The National tribune., 1911-01-05
ST. CLOUD,

The New Southern Colony for Old
Soldiers-Veterans Are Going There
to End Their Days, and Each New
conner Is Given Very Cordial Well
como.
(The Mt. Vernon (ohio) Republican
News.)
st. Cloud. Fla, Nov. ., 1910.
Dear Republican-News:
1 thought perhaps your readers, es-
pecially the old comrades. would like
to read a line about St. Cloud, the
much-talked-of Soldiers Colony, which
was opened for settlement Is months
ago, at which time the only habitable
dwelling in the burg was a surveyors
tent, and to-day IL has q. population Of
well, no one knows how many, because
it has no city government and no way
to find out, but is estimated to have
somewhere around 1000.
These lots were sold to the old vet
Grams all over the United States on
very liberal terms under a sort of a
drawing or lottery plan, and they soon
began to come and build. so that at the
present time there ere something like
600 houses completed and "a under
construction, including two churches
and some business rooms More plans
for buildings are ready and would be
under way but for the lack of mechan-
can get worlsmen to go ahead with their
houses.
The Presbyterians have a very good
concrete house of worship nearly com
plcted, and the Nethodists have the
walls of fine brick church up, be-
sides parsonage under way. The funds
for the latter church were willed for
that special purpose by man who re-
Gently died in Georgia, and the land
company donates the land to each de-
nomination that will build. Many of
the residences are on the cheap order,
but most of them are substantial and
look nice. The original townsite is one
mile wide and two miles long; lots are
sold, and large new addition just add
ed is now on the market. The houses
are scattered uniformly over the en-
tire tract. The hotel is a modern brick
building, just opened. There are many
private families who keep boarders
and roomers. Living expenses are a
little higher here than in the North,
but ought not to be, as one can raise
nearly everything needed for the table
and let the cows and hogs run at large.
The business streets are pretty sandy,
but other parts Of the city have pretty
solid roads. The town will soon be in
corpo:ated. and then paving Will be-
gin. There are no officers, not even
n constable, and the sheriff lives nine
miles away. Everything is orderly and
no DRINKS.
Lake Tohopekaiiga, a fine body of
water, is only a mile away, and is 20
miles around, and some day they ex-
pect a fine auto drive the entire dis
lance, with fine residences fronting the
lake. The lots are now being sold,
which have a building restriction clause
Of $4,000 in every deed. Two trains
every morning and evening, except
Sunday, constitute the railway service.
can see our neighbours garden from
the hotel window, and in it there are,
besides other vegetables, beans in bios
som and tomato plants foot high, all
growing nicely.
A comrade dug one hill of sweet po-
tatoes recently which yielded SO
pounds. The largest tipped the scales
at IL pounds. Orange and grapefruit
groves near the city are now loaded
with green fruit just turning-a beau
tiful sight.
The only place in town for holding
meetings Of any kind. including Sun
day school or church, which is all
union, is the G. A. r. Hall. wooden
wire around to keep the hogs from
under. Every man you meet is COM
rade, and more coming on every train.
Their families having all grown up,
they come here to spend the few re-
naming years allotted to them in this
fine climate, and that explains the alb
sence of children on the streets, which
Is painfully apparent. There is not
State in the Union which Is not rep
resented by one or more of the old
comrades
The old soldiers military band is a
fine one, and furnishes music for the