The Florida agriculturist., 1905-12-27
Our Northern Friends in Florida.

people that spend the winter in FlOri-
da, for the reason that to leave ones
business in one of the northern states
and spend three or four months here
calls for quite Il sacrifice of time and
not a few dollars of capital as well.
That it is a luxury that thousands
of our northern friends would like
much to indulge in is evident but I'M
less compelled to do so as a matter
of life or death. few of those in mOder-
ate circumstances can think OF doing.
True there are some who have init
mate friends here who are able as
well as willing to take them in for a
few weeks stay, who come but
could not do so if they were compel
led to take up their abode i'm some
hotel or boarding house.
The contrast in the winter of n. Y,
Mich, Ohio, and most of the so-called
northern states and that of Florida is
great and to most of our northern
friends is Il great luxury even if they
are not benefited materially in health.
1t seems almost a pity that there could
not be some way devised that those
of our friends in more moderate cir
cumstances could enjoy the milder
climate of Florida for the few weeks
| of the severeSt winter weather in the
North.
First, if the matter of transportation
could be materially leSSened it would
| add hundreds and perhaps thousands
| to the number who come as it is; if
| our railroad companies could see the
| matter i'm its true light and they
would reduce the fare One-half it
/ would add more than double the pre-
sent number to the list of winter visi
| tors to Florida, making their income
| more than what it is now; and as it
| would cost very little more to draw
| 300 than it does $50 the income would
| be increased so as to leave good
margin for the additional number
| Then the matter of living expenses
| while here is matter that mi ght
| well call the attention of those who
are hotel and boarding house keepers.
| Instead of planning to get the last
dollar before his guest gets away
| from him. he should be satisfied to
make fair living profit on his board
| and encourage him to return the next
| fall and bring with him more of his
| friends.
MY remarks may not be applicable
| to great many of the hotel and
| boarding house keepers, yet it is a
| known fact that there are many who
| seem to act as if they thought it was
| their last chance to get a dollar and
so crowd on expenses till they drive
many away because they have not the
means to stay longer.
There are many of our northern
| friends who have the means to do so
| are buying and fitting up winter resi-
dences here amongst us. and then
| they can come and stay as long as
| their business will allow or their
| means hold out. and then lock up and
go home till the next winter.
There is one point we residents
| should strive to make which is to
have our northern friends understand
| that the Florida summer is not so
| much to be avoided as they seem to
| think it necessary. The impression
| has gone out over the North that it
| is next to death to live in Florida
| through the summer season. when we
| who have lived in both climates know
| that there is not such contrast as
| is supposed.
The difference is simply that the
| summer is much longer in Florida
| than it is i'm those states where the
thermometer goes below zero in win
l ter. We who have spent our younger