The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-10-04

49, N'4S'saN I'SO BtS OCAAAILS
will have 10 be fed; they will con-
sumo a great deal. We in the
country districts must supply the
food. Baltimore is our natural
market, therefore the direct results
in cash from the Baltimore Centen-
NAL can be counted in millions.
From Florida.
To the Editor ofthe Republican.
1t is quite right, 1 presume, that
every loyal citizen of this grand
country, at the turning point in the
political and commercial tide,
should take a hopeful and cheering
view of the future. Certainly
croaklng, and dark prophesying
will not bring the country out Of
the shadows that have hung oyer
every branch of industry, and every
governmental scheme, so long and
so densely. Yet though l feel the
Importance of taking a hopeful
view Of the future, l am bound to
confess that to me there seems very
little clear ground in any direction
whereon to build inspiring hope.
More especially do l fail to find a
cheerful outlook for that great host
whose task is sowing and reaping
the nations bread. Many other
branches of industry are already
feeling, and viii more and more
continue to feel the stimulus i'm
parted by a settled administrative
policy; but there is that, | fear, in
the policy settled upon, which will
necessarily make agricultural pros
pcTity On a general scale or lmpos-
slbility for years to come i'll this
country. l question whether in &
single state Of the Union one could
find ten farmers in any selected
hundred willing to-day to say that
they are prosperous. And Of all
classes, this one, more than any
other, should enjoy the content
ment resulting from a reasonable
measure of prosperousnesS. Rest
lessness and discomfort on the farm
will, Of necessity, beget a like feel
ing in the mill, the mine, the shop
and everywhere. In this think l
am quite right, and these observa-
tons prepare the way for q few
things that | want to say to some
farmer-friends who read THE RE-
PUBLICAN. | want once more to
urge some Of these people to come
and make their home in Florida.
Now let me say this: | am in no
sense a land agent, neither have l
any land Of my own to sell. | do
want neighbors from the north; so
much | freely own, but much more
[ desire to see some of these good
friends so situated as to enjoy a
more comfortable, because q less
harried and toilsome life, | spent
a couple of months among farmer
friends in Pennsylvania year ago,
and | know how hard life is among
them in these times.
| have already indicated in these
columns how much more simple
and inexpensive the commoner
mode (and the NATURALLY of living in
this country is. And now, in order
that anyone desiring to consider
the matter of coming south, may
understand the case plainly, / will
write down plainly and truthfully
the facts concerning a sixty-acre
lot in my immediate neighborhood,
land that l am myself cultivating
this year, This lot, good ground,
half clear and fenced, with build
ings that could be occupied yet for
a year or two, and an abundance Of
good building timber; with $50
orange trees, 40 of which are Of
bearing age, some having fruit
upon them now; six miles from
railroad station and one mile from
postot1ice, store, mill, school and
church-this lot could be bought
tomorrow for three hundred and
fifty dollars scash. The outfit for
the place-it is a one-horse place
would cost, horse, wagon, harness
and plows, with five cows, one
hundred and fifty dollars more, so
then anyone coming with 5000
could buy and stock his place and
have 800 to live on the first year.
This is fact concerning Columbia
county, Fla, and such chances can
be found by scores, may be by
hundreds, IN this county alone.
Always respectfully and truly
yours, j. b. SHoPE.
Mikcsville, Fla, Sep. p, 1894.