Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-11
CALIFORNIA VS.. FLORIDA.

The Exhibits On Wheels of the Two
States Compared.
A correspondent of the Eustice Florida
Senli Tropic thus writes from town in the
State of New York
The two special cars sent out by the
State Board of Trade of California, and
which were at Albany yesterday, drew
large number of visitors; and it was well
worth the time spent in viewing the Won
derfui products OF that State There was
also Florida car of exhibits at the station
| at the same time. where could be seen the
growths peculiar to that country. Among
the exhibits was q specimen of silver king
fish six feet six inches in length and weigh
ing 145 pounds.
The following description of the rolling
exhibitions is given by one who visited
these cars while they were at Rochester,
n. Y. The writer is well acquainted with
| the various sections of Florida and their
resources, and capabilities of making a
| creditable exhibit, but was unpleasantly
| forced TO see the Florida exhibit completely
overshadowed by California, which State
| is evidently making capital out of the
depleted and worn out exhibits presented
| by Florida on Wheels" Here is what
| the writer says:
Last Thursday we all went down to
the depot to visit the California and Florida
cars, which are travelling through on our
road, stopping at all large places to ex-
| hibit. California bad two cars, one filled
with its productions, the other occupied
| by four gentlemen and their wives, and
| were gotten up in fine style. They have
everything. guess, that the State produces;
and exquisite taste is displayed in its ar
! rangement, in the finest of glass bottles and
| jars, and lovely painting, natural woods,
ETC., fruits canned and evaporated, ETC.
| The gentlemen were dressed up fine, and
| passed around the car explaining every
thing and talking it up in fine shape and
all was free.
The Florida car stood behind it, one
| end curtained off for a colored man to live
in, who stood al the entrance and de-
manded ten cents.
In the center of the car lengthways
| they had q rude sort OF table covered with
| its productions, consisting of one lemon
tree all dried up, with not more than thirty
leaves and four green lemons on IL a
| banana tree which looks like Macdonald's
| did after the freeze, and two little bits of
| orange trees with no leaves, one can of
| guaya Jelly cardied half. way up and few
other things IN common fruit cans, about
two.thirds full, dozen Irish potatoes about
| the size of small apple, two small pieces
| of pine wood about 12x15 inches, one
stuffed parquette one stuffed alligator about
| five feet, and two smaller ones, piece of
moss about the size of your arm, little pal
metto basket made of common braid, and
small piece beside it; q poor piece of
coquina, an alligator skull with a few
| teerh in it, beautiful piece OF sponge, and
a fair show of tobacco, and g large fish skim
| OF course this was not ali, but we
could think of any amount of things
which they could have had, but which they
| had not, and that which they did have was
of poor quality, and no taste whatever dis
played. We could have furnished better
specimens of many things. On the sides
of the car were photographs of St. Angus
| tine, De Land and several other towns, and
also OF several big men and editors of the
| State.
I'VE were disguised, and so was every
| one. No one in the car but this darkey.
and be said Ibis car didn't begin Nth Cali
foirid"
| think it is ipjuring the State every
mile it travels, and will it ever be any bet
ter" is serious question. But l believe
all it needs is money to advertise the State
and if the railroads would do half as much
for Florida as they do for California in the
way nf excursions, cheap passenger rates
and prompt carriage of products, the nat
ural advantages of the State would boom it
very shortly. But will they?