The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-04-02
For the FLoRmlANl
How to Develop the Resources Of
Leon county.

How to Develop the Resources Of
Leon County.
I'VE need dozen energetic Northern capital
,sts to develop our resources" said one Of ITALIA
hassee's leading citizens to the writer few days
ago No doubt the gentleman had made the
same assertion before. Itnever occurred to him
to doubt its truth, and be expressed the belief of
the whole community.
For twenty long years Leon county has been
waiting for Northern capital to come to the res
cue. Other sections have prospered, have
lrebled and quadrupled their population. In
migrants have poured into the State, railroads
have been butt, towns and cities founded; but
immigration capital and energy have carefully
avoided Leon county. Her population is no
greater than it was when the war closed; her
lands are not as we'll cultivated now as then,
and trade has languished, yet her people still
have unbounded confidence in Ler resources,
and patiently await the coming of philanthropic
strangers who will develop them.
Capitalists do not believe in sentiment, they
are intensely practical. Before investing they
want to know what with reasonable certainty,
the returns will be. In large number of ii.
and the profits large. Before turning aside
from those known to pay we'll and investing in
new enterprises they will look at the new enter
prises from every point Of view, and net accept
as facts the mere assertions of interested parties.
Now what inducements does Leon hold out for
the investment of capital? Certainly not manu-
features. Cotton factories would help the peO-
ple and would probably be profitable, but there
are other portions Of the South where the staple
is produced in greater abundance, with better
water power, and railroad facilities. A railroad
to brownsville would vastly assist in develop
ing resources, but the prospect Of its construc-
ton is not cheering. Another fine hotel
might be built in Tallahassee, but there is no
certainty OF its being profitable investment
Doubtless no enterprise on a large scale could be
mentioned but what some reasonable objection
could be urged against it,
The great mistake made by the people who
sit inactive and wait for Northern capital is,
overlooking the fact that this is an agricultural
country. Leon county undoubtedly possesses
great resources, but they exist only in her soil.
Nowhere else What is needed is muscle, set in
active operation by Southern, not Northern, en-
terprise. Not capital, but the plough and hoe,
will DC the potent factors in restoring Leon TO
her old proud position. No lands in the State
are finer, and nowhere else can the farmer be
more certain of getting a return for his labor.
Hard working laborers are needed to cultivate
her lands, not few families, but hundreds and
thousands OF them.
Ii no exertions are made TO bring them here
they will in the course of time drift this way.
When other desirable sections are popula-
ted and cheap lands are in demand the tide OF
immigration will turn to Leon. But when ?
1t may be ten, twenty or forty years and why
wait so long? 1t is easy to turn the tide now, il
the attempt is made in the right way.
One fact is well established: Immigrants in
parties of two three ten families will not settle
as farmers in this county; not having agreeable
surroundings small numbers soon get discour-
aged Start however a colony Of Is or 100 fam
lilies, and they form society to themselves.
They will be of mutual help, will soon adapt
themselves to new conditions and become CON
tented
To plant colonies not much capital but con-
siderable enterprise and energy is needed Good
land can be bought at $3.50 per acre. Organize
stock company with the distinct purpose OF
buying large tracts of land for colonization. 1t
will not be difficult to sell 400 shares at 800
EACH II not more than $50 or 200 shares could
be sold for cash, get the vendors of the. land to
take part payment in stock By all means buy
large tract, 10000 acres if possible. Have it
surveyed, anc cut up into 100 farms of 100 acres
EACH with roads and crossroads between. Set
aciIo tl,roo E,ur in o. Oh
erect a church and school house. Have thou
sands Of pamphlets printed with a map OF the
whole tract attached to each, giving a descrip-
ton Of the property character of soil, distance
from railroads, cost Of building material, etc, and
scatter them broadcast Offer to sell on ten
years time at IS per acre. interest payable an
nually, with the condition that each purchaser
shall improve TO the value Of not less than 5000
Then advertise in papers having large cir
culatlon amongst the rural population, North
aud South, that you have for sale 100 tracts of
land containing 100 acres each, at IS per acre, on
ten years time. Within few weeks you would
get hundreds of inquiries. Every tract would
be sold within twelve months If the selling
price averaged S. per acre. allowing S. 900 for ex
penses, the net profit would be IS per cent. The
company would help the country in a way to
permanently benefit it, and at the same time put
money in their pockets. 1t matters not where
your immigrants come from. 1t is not necessary
that all should hail from the same neighborhood
Every State from Maine to Texas might be rep
resented. 1t would not take them long to get
acquainted aud become homogeneous. The COM
pany could then start other colonies and each
one would be nucleus around which immi-
grants would gather
In this way The prosperity OF Leon would be
placed on a broad and enduring foundation. In
dustries would spring up, trade revive, aborers
would get work, and wealth would flow into the
Golfers of her merchants. Stimulated by feel
ing OF returning prosperity her people would be
encouraged to embark in new enterprises, and
the long dreamed Of railroad TO Thomasvle
new hotels in Tallahassee mills and factories
might then become strong probabilities.
OBSERVER.
The County BOmdS