The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-03-11
IMPRESSIONS
RECEIVED BY
VISITOR TO
LAKELAND

The writer, after spending the
greater part of half century IN
states swept by the cold blasts 81
northern winters, and now seeking
refuge in the haven of sunshine and
flowers, is at present in Lakeland.
That up-to-date, progressive and mod
ern city of about ten thousand popu.
lation, and the metropolis OF Polk
county-Lakeland- as it is
on the main line of the Atlantic Coast
Line railroad, has more than thirty
passenger trains day in every d.
rection.
The spacious and handsome depot
just completed, would be credit to
place many times the size Of Lake
land. Railroad shops here with
payroll approximating 100000 a month
will be mighty factor in the up
building of a city. The industrial
plants, packing houses and other in
dustries, together with progressive
merchants, make the continued on
ward movement certain to Lakeland.
Within the confines of it's thirty
miles of brick and asphalt-paved
streets, with concrete walks will be
found spacious brick business houses,
hotels substantial banks and office
buildings, all erected to conform TO
modern ideas, and practically all this
growth made in less than a dozen
years, and is continuing to be made,
as is evidenced by the handsome
homes now in erection New firms
are starting business and the COM
mencement of new brick church.
The visitor or tourist with gay turn
of mind will find here large audi
forum, seating about two thousand
people; the movie, of course, and
other attractions. The sick or afiilct
ed can be treated at the city hospital
} or a sanitarium up to the minute In
equipment and service.
There are here large brick schoo
buildings. with ample recreation
t grounds, and a sight worth seeing Il
the boy scouts drilling on their LAKE
shore campus.
t The churchgoer can/meet fellowship
J in chorus of any denomination.
The Elks home, beauty in Itself
is indeed inviting and makes non
:: member of the order wish ito g
there, too"
Two daily newspapers, printing Al
ISOLATED Press dispatches, will enabl
one to keep abreast of the times.
= The new federal building, just con
r pleted, has opened for business an
At criticism, and, receiving a-plenty
both. Postoffice boxes of the usus
"a size are all taken, only the large
n size now for rent, though after tim
h. when tourists leave the situation ma
:; improve. Taken all in all, Unc
he Sans new home is pretty and nea
Ia. but altogether inadequate for a
", ing Lakeland,
TO- The eight beautiful lakes within Il
IA corporate city limits justly give Il
name Lakeland Around two OF u
;, largest has just been completed
o.t phalt drives, and when fringed wi
,ae palms and flowers, these lake driv
will be "a thing of beauty and j
= forever"
- The water and light plants a
e.r municipality owned and their manai
ment is meeting with appreciation
the part of the people. The gas pla
is fulfilling all its needs and the cit
ers cosmopolitan population travels
al white way throughout the entire b
mess section.
M Although augmented by the ad
'o4e ton Of between four and five tho
and winter tourists and the NUM-
lose Increasing yearly, Lakeland is, str
and ly speakingg. home town, backed
care prosperous and profitable farm
S64S country. Lakeland is the center
the Florida citrus growing indus
eau and many of the most beautiful gro
bear in the state can be found within
900. short radius of the city.
Bldg. Add to this the fact that nearly
1862 per cent of the total asphalt out