The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1920-03-04
VISITOR DESCRIBES
TRIP ACROSS FLA.
PEN|NSULAR
(St. Petersburg independently


An interesting account of his trip
across the Florida peninsula is given
in the following article written by
w. c. Kendrick of Louisville, KY, for
the benefit of his friends but which
he gave to The Independent for pub
LEGATION:
have been asked by several per-
sons if would not give an accurate
statement as to the trip from the
west to the east coast through the
Everglades of Florida.
At the outset, might state, from
the beginning we had very pleasant
weather and possibly may have Jared
better than others who made the trip
during timee when conditions were
not quite so favorable.
We left st. Petersburg, and through
the kindness of friend, rode from
there one bright morning early in
March in an automobile to Tampa,
Florida, starting about the same time
the boat left the dock. We arrived
there just in time to see it pull in.
am not positive as to the distance,
but think it about 60 or 70 miles.
We lunched at Tampa and had pro-
posed taking the regular train from
there to Lakeland, which left at
Is Is and was due about an hour lat
er at the latter point, but finding that
a sightseeing autObus located near
the city hall was to leave about
O'Clock for Lakeland and they charged
the same price as the train, which
was about 81 passenger, we con-
cluded to take that as it would give us
a ride through much more desirable
section than that through which the
train ran. 1t was necessary for us to
check our trunk as there was nc
means for conveying it on the bus
Our hand grips, however, were tied
on We left at o'clock, drove through
la beautiful section of the country
over one of the fine brick roads al
the way to Lakeland and got there
about 5 o'clock, which was Is min
utes before the train was to have
started from Tampa, so it gave us {
very good opportunity of seeing ;
portion of Lakeland, which we foun(
a very charming spot. The Kiblel
hotel, which was comparatively new
gave us fine accommodation, and aft
err good nights rest, left the mex
morning about o'clock if | remem
Der correctly for Fort Myers, tn,
train arriving at the latter plac,
about noon. We found quite a dit
ference in the temperature from tina
, of Lakeland as 1t was very warm
The Bradford hotel, which was recon
mended to us, was very convenient
located right in the heart of tn
| town, its broad verandas affording a.
| opportunity for rest in the shad
through the heat Of the day near
bandstand in front of the hotel, wher
they had music every afternoon an
evening. This is small town, bu
has many very elegant houses, anon
them that of Edison, the electrician
,Veile and other automobile manufa,
turers, whose names | do not no,
recall and has promise of yer
beautiful city.
II On Saturday we took a little boa
that left about s o'clock in the morI
ing and rode for couple of hour
or more to Sanibel island. We toucl
| led at Matthews dock and then too
an automobile which was in waitin
at DO cents piece, and were take
to Matthews beach, which was thre
I and a half miles across the islam
over very good shell road. Thel
was very little to be seen on tn
place excepting the very beautif,
beach, which has a stretch of man
miles and fine surf bathing. A lunc
at the hotel of good home cookir
was served to possible rs or 100 De
pie, most of whom were staying
that locality, charging dollar f,
the lunch Then we left shortly al
err lunch over the same route
catch the boat that brought us final
to Fort Myers about 5 o'clock.
: was charming ride across the mout
= OF the Caloosahatche river.
. We were about thirty miles fro
I Naples, which could only be reache
+ by automobile, for which they charge
! $1,000 for the round trip, or cou
/ have gone to the bus. which left
I o'clock and took two hours to NAL
! the run, and this same bus left ear
! next morning, their charge being Il
same, $3.50 passenger or $500 f
! the two each way. We hardly fe