Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1925-04-02
Trips From Winter Haven. Florida

Trips From Winter Haven. Florida
Editor Democrat This letter is to
try to tell you little about one or
two trips taken from Winter Haven
by Mrs. Dougan and myself, which
mentioned in a former letter.
Tourists are numerous at all
times during the winter, and are to
be met with on every good road in
Florida, and on some that are not
good, for there are natural features
that are almost inaccessible, which
lure all the venturesome. These
tourists are seen in their own ma
chimes, in big sightseeing busses
which charge for the trips, and also
in the finest busses money can buy,
the fare and meals being at the ex-
pense of real estate development
companies.
Our trips were all on good roads,
and no unfortunate events happened.
One to Tampa and st. Petersburg
early in February was very inter
esting one for number of reasons.
On this trip Mrs Dougan and I were
accompanied by Mr. Lark Rushing
and wife of New Lexington, o.. and
we were driven by Ray Martin for
merly of New Lexington, o., and
who furnished the car.
One of the interesting things was
the ten day South Florida fair which
is held yearly at Tampa. Next to
the Florida state fair which is held
at Jacksonville, this South Florida
fair is the most important held in
the state. In fact so large has it be-
come, and so well represented by diff
ferent counties over the state, that
the name South Florida fair is no
+ longer appropriate, and serious at
tention is being given to finding a
more fitting one.
! I have attended many Ohio state
fairs, and of course this fair can not
compete with our fair in size, nor in
number of kinds of agricultural ma
chinery displayed. but in some ways
it must be confessed that this South
/ Florida fair goes beyond our own
state fair. For instance I never saw
better poultry display. Cattle and
/ hogs were very fine, though not
equal to our own, but when it comes
to artistic display of fruits and veg
! etables. we are not in it with them
! they walk right away from us, an
some of our exhibitors could learn a
good many fine points by attending
/ one of these fairs. Take it all in all
it is a great fair, and we'll worth a
! visit
\ One particular stunt seen here wa7
new to me though it may be old tc
many. 1t was high dive made by a
I trained horse with young LADY
rider on his back both went clear
under the water. To me TINS was
rather a thriller.
After visiting this fair we went tC
ST. Petersburg which is the principe
tourist town of the west coast anc
which is always. ready to tell you
that fact in no uncertain tones. ANY
railroad agent in the north can tel
you the fare to ST. Petersburg, ano
route you there with both eyes shut
1 She calls herself the sunshine city,
and one of her daily papers gives its
entire edition away free on every
day that the sun does not shine in
i St. Petersburg, and while this does
no particular damage to the paper
| finances, yet the advertising by this
means gives an erroneous impreS.
sion, for if the sun but shows his
face for even a moment, that re.
4 leases them from their responsibility
| to give the edition away.
And many, many days that u
about all the sun does do in the
shining business in our sunshine city
/ There was much cloudy weather in