Mexico weekly ledger., 1912-01-11
RAILROAD los
MILES ON KEY
WONDERFUL FEAT

AIQIIV AOA VIA
kind enough 10 request me
to Furnish you an account Of the
sights and scenes of the sunny
South"
We left 81. Louis on the even
ing Of the gth, and morning found
US at Nashville, Tenns south Of
which we began to see the cotton
fields. mistletoe, holly and other
evidences that we were ia Dixie
Land" Soon after passing out OF
Tennessee, we crossed The
Tennessee River, which here pass
- into Alabama-a beautiful stream
Of quiet blue water, and during the
day we passed through large forests
Of pine, the trees being tapped for
turpentine; then through the pal
mettoes, and before reaching Jack
sonville, the live oaks. wiia their
~longdrapery Of Southern moss were
seen and admired by all OF us who
were new to this Southern Land.
We stopped at Jacksonville a day
and might; visited the Ostrich
Farm, and had a delightful ride, in
and around this prosperous city,
properly called "The Gateway to Flor
ida" From a city OF $4,000 tn 1901
it has grown to 10000 In 1911.
From Jacksonville we passed to
St. Augustine. then quickly fol
lows the other beautiful winter re;
which dot this summer land,
From Daytona Followed tho Eastern
Coast Line 10 Miami; the scenery
along the st. Johns River and
the Indian River being beautiful
and fun Of interest; and the clim-
ate at tilis a is delightful. Fine
roadways in and around Miami.
We drove ont through the grape
fruit, and orange groves. loaded
with. fruit. Winter ao%iourners are
plenty, and every day gay part
les may be seen embarking for tie
fishing grounds or the tennis courA.
Golf Is a fayorito pastiine, and the
links are accessible BY autos. Of
boat. The Hotel Royal Palm Is sur-
founded by groves and gardens: com.
manding a lovely view Of the
beautiful waters OF Bay Bisuayne.
Evrybody seems to live u leisure
life.
We left for Cuba, feeling that
nothing could be more beautiful
than what We had seen around Miami
but the trip by rail- over the road
built across the keys 10 knights
Key. is an astonishing piece OF en-
cheering. It Is literally a road
across the sea, 105 miles long
when completed to Key West.
When the water is deep and ex-
posed to storms by breakers In the
outer reef, concrete arch viaduct con
s~truction is used, consisting OF flf-
ty foot reinforced concrete circular
arch spans and piers. This was the
most difficult part Of the work. At
first it took twenty-eight days to
build n pier, now a pier a day,
The longest viaduct Is between
Long Key and Grassy Key 2.7 mi.
long, costing. It is said, 81. ZOO, 900.
IAN this the conductor explains,
and ] had to write quickly in order
TO get them.) The road is built and
promoted by Mr.. Flagler. the rail
road magnate OF the South.
The Florida Keys, as you know,
are a chain of coral islands, separ-
ated by bodies OF water, more or
less deep, lying between Gulf OF
Mexico and the Atlantic. Most u
them are clothed with trees and 9TH
er vegetation, and small vessels wor
their way in, out and through this
maze Of land and water. 1t Ks prob
able that nowhere else on Garth can
be seen more beautiful shades and
unts. than the waters along these
Keys display. Every color and eom.
bination Of color may be seen on
the water, caused by the differ.
ing depths Of The salt water, tho
reflecting shadows from the Keys.
and the emoothness or agitation OF
the water.
knights Key is the present South.
ern terminus OF the Fiorida East
Coast Railway. The history 81
knights Key is one OF romance.
The httl Island takes ITS name
from the fact that carly in The
eighteenth century a man Of proud
bearing took up his residence there.
He surrounded himself with adven,
lures and engaged in the hazardous
business Of piracy. The business In
those days was profitable. for the
rhch gaiieons Of Spain were prizes
worth the daring. No one seemed 10
KNOW the nationality Of this man.
aiuhough his ships were the terror
OF merchantmen OF ali flags. He dis
appeared as mysteriously and AZ
quletly as he came. The hand
iell to pieces, MANY Of lis members
deserving to other leaders. Their
cnlef In all likelihood. returu-
ca 70 the court whence he came.
mere to live royalty on his III.
gotten gains. Knowing nothing of
me name Or ale nationality Of their
reader. they yet acknowledged bta.
superiority. and we've convinced Of
us noble birth. Thence eprang the
name which It bears to-day. Al this
piace we went aboard the Mascot
: steamer bound for Havana. At
ney West we spent two ven delight
lul days, nine Of us taking IN The
slgnts. This Do one Of The most I'm
pSr'ant naval stations Of the q. 81.
y one Of The most powerful wire-