The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-09
Winter Visitors
Impressions
OF Lakeland

ceicing a welcome package of Re-
fiector-Heralds / was reminded that
IL had said l would write you If ]
found anything of special interest
here in the Sunny South"
AS almost everything seems to be
of special interest" there's no tell
ing where to begin or where to end.
First, in reply to the question as
to the expense of getting here,
briefly, the railroad fare from Nor
walk to Cincinnati is s4.25. Then
purchasing one thousand mile book
of tickets for $40, and adding 10
cents. it was exchanged for a ticket
direct through to Lakeland
Next-almost everyone in Norwalk
to whom l mentioned the fact that
intended to make the trip re-
marked II wish / could do the same. +"
Well, I've lots of nice things to say
about Lakeland, Florida, but there
are a few things one should know
before wasting any time in wishing
to make the trip so I'll get the un-
pheasant things off my mind first.
Namely, don't try to make the en-
tire trip without stopping off at
Cincinnati and perhaps Chattanooga
for a real nights rest. Otherwise
its q very long, tedious interesting
trip.
When | arrived here (Friday, Dec.
Sth) the weather was like June or
September in Ohio but two or three
days later a very heavy wind and
rain storm swooped down from the
North and it grew steadily colder
until we had frosts three nights in
succession, then warm day, then
sumner rain, then colder again and
that has been about the program ev-
err since with hope Of something bet
ter to come soon and stay. And, be-
lieve me, the sight of roses and ge-
raniums in blossom and orange trees
full of fruit with tropical shrubs in
every yard does not make air feel
any warmer with the thermometer
near the freezing point and very few
conveniences for keeping warm. In
fact it's slow and continuous misery,
whereas, with all your blizzardy
weather up North you prepare for
it and are soon used to it.
AS to Lakeland, Polk county, Flor
ida, it claims about the same popu-
lation as Norwalk and it is certainly
beautifully situated.
1t is on gradually sloping rise
Of ground which is said to be the
highest point OF land in the state,
being some 227 feet above sea level.
The business blocks and residences
compare favorably with the best in
Norwalk on an average. Within the
corporation are seven or eight small
lakes, the very smallest being as
large as our water works reservoir.
One near where I am rooming has a
drive entiely around It with a fine
large modern school building and a
number OF beautiful residences fac
ing the lake at different points up
OH its shores.
In the center of the city is beau
tiful little park, containing many
tropical trees and shrubs, newly
dedicated band stand, a soldiers
monument. fountain with sandy
walks and many seats and swinging
for resting tourists and citizens. The
white way lights extend about as
far as they do in Norwalk but have
a cluster of five globes on each stand
ard instead of one as in Norwalk.
The streets are quite extensively
paved both with brick and with a
combination Of asphalt and sand,
the latter smooth enough so the lads
play hockey in the middle of the
streets while scooting here. and there
on their roller skates and that's
more than can be said of some of
Norwalk's paved streets.
This county POLK county, has
voted $500, 900 for improved roads
and already has the money in the
treasury which is an item they claim
no other county in the United States
can boast of, not even in the great
states of New York or Ohio.
So if any of your readers are look
ing for a pleasant picturesque, home
like location either for permanent or
just for winter residence l do not
know of a more likely spot than
right here. do not know the prices
at which real estate is held but OF
course there are plenty Of agents
here to give all such information IL
wanted. OF the chamber of COM
merce would give any information