TOUR OF THE STATE.


is mostly poor, and nearly valueless for purposes of fruit
or vegetable culture.
 The harbor contains numerous islands and is quite
pretty. It is alive with fish and ducks. We found the
Hon. T. K. Spencer, of the "Sunland Tribune," and en-
joyed an ageeable visit with him, looking about the
place. The Peninsular Railroad, now in process of con-
struction through the central region of Florida, will
doubtless soon place Tampa in direct connection with the
commercial centers of the East and North. This will


greatly benefit it, besides opening up to settlement a
large and at present nearly uninhabited region.
 It was a beautiful morning when we took our de-


parture from Tai
that carried us dc
steamer Lizzie H
steamers (the "H
Orleans, Pensacol
and Havana. Th
well equipped, an
sengers were ray
lighter to the stern
the broad bay to
atee River, which
tion of the bay.
kinds, innumerable
out of the bright
watery pathway
sight of hundreds
out of the water ii
 Late in the a
 several miles to
 to take on cargo
 the settlement, o


ipa,


e
e
e
E;


going


aboard


wn the harbor to th
nderson, one of the
nderson Line") that
,St. Mark's, Cedar
boats of this line


the little steamer
e handsome ocean-
fine line of Gulf-
ply between New
Keys, Key West,
are large, roomy,


d well supplied. The freight and pas-
)idly transferred from the roomy old
amer, and we were soon steaming down
Manatee, thirty miles distant on Man-
 flows into the extreme southern por-
 Immense flocks of ducks of several
e porpoises, and countless fish leaping
waters, were constantly in sight. The
of certain shoals could be traced by the
of fish of the six-pound size leaping


n a rapid, direct line.
afternoon we passed up the broad
Manatee, where a short stop was
 .There was no opportunity to


r to


exam


ine the soil thereabout


river
made
visit
, but


the dwellings located along the banks of the river were