298 FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 
points by electric line. Steamboats ply between St. Petersburg and 
Tampa and points south. 
The county roads have been greatly improved in the last two 
years, and many old roads are at present being re-established and 
straightened. There is a stone-surfaced road connecting Largo and 
Tarpon Springs. Branching from, this about a half mile south of 
Sutherland is the Tampa rock and shell road. Many of the sand 
roads are improved by the application of pine needles and are known 
as “straw” roads. A rock and straw road leading east and north 
from Clearwater through Green Springs joins the Tampa road 
where the latter crosses Moccasin Branch. The newly laid out roads 
in the southern part of the peninsula follow the section lines more 
closely than the older roads, but as yet are unimproved. A hard- 
surfaced road south from Largo to St. Petersburg is being con¬ 
structed. As settlement progresses the roads of the county will 
doubtless be improved, thereby greatly enhancing the value of farm 
lands. 
CLIMATE. 
The winter climate of Pinellas County is mild and balmy. De¬ 
cember, January, and February have a mean temperature of about 
60 0 F., and light frosts are of frequent occurrence during this 
period. Killing frosts are not unusual, and disastrous freezes were 
recorded in 1894, 1895, and 1899. During the mildest winters flow¬ 
ers bloom, and vegetables are grown without protection throughout 
the season. As a rule vegetables and tender plants are not free from 
danger of frosts between November 28 and March 24; however, the 
records at Tampa and Manatee show that killing frosts ordinarily 
occur only between January 9 and February 8 at the former station 
and between January 3 and January 26 at the latter. 
While the summer temperatures are not regarded as excessive, 
being moderated by breezes from the surrounding waters, discom¬ 
fort is often experienced through spells of long-continued heat. 
June, July, and August, the hottest months, have a mean temper¬ 
ature of about 8o° F. The absolute maximum for these months is 
96° F., and the absolute minimum 65° F. 
The mean annual precipitation at the Tampa station is about 
51.5 inches and at Manatee 55.4 inches. The wettest season ex¬ 
tends through the months of June, July, and August, and frequently 
into September. During this period the low-lying lands are inun¬ 
dated and truck crops are seriously affected and in some years even 
