Milford chronicle., 1931-03-13
MIR. CROSS ENROUTE
HOME FROM FLORIDA

! the scenes of a very happy winter
passed in Florida.
Our route from Tampa by way o.
Sarasota, Ponta Garda, Fort Myers
and the much talked about Ever
glades started on February "a, which
covers nearly three hundred miles
before reaching Miami, Coral Ga
bles and other points. Our stops
were few, mostly for gas and oil.
One stop was about twenty miles
below Ft. Myers, and at Big Cypress
Swamp, filling station, which is a
small settlement of the Seminole In
dams home, residing in very primi-
tive ways.
A well built highway runs
through the entire distance of sew
eral hundred miles along this
route. There is a 80 foot dredged
canal for almost the entire distance
paralleling this highway. The ever
glades is impossible for tourists I'M
less you have a boat to go through
the great sWamps. There are few
trees of any sort, and the great fat
country is covered with grass and
brush growth.
There is a quarantine against the
fruit fly of Italy, and while in the
swamp, with no house in sight, a
man waving a red flag standing in
the highway calls all autos to stop.
They are then inspected to see that
no flowers are being carried off the
wild fields, and only garden flowers
are permitted to pass. Then again
the same procedure takes place
when near the end of the everglades
and nearing Coral Gables.
Along the highway in the Indian
section, at every filling station stop,
the Indians ranged beside the huge
busses, and autos, Offering their
wares for sale; and they certainly
sell lots of it.
We were amused at one place by
an Indian man holding a baby in his
arms. Both were good looking and
he was able to speak only few
words of English, and he conveyed
his ideas by actions. These Indians
claim that they never acknowledged
to the United States, and
they never leave the swamp dis
tricts-the lone exception being in
1926, when the great tornado flood
ed the swamp, they left to escape
the flood, but returned as soon as
the waters subsided.
The great canal dredged through
the great swamps has reclaimed
great sections along its reach for
of miles, and has made
growing in Florida a Won
derful business. AS much as three
acres in one section, are
growing tomatoes for the northern
and every kind of vege-
able grows in prolific success. Then
the great numbers of birds of all
kinds are constant wonder to the |
tourist; especially the brilliant |
Dlumage of the tropical birds. EX-
oept for the Indians there was not |
1 house along the trail, and the flag
men in the quarantine service must
nave a lonely time-except for the
public. They were very
courteous and gave much real in
We arrived late in the evening at
Miami, but were up early the follow
ng morning for sightseeing. In
ooking at the city, we wondered
low the great picture was formed
md for and whom it came to its
wonderful size and surprising beau
y.
The great harbor with its docks
nd expensive yachts. Boat captains
With prosperous looking guests or
and the wonderful rows of
ocoanut palm trees extending along
he streets and docks for miles, then
he great Lake Worth, dividing Mia
ii from Miami Beach, connected
nth splendid bridges, made a wa
sr picture that seems almost
ream to the tourist. The bathing ;
ictures of thousands playing in the ,
arm waters Of the Atlantic Ocean !,
re just so impressive that it must !
e seen to be realized. }
Just one day at Miami and then I
n to Hollywood, and from there to :
aim Beach, where we remained I
YER night at a very handsome old +
owned by Mrs. Alice Cur $
ey, front on the St. Lucie River. c
at Palm Beach seemed to n
? happy, but we looked the show 6
laces over and enjoyed some of i
leir happiness, then we wended g
If way out to Fort Pierce, where n
e harbor for the fishermen and
lchts is located, and there our par -
were interested.
In going to Fort Pierce over the
iXie Trail, it is through very
lautiful residential section. Mr.. and
rs. Ewing were acquainted with
lptain Reynolds and family, and
e were very happily situated at
lin Beach.
We returned to Tampa via Oco-
obie, where we stopped for din
r, Avon Park, etc, which was
rough high rolling lands, and
any lakes. We had to hustle to get
ok by dark to Tampa, where we
rived about six o'clock, delighted
th the trip of more than 600 miles
rough the wonderful climate and
enes of Florida.
On Monday, March 90, we expect
leave our delightful winter home
: our real home at Bowers Beach
Delaware.
Yours, etc,
JOSEPH p. CROSS
NO MEALS DAY BEST
lR CTnMAHu TDnIIpIE