow
ers and the growing vegetation. Here
on the southern shore of East Lake
Tohopekaliga, nine miles east of Kis-
simmee, they are settling in large
numbers. Every train from the North
brings in new comrades and their
families from the northern states and
all are delighted with the beautiful
city and it's prospects for the future.
Here / met DIR. G. II. Heard and wife
who are located on Pennsylvania av-
enue for the winter. They are delight
ed with the climate and the associa-
tions there among the comrades and
their families of the G. A. r. After a
pleasant afternoon spent with them,
visiting the lake and other places of
interest, returned to Kissimmee. Up
on our return to the latter city Mr..
Paynter and myself went out to see
Mr.. Jones and Mr.. Stute and their
families, who together with Mr.. Clay
also from Mt. Vernon, have made their
homes here. They, were surprised
and pleased to see us and told US they
were all delighted with their new
homes here In Florida. They are now
planting out their spring gardens after
just harvesting their fall crops. They
plant in September for crop in Decem-
ber and then Immediately after plant
another crop to be harvested in March
and April. Then they plant again for
their summer crop. Thus they raise
from three to four crops year on
one piece of ground while in the north
only one.
Kissimmee is very progressive lit
tie city, owning their own water
works, with fine artesian water, also
their own electric light ylant which
made a profit of 100000 last year
after furnishing all the lights for the
city free. They pride themselves on
their fine schools which cannot be ex-
celled by any town of its size in the
United States. The principal streets
are paved with mari which makes
them as fine to ride over as asphalt.
Everyone in Kissimmee is booster
and the way houses are springing up
is only limited by the lack Of carpen-
ters to do the work. The hotels are
all crowded from cellar to garret and
the way that Northern men from New
York to Seattle, Wash, and even from
California are coming in and making
their homes in this vicinity is some
thing wonderful.
Leaving Kissimmee in the evening
we arrived in Lakeland where ! met
Mr.. Woolson at the depot. He was ex-
pecting his wife, but she did not come
on our train. He has been visiting
many parts of the state and has been
| IA 4 ,Ir ~ H<Nx.