The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-02-04
For the FLouDrAx.I



advantages and disadvantages, and all well
known to the resident. The outside world do
not know al about East and Sc0th Florida, and
know comparatively nothing Of Middle and West
Florida. 1t ought to be the aim of all to write
and speak truthfully and impartially OF one Sec
ton q well as the other That which Dement'S
Jacksonville will indirectly benefit Tallahassee,
and so every other portion of the State But
what are the facts Arc not the columns of the
newspapers Of the East and South, notably the
Times Union, open to every anonymous scrioer,
who from personal pique or to crafty natural
taste to lie and talk about those things he knows
nothing, or If he does know, prefers falsehood to
TRUTH Is it not fact that the 7ines- Union Is
the vehicle for most OF the Misrepresentation and
adverse criticism that finds its way into print!
Does not the Times Union and other South and
East Florida papers continually parade the great
opportunities, the beauties and the lucrative adj
vantages of their section, by odous comparison
with Middle Floridae Do not these newspapers
by unfair statement, by inuendo and other subtle
device seek to divert attention from this section
to retard immigration this way and turn 1t 10 the
direction of their own personal and sectional
good 1t is right that every proper means
should be used to present each section and each
locality in its best true colors with this we find
no fault, but we do object to this thank God
that am not as others are" kind of way,
this lying BY comparison, and deceiving
by false representation. Has it not been
done? The recital Of one instance
ought to be sufficient, namely the deception
practiced npon the Sarasota Scotch Colony,
who at last of their own volItion are en- route to
this country But if more instances were needed
to prove this statement they can be produced Gd
naussuns ad infnitum.
But, what is true OF the newspapers in
this respect is not true of the people, except in
Jacksonville. They deny this, but who does not
know of more than one instance where tourists
and prospectors have been told that " Middle
Florida is played oui," that Tallahassee is a
grave yard" that "chils and fever and sickness
prevail there at all times to an alarming extent,
the lands are poor and worn out the people are
old foges and rebels, have no sympathy with
energy or progress, and that h laboring man is
scorned and ostracised by the better classes !; that
nothing but cotton will grow there, and negroes
overrun the country; that every one who goes
there gets Disguised and quits to seek a
milder climate and a more genial people"
That these things are told over and over again,
year in and year ont, cannot be successfully de-
nied but could be attested by every new conner
to the State iva Jacksonvillc( who ever men
lions taking a look at the Tallahassee country"
l say this is not generally so of the people out
side of Jacksonville, for as rule they are hon.
est enough to concede that good does exist, even
in Nazareth" They know what we know and
concede that for orange culture and the more
tropical fruits South Florida has its decided ad
vantages; but that Tor the farmer, for the seeker
after winter home, for the tourist, for the fruit
grower (Other than those named)-of the pear,
the fig, the peach and hundred other things
Middle Florida stands pre-eminent- Now, why
don't the newspapers say so? Why don't our jeal
Gus cousins OF Jacksonville say so? There should
be rivalry between sections, and is none, so far
as Middle Florida is concerned. No tourist, no
prospector, no home seeker, no agriculturist, no
one is ever told here not Ogo to East or South
Florida; he is advised to go take in the whole
State " before locating permanently. We do not
believe in building up one section at the expense
of the other; we do not believe in holding out
false hopes and deceptive devices to lure any
to disappointment, dlscontent and sometimes TO
sources 80 varied that some place can be found
to suit the tastes and enterprises OF all.
Now, we say TO the press OF the State be hon.
with US as we OF Middle Florida have been
with you; TO the drummer for Jacksonville"
tell the truth about US and we will continue as
in the past-t0 advertise and praise what you
have got that we have not to advise new COM
ers TO 60 and see for themselves We are not
afraid of comparison; we want 1t, but want it
made by actual observation by the parties lock-
ing for homes and for business; and we object
only TO misrepresentation, to lying and cheat
ing, to keep away those who start to Florida in
tending to see it all Let people come here,
and if they not satisfied they will have
"God-speed" to some other section.
Now the facts are, that not One-thrd of the
people coming into the State to visit or to settle,
come with any correct idea as to one section or
another, or where they, intend locat-
ing. They have read all about every
general thing 60 to East or South Flor
ida as the only places they have heard anything
good about besides every train and every
steamboat running in and out of Jacksonville, is
flooded with land agents, drummers" and cir
cuars, setting forth the great advantages of
some town in the South and East. The
hotels and boarding houses swarm with the
same class of spectators, agents and citizens
interested in immigration to their particular Sec
ton, and if perchance some seeker after more
light happens to mention Tallahassee he is
F." pooh, pOohed" out OF the thought, AMI his at
tention deliberately and wilfully diverted else
where. But laying aside the injury sought to
be done us by the people and the press OF Jack.
sonvilie, the question arises what are zoe doing
in our own behalf7 Nothing, practically moth
ing If stranger visits here IL is more by acct
dent or his own curiosity TO see for himself, and
in spite of our jealous friends at the other end
1t may be said that 1--WE have numerous real
estate agents. booming the country, our mer-
chants aud citizens and farmers, our hotels and
our newspapers are all DESTROYS of bringing
settlers this way" But what nonsense to ex-
pect great results if every man. woman and
child should turn emigration agent without
some more business way OF doing it. We may
get half dozen settlers once year or two, but
before others come they are dissatisfied and
gone, discouraged because others come too slow
Farmers, like other people, want good neighbors
and good neighborhood society, and it, after
waiting year or two, 1t does not come they are
going where it is. This is PLAIN talk but Is it
not true what is the remedy, aud how can il he
obtained? In only one way, immigration by
COLONIES, to begin with, when individual settlers
will soon follow by the thousands. To accom-.
plish this there must be organization, systematic
and hearty cooperation of all
classes. This must be done IL we are ever TO &C.
complish anything in the way Of developing
this, the choicest spot of all the Sunny Land.
Obs
Montgomery Adyertiser)