The Birth of the City of Miami 15


A. L. Knowlton, a Justice of the Peace at West Palm Beach, had
resigned his position and gone to the New River area to survey the
town site of Fort Lauderdale.41
 In late September, the work of laying the track began.42 The
cross ties were seven inches by nine inches by nine feet and laid
2,800 to a mile. A report made by a state inspector after the exten-
sion was completed noted that the track had been "carefully laid"
and "well spiked, well lined, and evenly spaced on the ties." The
inspector added that "workmanship on all classes of this construction
is good, and the material used is the best that could be obtained."43
 With work on the railroad extension to Miami well under way,
settlers began pouring into the promised "freeze proof" lands. Settle-
ments such as Linton today's Delray Beach and Fort Lauder-
dale were springing up along the canal and railroad route. Only a
month old in mid-October 1895, Linton boasted a population of more
than 100, most of whom were male heads of families.44 The men
would arrive in advance of their families to prepare a home before
sending for their wives and children. But still, many more interested
settlers held back to wait until the lots would be put on the market
in Miami. Already, many believed that Miami would surpass West
Palm Beach in growth and importance as a tourist, agricultural and
transportation center.45


Early housing in South Florida, c. 1896. (HASF x-149-x)