Evening star., 1922-09-10

, lions invested in st. Augustine by
1.-The late Henry NJ. Flagler. who built
the magnificent Ponce de Leon Hotel,
at the time of its construction one of
the most elaborate in the world and
still an exemplar Of fine architecture
have been augmented by other in
vested millions. Today st. Angus
| tine has accommodations to meet
every need and purse.
Fair Morning Ride.
The forty miles from Jacksonville
make fair mornings ride with
! considerable thrill promised to those
who take the beach route. Travellers
who are pushing on will leave st.
Augustine after lunch for Ormond or
Daytona. seventy-three miles distant
| in not too long afternoons jaunt
about forty miles of which is through
picturesque wooded country. The
road leads inward to Hastings. where
you turn to the left at the railroad
station and out to Bunnell, twenty
eight miles distant. From this point
a new road has been completed into
Ormond via Ocean City. which is the
! first contact with the Atlantic after
leaving st. Augustine
AT Ormond is the famous thirty
mile beach. 500 feet wide at low tide.
on which many auto records have
been made and broken. The Halifax
river narrows at this point. parai-
i leling the coast. and is separated
from the Atlantic ocean by Pelican
island. location of the beach speed
way. John d. Rockefeller gave an
additional proof of his wisdom in the
opinion of local enthusia sts. by build
ing winter home at Ormond. His
example has been followed by others
Picturesque boulevards have follow ed
| the influx of capital.
From Ormond to Miami. a distance
of 295 miles, motorists are constanry
in contact with the Atlantic ocean
and the Halifax and Indian rivers.
marvellous journey. in which semi
tropical groWths blend their odors
with ocean breezes.
An asphalt road runs for eight
miles beyond Daytona, the motorist
having enjoyed brick or asphalt
roads almost continuously for 11e
miles. For the next 12O miles the
road is shell. The shell road is
rated as improved road by the Amer
! ican Automobile Association. with
several short gaps, probably totaling
thirty to thirty-fiVe miles, rated as
fair 10 good" These sections, worn
last year by the traffic. which prob
ably averages 100 cars a day from
October l to May /. are now being
all up and down the line. Between
Vero and St. Lucie the road has been
widened and is now in good shape.
according to George f. Tippin. secre
tary OF the Vero chamber of COM
merce. The road north to Ealkyrie
is kept in better shape than" formerly
by keeping it dragged. The Dixie
highway skirts the famous Indian
river for more than 12O miles. with
good fishing almost every mile of the
line. 1t follows the Florida East
Coast railway, but is between the
railway and the sea.
Pass Many Settlements.
Between Minis and Port Sewall on
the way to Miami there is settle
ment or resort on an average of
every five and one-half miles. The
route passes through Melbourne. To-
Gated on bluff overlooking the In
dian river. whence road leads in
land through cypress forests to Kis-
simmee. to Lake Tohopekaliga; also
through st. Pierce, from which an in
terestinS side trip may be taken to
Lake Oksechobee, Florida's largest
lake. in the heart of the Everglades.
In most parts of the United States
the hunting season begins at the
close of the vacation period, but in
Florida this is the reverse. In the
waters along many parts of the route
the motorist can obtain the finest big
game fishing in the world. while a
rection can be had splendid fresh
water fishing; duck, geese. turkey
and quail shooting: also bear and
deer in many portions of the state.
Deer have been frequently shot
within half an hours ride by auto
from the larger towns along the East
Coast boulevard.
Palm Beach is sixty-six miles north
of Miami and to attempt to describe
it Is to paint the lily. Scores of mill
lionaires are making their winter
homes there. The popularity of this
world famous resort has brought ar
influx of capital from the wealthy as
well as opportunity for those who
are less generously endowed with
worldly goods.
From West Palm Beach to Miami
! by the Dixie highway. a distance of
sixty miles of good running, passing
on the way through Fort Lauderdale.