was covered by a dense jungle of palmetto scrub, finally cleared at enormous expense. Eventually, 10 acres were ready for planting. Collins attempted to raise avocados, but the venture was a failure. Field, by this time was thoroughly disgusted, that being his second failure, so he sold out to Collins, leaving the latter a sole owner of 1,670 acres of land along the ocean-front. Undaunted by his first failure, he kept on trying, and soon had the largest plantation of its kind, raising potatoes and the usual garden vegetables, cavendish bananas, mango trees and an assortment of tropical fruits.

In 1911, Collins recognized the need of a waterway or canal which would save him time and money in marketing his produce and fruit.

Thomas J. Pancoast, Collins' son-in-law and vice-president of the Collins & Pancoast Supply Company of Merchantsville, N.J., came here in 1911, perhaps out of curiosity and to please his father-in-law.

He was completely sold on the prospects here, placing capital with that of Collins and attempting to complete the Collins Canal which runs from what is now Pancoast Lake to the Bay. The following year he terminated his business in the North and with his wife returned to this land of eternal sunshine and opportunity.

Collins, 74 years of age at the time, let it be known he intended to build a bridge across the bay to the mainland. Pancoas had great faith in this project and after much delay it finally was launched, the project costing both of them untold worry and money. When completed however, it was the turning point for Miami Beach.
Memorial to Carl Graham Fisher, Miami Beach
Miami Beach from the air
Next person to become interested in this Land of Promise (and very welcome indeed with his capital) was Carl Graham Fisher from Indianapolis. Fisher and one of his closed friends, James E. Allison, also of Indianapolis, had incorporated and amassed a fortune from the Prest-O-Lite Company. John H. Levi, a marine engineer, then a guest on Fisher's yacht, had started out for Jacksonville, around the peninsula of Florida, but happened to make a stopat Miami and liked it so well he asked Fisher to meet him here. Fisher was so enchanted with Miami that he bought a home here to settle down and enjoy a good vacation.

Fisher then came forward with sufficient money for Collins to finish his bridge, receiving 200 acres of beach land in return.

He then purchased an additional 200 acres near the company's holdings and 60 acres on the bayfront.

Fisher returned to Indianapolis and left John Levi in charge of his holdings, then known as the Alton Beach Property. Up until this time about two-thirds of what is now Miami Beach was covered by mangroves and under water at high tide. To promote sales and increase the value of the real estate was a very real task for the improvement companies. The first order was for 6,000,000 cubic yards of "fill" to cover 1,000 acres, accomplished with a half-million dollar steel-hulled dredge which could fill 20,000 cubic yards within 24 hours. In addition, the pioneers had two lesser dredges which filled in at the rate of 6,000 to 8,000 cubic yards a day.

To be continued . . .