The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-10-08
FARMERy MUTUAL UNION.

Help Society for the advancement
of the general welfare and prosperity
of Osceola county.
The object and purposes of such
an association, as explained in the
communication, make lit valuable
society for every county in the State.
The FLoR1DIAN heartily endorses the
scheme and takes pleasure in recon-
mending it to the farmers of Florida.
The object of the Farmers Union
would be to help those who need as
slstance, care for them when sick
and lend them a helping hand when
their crops are in grass or injured by
excessive rains or droughts.
To organize such society half a
dozen or more of the leading farmers
of the neighborhood should meet to-
gether, and, for an immediate begin
ming, organize under the acts Of
the Legislature authorizing and pro-
viding for the incorporation of Be
nevolent and Charitable Institutions,
approved August 6, 1868, and Janu-
airy 20, 1874. The society could OPP
crate under this authority until the
meeting of the next Legislature, to
which they could apply for a special
charter, authorizing them to receive
gifts, donations and requests.
To create fund with which to OPP
crate the initiation fee should be
fixed at not less than five dollars,
with quarterly dues of say one dol
lar.
1t would be the duty of the mem
bers of the Farmers Union to meet
all new settlers on their arrival and
give them a hearty welcome, advis-
ing, encouraging and aiding them in
every manner possible, and, to more
perfectly systematic this work, a
bureau of intelligence and advice
should be established for each society.
The establishment of such societies
in every neighborhood in Florida
would work great benefit to the
poor and struggling farmers and
would be quite help to new settlers
in the way of advising them as to
what crops are most profitable and
the system of cultivation best suit
ed to our soil and cline.
The Leaders correspondent is evi
IDENTIFY we'll acquainted with Florida,
and in his communication shows
many little stumbling-blocks that
the Florida farmer, and particularly
the new settler, has to contend with,
which the Farmers Union could in a
large measure remove.
He says that the formation of such
a society "would be very important
step forward to material prosperity
and the protection of poor, worthy,
intelligent class of farmers. 1t would
tend to develop the raising of a SUI
perior class of cattle, etc., and conse
uuent earnest endeavor to cultivate
pastures, and the adjustment of the
present fence lava thing of the
past, and unsuited to the exigencies
of the present times"
This writer also speaks of the fence
law as relic of barbarism, and says
that there are difficulties enough in
the soil to overcome without adding
the devastation of Wild cattle and
hogs roaming at large, and he closes
by saying that the repeal ofthe pres
ent fence law "will remove a barrier
to immigration and cause those who
| have cast their lot in Florida to feel
that the State has a fostering care
tor their welfare"
Leon county has already cast off
this "relic of barbarism," and the
"No Fence" law is in successful op
Grafton and is gaining friends rapid
". We are soon to have "NeW
Settlers Society,"" and Farmers
Union should also be organized.
Florida is progressing, and every
suggestion that will tend toward he1
material advancement and genera
welfare and prosperity should bt
quickly acted upon.
-Messrs Coles, Simpkins Il Co.