The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-09
FIorIda.. Great Lo.-.

Il IS impossible 10 give anything ike
an accurate estimate OF the damage which
the cold wave has done in Florida. 1t
amounts 20 Millions Of dollars.
The cold wave Of December destroyed
the oranges. killed lemon trees and most
OF the young orange trees and
hurt orange trees Of older growth.
The Morning News took a hopeful view
Of the situation al that time. and subse-
quent developments showed II was justi-
fed In doing so.
The situation row IS more serious than
- was then The old orange trees are
badly damaged. They were full OF sap
when the freeze came and were unpro-
tected by foliage. How badly they are
hurt no one can tell yet. Il IS be-
lieved that the great majority Of them
are killed. II this belief IS correct the
results Of the labor Of years OF many
thousands Of people were destroyed in
night. StlL the condition OF affairs may
not be so bad as It is represented 70 be
by some Of the most respondent Of the or
ange growers. The oldest and toughest
OF the trees there is good reason 10 be-
leve. have escaped destruction, and it
may he found that the roots of the great
majority OF the older trees are still alive
If the roots are alive the trees viii be
bearing again IN four or i've years. Lei
US hope for the best. The damage may
not be so great as It is thought to be.
But whatever II is il would be folly to
say that Florida has no future. That is
nonsense. Florida's future Is a little cloud
ed perhaps, but It viii be as bright as
ever at no very distant day. The state
has never before suffered such disaster
and may never suffer such a one again
Anyway, the belief will be that she never
will, and the people viii go to work with
confidence to restore the orange and
lemon groves. immigration to the state
Will be IS great as ever, and In a COM
paratively few years the signs of the
freezes of December, "a and January, rs.
will have been obliterated.
The truck farmers are also heavy suffer
ers. Their growing crops were killed in
December. They were not disheartened.
They replanted and again they TIRE the
victims Of the pitiless blizzard. Their
strawberries were almost ready for ship
ment and their tomatoes. cabbages and
other vegetables were rapidly approaching
maturity. All are destroyed. But the
,ruck farmers viii not give up In dis
pair. They viii plant again, and with the
opening OF spring they viii have some
thing, for market.
II cannot he disguised, however, that
Florida has received a great set-back-a
setback from which it viii take con
siderable time 70 fully recover. But we
are confident that her people will meet
the situation bravely. They WIN waste
no time in bemoaning their misfortune.
1t would be folly TO DO that. They know
what is to he done and they win set about
doing It at once. 1t is only a question
Of a little time when Florida's orange
groves and truck farms will again excite
the wonder and admiration OF tourists.
In the meantime, the people who depend
upon fruits will have a pretty hard time
Of It. They will find ways Of making a
living. however. while they are restoring
their groves. and 1t may turn out that
more will be saved from the wreck than
they now expect.