The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-01-24
& :; 3 Z =. 3 "a : :: :; 4 3 i :,
FLoRIDA's PLACE {
IN THE FAMILY 4
:;
Jacksonville TimeS-UniOn. :,
*%& ~ 4; !. = :: Z z y ss e 4 = x !,

Recognition of Florida's claim to
consideration is only gradually COM
ing to the front. but the progress is
sure and safe. The Seminole War
left the impression that il was a pen
insula of swamps, insects and savages
full of malaria, and important only
when he'd by a foreign or independent
power. Jackson insisted on having
Florida. with or without law, as at
least one Of his limitations goes fur
Their afeld, but he hardly knew what
to do with his conquest when denounc-
ed for the means by which he AN
neXed" It. But jackson saw a whole
continent for occupation and land pos
sessed small value in his day, except
as a separation from undesirable ten
ants.
The Slav e-holder found its climate
and soil undesirable except in fits west
ern portion for The great plantations
which were his ambition, for. though
some Of these were established in the
middle section, the object there was
usually the climate as mucn as profit.
and these were not extended with sue
cess to INC south and east. The old
southern life only took kindly To re-
stricted portions Of Florida. and in
1865 this was still border state. 80
largely in the condition left by the
Spaniafd.
II was in the seventies that the fruit
industry promised TO develop the land,
and there were promises that the
whole eastern and southern portions
would become an immense grove. A
northern capitalist, who mad the fruit
fever, visited the Indian river section.
and refused to invest because fruit
would sopn be SO plentiful as TO be-
come unproftable," The succ assion
Of cold winters obviated that objection
and the development Of the state wa.
then interrupted on the opposits
ground. mat citrus fruits could nc
longer &c safely cultivated
Then came the winter gardens. and
these fiOu-ish2d for a time. but are
no longer anything but a side issue
the gardener is now always some
thing more.
Next came the phosphate boom,
and capital from all the world was
poured into Florida 10 learn again that
wealth was only TOO common. The
mines collapsed, because the output
could not be controlled and compel.
! ton ruins the buJ.ness.' Certainly
a strange lesson for any American
community. In the same way gold al
4 first settled California, then retarded
its development. and finally became
/ recognized as only one Of the great re
sources among many 10 a prosperou;
state. Is coal may Be said to nave
/ mOnOpolized the minds Of certain por
tons Of Pennsylvania and Alabama
to give these a population and a lif.
( that : almost un-American and still
strange 10 our political life.
Now. + l0rida is we'll advanced upoI
! the preliminary stage of her develop
/ ment. IN the past. it NAV be truly
said she was too rich for her ow!
gOOd-she attempted only one line a
a time, while healthful growth de
mands The coordinate and simultane
Gus cultivation of many industries. A
last these are recognized as but part
Of a whole. which must comprise mani
parts not yet appreciated. For health
. ioA AAHils ioI NlHtCI sal NShe, lOl SUI
waiting 10 receive kindly the feriilit!
stored FOR succeeding generations b,
nature. Florida cannot have a sU
psTior; her stock farms will come mex
TO The front, with the recognition o
her strategic portion for trade and il
war viii come the improvement of he
navigaole waters that will bring TIT
trade from the south and from the ca
4 nal and her towns will grow into cite
as her population multiplies. Be
sides all these she has fisheries whicl
would have long since enriche