The herald., 1895-03-18

M. z. Gillett, one of the most prominent
growers OF citrus fruits in Florida, was
largely interested in this grove. He says
that the trees are all dead and the invest
ment is q total loss OF course, the groves
further north shared the same fate.
From the east coast, where are located
the great pineapple plantations, comes
the same story of blight. Pineapple grow
ing had assumed large proportions in that
section of the state and great deal of
money had been invested. The east coast
is section which Mr.. II. M. Flagler, the
Standard Oil magnate, is interested in de-
veloping. He has built railroad extend
ing down the coast for 300 miles, and has
given generous encouragement TO those
who wished to invest in pineapple grow
ing. As a result great acreage had been
set to pines, and, because of the high
price which the fruit commands, fortunes
seemed in sight for the growers. When
the February freeze came the plants were
in bloom-just the stage when the cold is
fatal to them. Last year the pineapple
crop amounted to about 90, 900 crates.
This year the growers will be lucky if they
get 10. 600 crates.
In addition to the destruction of the
orange and lemon groves and pineapple
plantations, all the vegetables were killed;
The growing of vegetables has assumed
large proportions in Florida, and when the
sands of acres in beans, cucumbers, cab
bage peas, tomatoes, ETC., which were
fourishing, and in q few weeks would
have commanded fancy prices Ill the
Northern and Western markets. Now
those fields of vegetables look as if they
had been scorched by fire. The acreage
in vegetables was larger this year than
ever before in the history of the state.
After the December freeze and the de
struction of nearly 5000, 600 boxes OF or
anges on the trees there was rush to
plant vegetables in order to recoup. The
railroads encouraged the planting OF veg
etables by furnishing seed free. In this
way the acreage i'll vegetables when the
February freeze came was probably 30 per
cent more than ever before.
The following incident, which is type
of hundreds. will give some idea OF the
enormous loss entailed by the destruction
of the vegetable crop. Near Iroplc, on
the east coast there were II, 900 crates of
beans about ready for market. These
beans would have readily brought $50 coo
but for the freeze; now they do not repre-
sent fifty cents. OF course, those who are
able to purchase seed can plant again.
and. if there is no freeze in March, can
have vegetables for sale in May. But by
that time the truck farmers farther north
Will have their vegetables in the market,
and the glut will depress prices so that
there will be little for the grower.
In view of this state of things it is no
wonder that the people of Florida face the
future with foreboding. 1t should be re-
membered that fruit and vegetable grow
ing was the chief industry OF the state.
South of Jacksonville hardly anything
else was grown or could be grown. Last
year there were about $1,000 bales
cotton produced in Florida, worth barely
81, 900, 600; but for the December freeze,
which destroyed $500, 900 boxes of fruit,
the states orange crop would have
brought 5000, 600 easily. The orange
groves and truck farms gave employment
to thousands. The freeze came and swept
away their livelihood, and it is difficult
to see how they will maintain themselves.
The transportation companies are al
ready feeling the effect of the freeze in
largely diminished receipts. They de-
pended on the fruit and vegetabl crops
for large portion of their revenue. With
these crops failure. they will be forced
TO reduce expenses by discharging many
of their employees, thus increasing the
great army OF unemployed in the state.
Even after the December freeze and the
destruction of the oranges on the trees.
the railroads discharged many Of their en-
ployees and reduced the salaries of those
retained. A good fruit and vegetable crop
means millions to the transportation COM
panies and no crop means millions on the
debit side
The merchants will also suffer Already
many failures have been reported in coun-
try towns. These failures were due to in
ability to collect for goods sold to growers
last year. The December freeze which de-
stroyed their oranges also destroyed their
ability to pay. Ere the summer is ovrr il
is the general opinion that there will be
many more failures.
The Legislature meets in April, and it
has been suggested in some quarters that
a bill should be passed postponing the
payment of taxes until the people had
partly tided over the effects OF the freeze.
At Il recent meeting OF orange growers at
Micanopy, Fla, resolutions demanding
that the land upon which orange groves
formerly stood and which were assessed
for state and county taxation as orange
grove property be now assessed at the val
uation placed Oh the common farming
land of the state, viz: IS per acre. The
meeting also demanded that the Legisla-
lature remain in session only long enough
to enact bills for the financial relief of the
state, and that an act should be passed
that MORTGAGE should have noirecourse
upon other property than that covered by
the mortgage for its satisfaction. The
suggestions made by this convention have
been favorably received throughout the
state, and it is certain that great pressure
will be brought to bear on the Legislature
to pass measures in keeping with the res
olutions adopted. But such action would
likely necessitate bond issue, as the eX-
penses of the slate government must be
met and the postponement of the pay
ment of taxes, unless money should be
procured by loan, would leave the treas
ury bankrupt.
Cham berlain's Cough Remedy gives
the best satisfaction of any cough medi-
cine | handle and as a seller leads all
other preparations in this market.
recommend it because it is the best
medicine | ever handled for coughs,
colds and Group. A. W. Baldrdge, Mil
lersville Ill. For sale by Off e. Vaughn,