The sun., 1916-01-02
THE development Of the West
Coast Of Florida is along lines
i so radically different from any

THE development Of the West
Coast Of Florida In along lines
so radically different from any
other section OF the State that
anew history of Florida will soon have
10 he written.
The character Of the West Coast will
remain as II is to-day-it will be the
objective point of the winter tourist
who likes the extreme warmth OF
Florida for few short weeks in mid
winter. The soft. warm, damp sea air
OF the east coast beguiles the travel
Ter from the cold North and he spends
Q month here during the most trying
winter weather luxuriating in the
warmth and gayety of cas-: Florida.
All Florida is the land of sunshine
and flowers, Of tropical plants and
fruits, of birds. butterflies. Wild fowl
and game animals. but the west coast
has a character so complex and laden
with possibilities that. to the eye and
Imagination of the first time visitor. II
IA like placing a table of sweets be-
fore child He sees with the eye.
he comprehends with the mind. that
the west coast is so busy making
money in a climate and soil that gives
everything and demands little that
they have not time to even talk about
themselves or their money making.
Tampa, the centre OF this wonder
ful industrial and agricultural devel-
opment. is beginning to take cogniz-
snce Of its remarkable growth. and
this year has issued, through its Board
Of Trade. a report giving some facts
ard figures regarding the phenomenal
development of the city and adjoining
counties in the last sixteen years.
From 1900 to 1910 only one city in
the Union made greater gain In
population than Tampa. with its in
crease of 1882 per cent. The popula-
lion Of Greater Tampa. which includes
the main town and West Tampa, is
b9,'2s and the settlements lie so close
10 the city that the people do their
marketing in Tampa, giving the town
buying population OF 10000 people.
Valuation of property in the city il
over s60,O00.0O0 and the bank clear
snces for the past year were $54,-
Voo,oOo Tampa bears no resemblance
TO the old Southern town Of slOven
shahbiness, but is as up to date in
civic improvements and business
methods as our most progressive
Northern cities. Out Of Tampa runs
network OF fine brick pavements
into the adjoining counties of Marion.
Gurus. Sumter, Lake. Orange. Her
hahdo, Pasco, Polk, Osceola. Manatee,
DE Soto and Lee. Bayshore Boule-
Nard which runs for nine miles along
the bay, is probably one of the most
'eaullful shore front drives in the
world And on the opposite side of
Vls shore road are built some of the
Ve'u"St homes Of the new South.
brck. stone and stucco are the ia
Vofl'" building materials for both res
m"nc'S and business buildings. While
NyScrapers are not necessary In this
land Of abundant space, ten story Of
h'" buildings and notels are numer-
Gus Tho four big hotels. the Tampa
hay' lilllsboro, Bay View and De
GOT" reflect the busy fife OF the visit
'hE winter colony. while some fifteen
smaller hotels take care of the travel
Hhs public throughout the whole
t"'r Six large banking institutions
Nahu'e the moneys tnat accrue from
s's great shipping. cigar and other
.'n 'rial business, as well as the
enormous sums that come from the
niI''ultural districts that surround
Tampa.
Tine traveller who visits Tampa for
H' hfSt time temporarily thinks that
a. ire business done in Florida must
:" carried on right there, but he has
s'' l." So" another progressive South
''n Town. Just across Tampa BAY
".a Il few miles further south Is st.
'c''fsblrg, situated almost at the end