Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-11-19
A Seaside Health Colony.
BY John V. shoemaker, NJ. D.. IL.

many advantages. The air which they
breathe is pure. being relatively free
which plays an important part in pro
noting nutrition, and the salt with
which it is laden is also beneficial to the
economy. It,. stimulates the appetite
that of the land. The coast people are
peculiarly favored as regards their food
for while they can raise or obtain the
products of the land they are abundantly
supplied also with those Of the sea.
The properties of an ocean climate are
most nearly found upon an island or, in
nearly the same measure, upon ii PENN
sula. joined to the mainland by a narrow
neck. From whatever point OF the com
pass the wind ! 1Ns it must then come
across the sea. he qualities of the air
the abundance nd variety of the food
the sight of o. ocean in every mood, the
benefit of So bathing. the pleasures of
fishing and ne constant inducements to
an outdoor life. have always made the
seaside attractive to the Jaded denizcns
The Pinellas Peninsula is so fortunate
as to possess all the distinctive charac-
lers CT an ocean a athsofs, win others
Northern coast. It's atmosphere IS the
closest practical approximation to that of
mia ocean.
Draw a straight line to any point Of tho
compass you will from ST. Petersburg or
its neighborhood (wtn the exception of a
small segment of the circle. only about 70
HtSTttS out Oh IDt 3n'l, anu IL VIII strike
Il body Of water.
The equalizing influence of {, great body
or water is strikingly shown in this
locality. There are not the sudden
changes from heat to cold. one day well
| Up in the nineties the next down in the
sixties or less. that make life so hard to
sustain in less Favored sections This
comparative immunity from fiuctuat ions
| Of temperature is preserved throughout
! the different seasons of the year. The re
suit is a temperate climate in the truest
sense of the word. While in winter the
| air Is so mild that fires are Unnecessary
| @tve for culinary purposes. on the CON
| trary- the heat of midsummer never be-
| comes uncomfortable: The effect of the
| suns rays is mitigated by the ocean
freezes Although 50 much below us in
| latitude. there is no reason, as far as eli
| mate is concerned. why the settler from
| he North should not dwell with comfor,
| n his new home from oue end Of the year
| the other. and other things being
| 'qual, this statement applies to invalids
| s well as to persons in ordinary health.
| he most convincing testimony upon this
| point is that born of experience. The
| universal declaration of many witnesses
| %ho, having lived for several years In
| his region are qualified "a express an
| )plnion. Is to this effect. ami il is strong
| maintained by the Inhabitants of ST
| petersburg and vicinity that "A summer
| AN be more comfortably spent on the
| Pinelias Peninsula than in the city Of
| Philadelphia and many other cities Of thu
| North. In fact the peninsula is becom-
| NJ a noted summer resort for those who
| i've in the interior of the state The stu
| tton. upon the west coast OF Florida,
| preserves Pinellas from those fierce
| NortheaSters which sometimes. as in the
| 'ecent storm, cause such devastation
| lpon the Atlantic side Of the state.
| The PinclaS Peninsula Is free from a
| DISADVANTAGE which besets many local
| ties along our Own coast. VIZ. malaria.
| There are no sluggish marshes within a
| ow lying beach to serve as breeding
| Haccs for The malarial parasite and from
| which it may he disseminated. The set
| ltr from the North has no more 10 fear
| rom Maiarlal infection lhan from torrid
| lcAt
| The land of the entire Pnellas PENN
| ula is uniformly high. rising even as
| iisn As los feet at places above the level
| If the sea. and the area Of wet lands i
| undoubtedly less than that OF a similar
| 'Ktcnt of territory upon the average in
| he North. The shores rise boldly from
| he water and at the point where vege-
| ligh tide. and a beautiful beach extends
| lround. The lands between 81. Peters
| 'urg and Disston Guy. viii probably
| cverage 80 to 80 feet above the sea level.
| 'e beautiful is the appe rance of the en-
| ire Pinellas Peninsula that visitors have
| ,lten been heard Ia compare 1t in APP
| )earance to an English park.
The Pinellas Peninsula is superior to
| Northern resorts in the greater variety
| # vegetables ana fruits which can be
| aised. Most OF the food products Of the
| ocalitY, In addition TO these a great
| lumber flourish which are characteristic
| My OF Southern attitudes Furthermore.
hi mildnesS of the climate permits 4
| onger season for growth and the har-
| esting of several crops during the year.
| Fhe apple does not thrive on the penin-
| ular. but, on the other hand the orange.
| ime, lemon olive. mango. guaVa etc.
an be protitabiy grown.
The peach grows in Florida and comes
nto market at time when it brings
h. ftta.--f CIV
nope to obtain. because il has the field
practically 20 itself; and whereas In the
North il takesa number of years to bring
peach orchard into hearing. in the
'inellas Peninsula. if well set out and
ertiliZed. fruit can be expected the
econd year and quite a crop the third
The banana is another fruit which can
'e profitably raised in this neighhorhood.
'oncerning the cultivation of the pine
tpple we have spoken in the last issue
# this journal.
Among vegetables wheat and corn are
rot such advantageous crops as IN the
North, but this fact is countcrbalanced
" the ability of the farmer TO raise
'assava. which viii be even more val
ibe to him and Will more than compcn-
ate for his having to purchase his wheat
nd corn Again. upland rice does well
! the Pineias Peninsula.
The Spanish onion. nutritious article
Il food and one which amply repayS the
armer grows luXureantly in this locality
Another undoubtedly profitable crop is
,acco can be raised in western Florida
which will fully equal in value the Cuban
,roduct. which. it will be remembered.
rings as high $50 per pound.
We have already given some data in re
sard to the price of land. cost of settle
nent. etc. Experience elsewhere has al
'eady shown that there is more profit
md less risk in small tracts of a few
tcres only. highly cultivated with 4
'ariety of crops. than in large planta-
ions devoted almost exclusively to one
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