Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-02-06
An Interesting Communication
from Florida

ITOm lOFiud
SAFETY HARBoR, FLA, Jan. 30.
DEAR GAZETTE:
It matters not "whe'er we roam,
There's no better place than our
mountain home.
Virginians as rule are 'clannish.
A lady recently remarkedt I. the writer
that travelling through the Carolinas
north ward, as soon as the train entered
the historic sol! of Virginia that every
tree and rivulet, every town, however
Insignificant it looked, to her had
associations of great historic interest,
which W, re consta. tIy pointed out TO
her--of course, by Vireinians.
Virginians have a right to be proud.
Few of the present generation have
riches, but they have other things of
greater value. which heed not be re-
counted. Fewer inroads have beon
made on the Virginia type and the ia
herited characteristics. of her people
than other States OF the country. Like
the highland ers Of Scotland, the people
never lost their identity and their pc
culiarities. 1t is pleasant to recall this
fact when we turn our eyes westward
and see the millions CT emigrants food
ing every State and Territory and bring
ing with them the impress OF every ma
ton under the sun. The old Amer can
type is fast being supplanted. What
the outcome will be Is uncertain. Oar
country is making dangerous strides,
and many complex political problems
confront our government. Apparently
the country is prosperous, and We are
all happy that such conditio: exist.
even for the present. Sufficient unto
the day is the evil thereof Your
readers, take it, get enough of this
kind of talk through the daily and
weekly prints. The President and Cen
gress keep things lively enough, Pm
sure.
We we're panied to see the disturb
ance at the V. NJ. /. With all due re-
spect for those in authority, and have
the highest regard for many OF them as
wei, as for the laws OF the Institute
which they seek to enforce. l was glad
that tho way was clear to reinstate
these erring boys. Boys will have their
| fun. and "illuminations' and fulir ina
tioDs are just as natural for them D.
| for ducks to swim or for pigs to squeal.
Deal gently with them. Military law
is right tough on young as well as old
people. Yet, | believe firmly that
Roosevelt did his duty faithfully and
fearlc ssiy when he disbanded that negro
| regiment.
Florida is prospecting, SO far as | can
observe. The five days OF cold weather,
some weeks since, did some damage in
some sections OF the Stale. Places
which seemed we'll protected suffered
more than elevated lands. Lii tie dam.
age was done on our peninsula. The
tapgerine fruit, which is more delicate
than the orange and grape fruit, suf-
ferod most. The country south CT this,
Manatee and De Soto counties, received
greater injury than we did. The cold
seemed to move in sections OF streaks.
| The larger trees are not injured. There
| has not been scarcely any reinfall for
three months. A slight shower fell just
before the cold days. The weather,
with the exceI tion Of these Geld days,
has been delightful and frequently too
VAIN for ordinary clothing.
Mr.. +. G. Ruff and his wife arrived
several weeks ago, and have settled
on grove property about three miles
from us in the direction OF Clear Water.
Clear Water, ON the gulf coast, is Il
prosperous place, having bank, two
large packing houses, Ice factory, fish
house, three livery tables, two hotel,
numerous boarding houses, stores,
churches, etc. Tampa. our county
seat, has a population Of 10000. In
1880 it was a village of 700. The tobacco
industry alone is over $4,000, 600 an
nually. AS Il port OF entry Tampa
stands ninth on the list.
will not in this letter, but may here
after, give your readers report Of
shiL ments Of fruit from this little pc
ninsula. say from Tarpon Springs &c
p .tersburg. a stranger riding by rail
over this territory and seeing little but
pine woods would entertain the same
opinion that cur friend Judge Letcher
expressed when on visit through this
section few years ago. When asked
his opinion he said that 1t was the most
"God-forsaken country that he ev r
saw. Yet in the face Of this, | venture
the opinion that the amount OF laad in
cultivation on this narrow strip OF land
has this year produced 10 dollars and
cents over 500 per cent. more than the
best farms in the Valley. Our leading
crops usually bring from ten to twenty
five dollars per acre, cost OF .nakirg
crop to be deducted, ard the Grange,
ard other citrous fruits, from two hun
bred to five hundred and as iruch as
one thousand dollars per acre. TIE
latter amount has been made here Dy
Virginian, and Rockbridger at that;
not the writer of this, however. As
lruch, and more, has been made from
vegetables in this and in other sections
north aud south OF Hillsborougn.
l could go on and tell Of the great profits
in turpentine and the lumber business,
the phosphate mines, the finest, it is
said, in the world; but prefer to give
the information in broken doses.
Notwithstanding all these facts, do
net advise our young men to come here
ard leave the good and comfora able
homes in Virginia; bat will 60 Ibis
far es say to them, il they have made
up their minds to Ego somewhere"
that the South and not the West Is the
place for them. Here you will be
among your own people. Here, il you
have respect for yourself, you will be re-
spected. But tc succeed, M Ike up your
mind to be- sober and industrious, and
you will prosper. know men here,
who, ten or fifteen years ago, came to
Florida as day. laborecs, now own good
places and sell from 5000 to s., W
worth of fruit yearly, besides the pro-
fits from truck patches.
Wishing you all prosperity and nap
riness, alp
Truly yours,
w. b. f. LEIGH.
CDeCial Announcement Re0ardir0 fha