The Florida star., 1902-02-28

The Packer, in an extended account of
the growth of the Flagler interests in
Florida, speaks of the development of the
vegetable industry as follows:
''But after all, as Mr.. Flsgler said, he
did not start this train for tourists. Prob
ably he derives more satisfaction from the
fact that his railroad operates vegetable
express, which makes 40 miles an hour,
has the same right of way as passenger
train, and is just as much through train
to New York as the solid vestibuled linn
iteds. 1t is this vegetable train which
tehs more forcibly than words can just
what Mr.. Flagler has done for the east
coast of Florida, and how he is enabling
thousands of people to makea living.
After the 'great Freeze" Mr.. Flagler,
in travelling down to Palm Beach. saw
some orange trees in bloom in Dade
county, which was evidence that the frost
had not extended to the southeastern
part of the state, so he pushed his road
down to Miami, on the theory that the
citrus development would follow this line
of roads, and that it would give impetus
to the raising of other fruits and veget-
ables as far south as his road extended.
His theory has proved entirely correct.
The reports of the fertility of southern
Florida seem marvellous, but they have
been checked off by the freight reports
and proven to be absolutely true.
Lands for vegetables can be prepared
in October, and the ripsned product be
ready to ship in February, March and
April. From adjacent lands pIneapples
can be shipped in June, the alligator pear
in August, guava in September, oranges
in December and January, SO that prac-
tically mans land will yield him an in
come all the year round. There is, indeed,
a bona fide record of two men getting
$l2, 900 out of 10 acres of tomatoes, which
probably is the greatest record yield for
that acreage anywhere in the world. 1t
is calculated that the vegetable and fruit
crop on the east coast brings in something
like 81 100000 net to the farmers.
One section of the country is practically
an unbroken field for 20 miles of pine
apples, yet once it was wholly undevel-
oped. At one time only $1,000 crates of
vegetables were shipped on the 367 miles
of railroad of the East Coast system. Last
year over 100000 crates of tomatoes and
eggplants alone were shipped over the
system, besides the fruit. People have
come in there from all over the country,
but mostly from the white pine land of
the northwest. At a political reception,
at which SO men We're present, it was
found that no two men We're from the
same state.
The Packers tourist" is now covering
the east coast section, and reports the de-
velOpments going on is almost beyond the
belief of those who have never felt the
touch of FlagIer. The East Coast railway
of Florida is probably today the best
known system for its age in the world. 1t
spends tens of thousands of dollars adver-
tlsing, and hundreds of thousands in de-
velOpIng that section. Its energy and
enterprise have won free and unsolicited
advertising from nearly every large news
paper in the country. As one newspaper
man puts 1t, Flaglpr's lieutenaAts make
news" and they make it every day, so
that the daily papers simply can't avoid
mentioning the work going on.
And after all the millions he has spent
i'll bnilding up that section, he has hut
started on his plans. Said he several
years ago to The Packer man: Il see new
things tn do every day down here.
truly hope | may live to carry out at least
part of my plans; | cannot live to exc
cute all of them. The growth of this sec
ton is grand. Nature has been so lavish
that | feel man cannot do too much to
show his appreciation. If can but blaze
the way shall be satisfied 1t rests upon
others to complete and perfect the work.
| could do nothing save for the loyal asso-
ciatas who feel very much the same inter
est have in the east coast"
TAX ASSESSOR'S NOTICE,