188 THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA. 



sites, and who wishes to live in a climate of perpetual 

 summer, go at once to Tampa, or at least to the Gulf coast. 

 I consider it far superior to the eastern coast or the St. John's 

 River district, after having studied both portions of the state 

 impartially. 



As a resort for invalids, I consider the Gulf coast also far 

 superior to the eastern. The Gulf winds are much milder 

 and more temperate and the changes of temperature not 

 nearly so sudden or radical. I would, therefore, most emphati- 

 cally advise all who suffer from pulmonary diseases to visit 

 the Gulf coast in preference to any other portion of the state. 



What Tampa most needs is a government appropriation 

 for the improvement of her harbor. There is a bar across the 

 bay near the mouth of the river that prevents vessels of any 

 size from reaching the city wharf. They have to anchor 

 three miles out and transfer freight and passengers in small 

 boats. Colonel J. L. Meigs, under the direction of the 

 Bureau of Navigation, recently surveyed a channel across 

 this bar, and estimated the cost of cutting it to such a depth 

 as to give eleven feet of water at low tide, at $80,000. In 

 view of the importance of the improvement to gulf naviga- 

 tion, Congress should by all means make the appropriation. 



A railroad has been in course of construction for several 

 years past from Gainesville, a station on the Transit railroad, 

 to Tampa, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles ; but as 

 only a small amount of work has been done each year, the 

 people are greatly dissatisfied with the management and an 

 effort will probably be made to annul the charter at the next 

 session of the legislature and give the right to some other 

 company who will build the road without delay. It is greatly 

 needed by the section of country through which it is to pass, 

 and will prove of inestimable benefit to Tampa, when com- 

 pleted. 



