The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-11

upon Lake DeSoto. The building and furniture cost over S50.000.
 There Is nothing lacking for the easy and comfortable dispatch of business. Every County official has conmodious quarters. The court room Is large ana we'll ventilated and besides the main floor, has gallery with large seating capacity. There are f1reproof places for records. such accommodations for public meet ings as can be found in the court house here.
 It is a matter of surprise to every vis- itor to find such a hotel as the Hotel Blanche in a town of this size. It Is built of beautiful quality of bricK. ana in the very best style. It Is no exaSger alton to say that the lobbies parlors ana reading rooms of every hotel in Mont gomery would not he equal to the space accorded for such purposes in this hotel; This is spoken with regret, but piain facts cannot be avoided and the natural query is why should this be SO? Wherev- CT a citizen of Montgomery goes, ne hears complaint not so much of the qual. ity of hotel accommodations to be found there ss the lack of an up to date hotel' with all the conveniences which the tray cling public of this day demand. Mont gomery must meet this demand or con tinue to lose the presence Of under other conditions. It will be gratifying to the Montgomery and Ala bama friends of Mir. J. W. Chappell to learn that he is conducting the hotel here In such a way as to make it attractive and home-like. It Is a favorite stopping place for the Florida traveller.
 The lakes and streams abound with f1sh: and those fond of the rod and line and boat can find amusement of that Kind TO the fullest extent. Not very far away are good hunting grounds,
 Lake City has complete electric light ing plant and the service is excellent. It also has ice factory, blaming mills, large saw mills and novelty works, and many other industries which give employment to a large number of people. The streets are shaded by grand old live oaks there are several miles of paved streets and sidewalks. telephone service and com m pdious Union Depot.
 The Daughters of the Confederacy have erected in the cemetery here a beautiful monument in honor of the Confederate dead. 1t stands in the center of the DOT ton of the cemetery Set apart for the burial of Confederate soldiers. many of whom have found their last resting place in Florida's hospitable soil Many of them were killed in the battle of Olustee. which was fought in a few miles of this place. The sad word unknown" belongs to many of these mounds. but there Is substantial headstone to mark every one. the result of the loving work of patriotic Southern women.
 There are two weekly papers here-The Florida Index and The Citizen Reporter. The former paper is conducted by Mir T. J. Appleyard. who once lived in Selma. and is well-khown as very capable man. He was the Secretary of the Senate of the last Florida Legislature. and his reelection to the same position Is generally conceded
 Some years ago there were great hopes indulged of large profits from orange groves in this locality. Those hopes have been dissipated by the Icy hand which dealt death and destruction to so many trees several years ago. Orange culture has been abandoned here and In the ter ritory more than hundred miles south- ward.
 Taken all In all. Lake City is about as fortunately located as any place in Flor ida. and It's people have cause to look forward to bright, prosperous future. There are many hlahamians here They are to he met with at every turn. Mir. H; P: Screws is living here. and his many friends will be glad to learn that he is again enjoying good health. At the bar, in the counting room, in railroad service and in public office. you will find men natives of Alabama and who still have love and reverence for the State
 While the soil in this section is not equal to that of the black-belt of Alabama, nor to that of much of the sandy and uplands or the State, yet farming is the main oc- equation of most of the people. Fertiliz- ing produces good results. There is much cotton grown in the county hut 1t is not our kind. It is the long staple and brings from IS to 20 cents per pound The aver age production Is a bale to three acres. but at that the amount derived per acre is greater than from the short staple. If seems to require sea or salt atmosphere, and this locality Is near enough to get much of it. It will not grow in heavy clay land, and. therefore. cannot be grown In Alabama. It is used mostly in the manufacture of fine sewing thread. The Clark Thread Company of New Jersey has an immense ginnery, using about seventy-ffve gins in an adjoining county to this. It purchases the raw cotton, gins It and ships 1t tp the New Jersey mill :. The mode of cultivation of the long seems to be pretty much the same as for the short staple cotton. Great interest ia felt here in the cultivate of cassava and the velvet hean, and between the two great hopes are entertained of making this a stock-growing community.
 W. W. s.