The Washington times., 1925-12-10
SUNSHINE CITY
FORCES AHEAD
AS BIG RESORT
Tourist Capital Of West Coast
Has New Hotels, improved
Golf Courses and Boat Clubs
~ e. &. GARRISON

s4s@ 7
ST. PETERSBURG. Fla, Dec. 9.
willie this city has been growing
IN commercial importance at q
rapid rate during the past year.
resort facilities and hotels have
kept pace and the present season
finds the sunshine city better
equipped than ever before to ac-
commodate and entertain the thou
sands Of winter visitors who come
!. % the Florida west coast.
st. Petersburg has long been
known as the tourist capital Of the
west coast, but It Is only during
] The past three years that Il has
ranked high In importance as &
social center. The construction OF
great resort hotels, the building OF
several fine golf courses and the
promotion Of new sports and recrea.
zion, has given the city those at
fractions which appeal to the
sportsman, the socially prominent
: and the younger element Of the
Florida resort visitors.
GOLF COURSES READY
s This year several new hotels win
be opened, improved golf courses
win be ready. greyhound racing
VII. be In full swing. early In the
season and water sports of all
kinds, including power boat racing,
viii be under way. These ac..
tivfties are in addition to the more
1Rmiliar sports, such as lawn bowl
tne5 rogue, horseshoe pitching and
the like, which for years have been
played at the city's municipal
parks and Fairgrounds
Three golf courses within the city
limits are in excellent condition this
year. The Coffee Pot course is
being rebuilt, but the Jungle, Pasa-
dena and Lakewood courses, much
improved during the summer
months, offer variety Of course
layout and SURROUNDINGS which ap-l
peal to the golfers. The Lakewood
course IS one of the eavOrite inks
In the city, and Tom Rose, as pro-
1essional here, has built OF q laTge
following. At Pasadena, Joe Kirk
wood, who paired with Hagen last
year, is to give way 70 new pro
Of prominence. Here new country
club of Spanish desien il to be
opened this, season. and &C Lake
wood course an attractive club
house has been coEnpleted.
COMMERCIAL PROGRESS
: Power boating and speed boat
races have grown tremendously
m popularity throughout Florida
during the last twelve months
A Statewide organization of power
boat owners, clubs and yachtsmeH
has been formed with headquar.
ters In st. Petersburg, and this
body Is fostering a greatly In
creased program Of power boat
ing activities this year, with re-
gattas here and in several other
Florida cities in the State. Sew
eral of the fastest speed boats
in America are now in Florida
waters, among them Baby Sum-.
shine, fastest single-engine hydro
plane in the world.
The commercial side Of the city's
progress this year places 1t sew
enth among all cities OF the South
In building. Building records for
the first nine months show
total of more than $16. 800, 900, and
among the new projects listed. In
addition to hotels. apartments and
homes, are a 81 100000 Paramount
theater and office building, an
elevenlstory office structure, an
eight-story power and light build
ing, a new four-story newspaper
the First National Banks six
story office building, new high
school and numerous projects. Com
pletion Of the deepIwater project
here now enables ocean-going YES
sells TO dock at st. Petersburg.