The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1920-03-04
VISITOR DESCRIBES
TRIP ACROSS FLA.
PEN|NSULAR
Continued from Page 81

At LaBelle we had a very good lunch,
for which they charged us rs cents
each. This bus was again taken for
16 miles drive to Citrus Center. At
Citrus we took very small motor
boat for IA miles ride on a very
narrow canal, which brought us to
Moorehaven at 7:45 in the evening.
The whole Of this part Of the trip
was interesting because of its novelty,
and as such, we did not much mind.
AS l said before, the weather condi-
lions were favorable. AT Moorehav-
en- we stopped at the large hotel right
at the dock, were given very good
supper, nights lodging and breakfast
and started early, say o'clock the
next morning, on larger boat, which
was much more comfortable and bet
ter arranged for sight seeing as there
was really more to be seen on this
second days part of the trip. Moore
haven is newly established place,
getting to be quite canning district,
and understand is bringing in good
deal of capital and the country sur
rounding is very fertile and promises
a great future for the town. It is
probably the only city, in fact the
only one | know Of having the dis
tinction Of having lady mayor. To
start with our trip at o'clock, we
rode for 10 miles through a broad ca.
nal, of which will speak later At
or this 10 miles, we reached Lake
Okochobee, which is said to be the
second largest fresh water lake, in
the world surrounded by its own state
and is 20 feet above the level of the
sea. 1t seems to receive its supply
from the high country, it being the
basin into which the water flows.
The ride across the lake was only 80
miles, being across the edge of it.
Then we entered the main canal,
which is the outlet or drainage from
this lake, through West Palm Beach
to Lake Worth and then to the ocean.
Then length Of the canal from the
lake to West Palm Beach is 40 miles
1t seems that all of this southern
part of Florida known as the Ever
glades belonged to the government
and was covered with water from one
4 to three feet and very thick in un-
derbrush and tall grass. This was
taken over from the government by
drainage company with the under
standing that they were to follow ex.
plicitly the governments require.
ments in caring for the land. The
main specification was that they
should put in drainage canals run
ming from Lake Okeechobee to Lake
Worth, one passing through West
Palm Beach and the other on towards
Miami as the principal canals. There
were also to be lateral canals run
ming into these principal ones, so that
the country has been thoroughly
drained and opened up avenues of
communication between the interior
of the state and the ocean. This lit
tie piece of history added somewhat
to the iterest Of that locality to us.
Shortly after we enter the mouth
, of the canal, we are fascinated by the
luxuriant underground, tropical plants
and vines, many of the large oaks
are covered with moss and vari-col-
ored orchids and moonvines are seen
along the coast. During our ride
, through this canal, we saw several
alligators, some snakes and turtles.
We were particularly impressed with
the fertility Of the soil along this
great stretch of country. The earth
was just black muck; and one sec
ton particularly, which is owned by
a man Of the name of j. w. Conner
from Buffalo, embracing over 5000
acres, was under cultivation as far as
the eye could reach on each side, his
| anuinmant hainp entirely modern u.s.
n gtractors altogether and employing
about 300 hands. He has established
quite little village for his help and
is now putting up the largest and
most modern sugar cane mill in the
world. 1t is said by those who seem
to know that he is to be to the Ever.
glades section what Flagler was to
the east coast in the development OF
the country. At one time what we
thought was a cloud going very low
along the land at a great distance
Iproved to be heat waves which were
coming our way, taste of which we
got just a few moments and passed
on. This was not so pleasant, but an
interesting experience. Towards the
end of the canal there were two or
three bends, which brought to our
view the most beautiful sunset think
II ever saw, which was to our back