The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-11-14

Friends Of G. A. Began. New Paris.
are interested In the following letter
describing his trip to st. Petersburg
via motor car:
To tho Richmond Palladium and Sun
Telegram, Richmond. Indiana.
We left New Paris on the morning
Of October oath. in our car for Florida
The first day. 1872 miles, to Louis
vile, KY, roads were gooo. rIu
Louisville to Nashville, Tenn.' 1so
miles, some good roads and some very
rough. From Nashville TO HUBS
toll.eates between the two points. The
Dixie Highway people have bought
this road and the gates will De re-
moved the first of this month. MOST
OF this road was very rougn.
Cross on Ferry Boat
From Huntsville to Atlanta. Georgia,
23O miles, we crossed the tennessee
river at Gunnersville on Ferry boat.
The first forty miles of this days ira
vel was very rough, the remainder OF
Il was very good. We came through
Rome Georgia, which is a beautiful
citv. that day. From Atlanta to Val
dosta. Georgia, 265 miles; this days
travel the roads were good. From val
dosta to Gainesville, Florida, l4o miles,
some very good roads and some rougn
and sandy. From Gainesville to Tar
non Springs. a distance OF las miles,
some OF the roads good and some deep
sand. From Tarpon Springs to st.
petersburg, a distance OF 80 miles,
the roads were good all the way.
In covering this distance. 1903 miles,
we used SO gallons OF gasoline, ana
two and one half gallons OF machine
oil We broke one spring. which cost
me $3.50 and can buy the same
spring here for $3.50.
10 Beautiful Town.
We arrived in st. Petersburg at $3.50
n. M, October 81. The city Is situated
on the South end OF the Pinellas Pen
insula, on the West side OF TAMPA
Bay. about twenty.three miles South.
west of Tampa. I call It beautiful
town, and the population. ] am told,
IA about 10000. There are about
100 miles of brick road, including the
city's paved streets and the county
GOOD roads in the vicinity. There are
four banks with handsome buildings,
six commodious school buildings, be-
sides an open air school and semi
nary for girls; something like, half
hundred hotels and boarding houses,
and apartment houses in almost every
block in the city. The opera house is
a fine building in the Spanish style.
with capacity for $500 people, and
as well equipped as any theatre in the
South.
The 'Spa" as the big bath house is
called Is the finest bathing place in
Florida, and its swimming pool is one
of the finest In the country. The city
pier has a promenade, besides a drive
for automobiles and trolly line, and
is one Of the favorite spots for re-
creation. The city band gives free
concerts here weekly. and there Is
dancing at the band pavilion on the
beach almost nightly. !
PhiIIies Train In South.
The "Phillies" train here this win
ter, at Coffee Pot Bayou, in the north
ern part of the city; and their grounds
divide favor with the new golf links
at the Jungle. in the vicinity Of Da-
vista, which is western suburb of
st. Petersburg.
A drawing card for st. Petersburg is
the large number Of benches along
Central avenue, the main street,
where every one Is free to rest as long
as he desires. even until late at night;
and it is an interesting sight to watch
the crowds that throng the Avenue.
Garages Are Numerous
The public garages are numerous,