The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-22
CUBAN CROPS IN FLORIDA.
THE PENINSULA TO SUPPLY WHAT
WAR HAS ROBBED FROM CUBA

Devoted to northumberland
mcnt of the Truck Industry.
With continued warfare on the unhappy
ISLAND of Cuba it is interesting TO study
me gradual tendency 10 Florida toward
resumption of former agricultural pur-
suits by which the soil of that state viii
be made TO yield again such products as
have been taken from the commercial
world by the work of devastation which
has been steadily going on in Cuba for
the last three years.
Il is fair to assume that supplies of
sugar tobacco and fruit from Cuba will
not be fully restored TO the world OF
trade for several years to come. even
should the cessation of hostilities on the
island be immediate. The country, ac-
cording to all accounts has been so gen
orally devastated and agricultural inter-
ests so completely demoralzed that it will
take long time to bring back the pros
perity enjoyed just prior to the war
This means that Florida win be looked
TO for much of the traffic that once came
from Cuba. on every side there is evil
dence that the peninsula state will have
a great awakening brought about by these
conditions, and already there is a notable
tide of homeseekers pouring into the fer
tile regions of the state. Old swamp lands.
which, for half century have been
sleeping beneath the soaking waters of
the Iowlands and marshes have been
drained and cleared for cultivation. Col
onies of Cubans have settled here and
there throughout the more fertile regions
of the western borders of Southern Flor
ida and have taken up with hearty Zest
the work of growing tobacco and sugar
forced
on the island and with the same methods
az they engaged in Cuba they have fairly
started out with iudisputable evidence of
continued success. 1t is no longer matter
of speculation in this movement to make
Florida supply what has been robbed of
Cuba.
The achievements of the colony of Gu
bans al Fort Meade, in the successful
manipulation Of Florida soil IN the culture
of high grade tobaccos. are already wen
known 70 those at interest. The Cubans
ere elated at the prospect and their sue
cess has induced many other planters to
come from the War-clouded island and
buy Florida lands to pursue their former
work in this country
More recently has come the sugar boom
in Florida. The sale of the famous st.
Cloud sugar plantation near Kissimmee,
Florida, very lately to Cubans, who viii
come from the deVasted plantations they
have left on the island to adopt their
me thods on Florida soil. serves to show
with what confidence the Cubans have
gone ABOUT the Undertaking TO AuDd re
Florida along this particular line. There
are more than thirty thousand acres of
good sugar lands around kiSsimmee and
several parties from Cuba, with capital
in their reach have recently visited these
regions 20 make investigation of the pos
sibilities of the soil and climate. It is
said that there are many deals now pend
ing with property owners in the vicinity
Of Kiss mmee, near the celebrated St.
Cloud plantation, by which many thouS-
and acres of land will pass into the hands
fhFfhqn FgfuDnGG hama-
seekers, who will come from north and
west to enter agricultural pursuits in
Florida.
In late years. since the much talked of
freeze in Florida, there has been a great
awakening in the truck farming bust
ness through the southwestern section of
th,a toeninsIlIa state This has brolipbt
many settlers from the prairies of the far
west where climate and soil were not faV-
orable to prosperous or successful farm
ing. The tourist on the west coast of
Florida sees quite a different condition
to-day than he saw if he visited the state
several years ago Everywhere down
along the sunny slopes of the western or
Gulf coast countless little truck
farms are smiling in the bloom and bios
som of budding vegetation, and for the
past two seasons the owners of these
farms have reaped rich rewards in the
sales of their products. Chief among the
localities where such conditions have no
tably developed the Manatee section, the
Fort Myers country and the region around
Kissimmee may be mentioned. With eX-
EEllGnl EdllTOd0 IdclllIieS IOE SntnDl0E the
products of these lands, with superior adj
Vantages Of soil and climate and with
every claim that an early inroad to the
market asserts for good prices the farm
ers of these favored sections have, indeed
been prOhting wondrously. Some of the
results have been almost fabulous in their
startling statistics of profit.
Aside from the development which has
come to Kissimmee in the line of horti-
cultural pursuits, and the big sugar land
deals. 1t is gratifying to the thrifty peo-
pie who make up the population of this
progressive little Florida city to note that
the industrial side of its upbuilding has
Kept pace with the agricultural advance
ment of the surrounding country Many
small Industries have been started off on
firm basis OF operation and are flourish
Mr.. Fl. b. Plant, president of the Plant
system OF railways, steamship lines and
hotels, has taken a hand In the work OF
upbuilding, Just as he has done all over
the western half of Florida and has pur.
CHASED the spacious hotel which once wac
known as the Tropical, but which is now
called Hotel kissimmee. This splendid
hosiery is under the direct management
OF MI b. Butler, who Is one of the most
sxpetlenced MOTEL men in the United
States. Under the supervision of the
Plant system officials this hotel is kept
up 10 that nigh plane of excellence which
mas always characterized the hOstelries OF
TINS colossal system. This has had the ten
dency 10 bring Kissimmee forward
as one OF the leading winter resorts i'm the
sease. Ihere Is quite gay coterie OF
are delighted with the many charms OF
the hostelry and the surrounding coun-
try. One Of the chief amusements offered
the tourist here is the splendid opportun-
1ty to tsh. There is fine sport always m
grasp of the guest of the hotel The wa
ters of picturesque Lake Tohopekaliga are
right beside the lawn that extends around
the front OF the hotel. and these waters
abound with lake trout and black bass
Many pleasure parties are given with ex.
cursions over this beautiful lake, and there
IS a splendid advantage here of taking one
OF the most delightful river trips Ia Flor
ada by steamer. which plies the waters OF
the Kissimmee river. This route leads far
down through the central part of Florida
20 Lake Okeechobee, which Is the largest
Jake In the state of Florida, being forty
by sixty miles In proportions.
All along the banks of the Kisslmmee
river the tourist finds countless charms IN
the varying scenery which makes the trip
so pleasant
There are few more delightful places in
The state than kissmmee, II any i'm fact
can rival II for the natural enchantment
and charm Of the country surrounding IT,
PATENT BREATHING MACHINES.