88 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
Mr. Amsdem—This year we had only 
one day in which to purchase our tickets 
and we had to start on that day. 
Mr. Taber—In regard to the rate it¬ 
self, the one-cent-a-mile rate is not only 
a special rate, but a very special rate. I 
don’t know of any other society in the 
State that has secured that rate. It is a 
rate that the railroads are very chary 
about giving to any society. One fare 
and a quarter for the round trip is as 
good a rate a^ any other society gets. 
Some years ago Mr. Healy, through his 
influence, obtained the special rate, and 
we have had that rate every year since. 
The railroads have very kindly recog¬ 
nized our position and accorded us that 
rate ever since. This year they accord¬ 
ed the cent-a-mile rate asked to Jackson¬ 
ville, and it was announced just the day 
before the Jacksonville fire that notice 
had been received from Mr. Richardson, 
by the Secretary stating the rate had 
been accorded. Of course, that fire 
changed altogether our place of meet¬ 
ing, and we then had to go to them and 
ask them to put into effect for St. Au¬ 
gustine the rate that they had made us 
to Jacksonville and they did so. Now, 
in relation to the time of getting to our 
destination, I would say that when Jack¬ 
sonville was decided upon as the place 
of meeting, the representatives thought 
that the date set was sufficient to get the 
people into Jacksonville before the eve¬ 
ning meeting, and it was for almost ev¬ 
ery one in the State. And when we got 
them to change our place of meeting to 
St. Augustine we did not ask them to 
give us more time. Perhaps we should 
have gotten it in that way, but at that 
time in Jacksonville the railroad officials 
and all other officials were all up in arms. 
There was that terrible calamity upon 
them and we did not ask them any more 
than we could help. 
The vote for Tampa was unanimous. 
Mr. Butler—If you derive one-half the 
benefit that I do or one-half the pleas¬ 
ure from the entertainment the next 
year, I believe you will be well satisfied. 
I should have stated that, in regard to 
the railroad fare, one cent a mile has 
been promised already. 
Mr. Taber—I think I am safe in say¬ 
ing that we can obtain a longer time 
during which the rate will be applica¬ 
ble. 
Dr. Inman—In behalf of Polk county, 
I extend you our thanks. I think it is 
a wise move; I think it will conduce to 
the growth and the health of the Society 
and I think that we can give you one 
hundred new members from Polk, De- 
Soto, Manatee and Hillsborough coun¬ 
ties during the next year. 
