The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-04-29

The tract consists of about two
thousand acres of citrus land on
lakes Easy and Amoret and parts Of
the tract touch the shores of Lake
Josephine, Lake Corinne and Blue
Lake. The club house, offices, build
ing lots, boat dock and pavilion are
ideally located on the north shore
of Lake Easy, deep, crystal clear,
spring fed lake. having splendid
bathing beach and shores of clean
white sand bordered by a fringe of
beautiful pines.
Highland park was virgin land two
years ago and it hardly seems posi-
BILE that such wonderful roads. the
two fine golf courses, a nine hole and
an eighteen hole; tennis court, the
commodious clubhouse. Offices and
baths, could have been completed in
so short time, yet they were all
there for our convenience and plea
sure.
There are 160 acres in the golf
courses and about 600 acres reserv-
ed for the club grounds and building
lots. many Of which have been sold
and some already have been improv
ed. Reference to the cost of the
land conditions under which it is
sold clearly indicate that this is not
a poor mans proposition, neither is
it rich mans affair. But the man
agement propose to have this colony
colony of good, friendly, honey
folk" as Mr.. Yarnell says. People
of unquestionable standing in the
communities from which they come,
and with sufficient means to develop
first class grove properties and to
build attractive, but not necessarily
extensive homes.
They told us there were something
like fourteen lakes In Polk county
and we must have seen at least half Of
them. Our route took us through
Mulberry. Barlow and the great cab
bage fields near there. Homeland. Fl.
Meade: Frostproof, Lake Moody. Hill
crest lodge. Highland Park. Lake
City, Winter Haven to Lucerne.
where the autos were dismissed and
supper was served in the big fruit
packing house of the Lucerne Park
Packing company. A train of day
coaches took us from Lucerne to
Haines City, where We went aboard
our pullmans once more, and Friday
morning. March IS, found us again
We're taken for driyes we abont tbis
thriving southern city. over the paw
ed boulevards around the many beau
tiful lakes within the city limits un-
til two o'clock in the afternoon when
our special left for Orlando.
Called on r. J. Straw.
We called on r. ]. Straw, formerly
of Mankato, who owns a big shoe
store in Lakeland. had a pleasant
visit with Harry l.. Brown. the clev-
of the Lakeland Evening Telegram.
and with John Freer. who halls from
Blue Earth. Mimi. and is extensive
ly interested in citrus fruit growing.
Arriving at Orlando at four O'Clock
we were Immediately whisked into
waiting automobiles and taken for
drive through that growing. busting
wealthy city, the metrono'is Of Or
ange county. and according to the
recent United States census the sew
enth city in the state.
Our driver informs us that there
were seventeen lakes within the city
limits and l think he told the truth
for at almost every second turn we
came to the shore OF beautiful
sheet of water on the surface of
which blue bills and other wild wa
ter fowl swan fearlessly about or
circled in the air, being fortunate
enough to spend their winters in this
most delightful spot, where they are
protected from the gunner and fed
by the authorities.
The auto tour terminated at the
Orlando country and golf club where
the banquet was served. There we
enjoyed hearing an address by Irv-
ing Bachelor, author of "a Man for
the Ages" and many other works;
and of listening to music by The
Royal Scotch Highlanders band,
which was filling winter season en-
gagement in Orlando.
We were agreeably surprised to
meet Mr.. and Mrs. William Hall of
Sterling, Blue Earth county, whose
present home is ST. Cloud and who
were guests at the banquet.
Orlando is rightfully called "the
city beautiful" 1t has commission
form of government, superb modern
public schools and churches, fine
hotels, miles of paved streets, and
throbbing substantial business. l
should have liked to have stayed
there longer and become better &C
quainted with its people and enjoy
ed its beauties, but time would not
permit
Upon our return to our cars we
found quarter box of grapefruit and
oranges, weighing twenty pounds,
for each member of the party. This
fruit, donated by the people and
packing houses Of Orange county was
selected and packed under the su-
pervision of F. L. Shelly and each
orange and grapefruit was stamped
by a new electric method and bore
the legend: Orlando, the City
Beautiful"
Auto Tour of West Orange
The itinerary for Saturday, March
10, included an auto tour of West
Orange county to Ococe, Winter Gal.
den, Oakland, Apoka and Winter
Park, but l did not feel equal to it
so stayed in the pullman and Mrs.
Tompkins decided to stay with me,
so We did not see this part of the
trip. Those who took the motor
trip returned to the train at Winter
Garden and we went on to Deland,
which was reachedhat two o'clock in
the afternoon.
A Florida cracker barbecue with
trimmings, served at DeLand's Model
auto camp grounds, was welcomed by
the hungry tourists. Dinner being
over the motorcade started through
the business section to the John B.
Stetson university, thence to Spring
Garden ranch and on to the famous
DeLeon springs, where one million
gallons of mineral water bubbles up
every hour from one gigantic boil
The figures seem unbelievable but
when / tell Won that a good sized