The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-03-03

their imprint upon the country In
noble and honorable posterity, equal
to any that any county can boast of.
They have adorned the hats of con-
gress, the legislative halls Of the
state, the judiciary, the legal profes-
sion, and nIied every position of honor
and trust, in peace and war, known
to this great Republican government.
Yea. and even more, like Cincinatus,
the grand old Roman, they have been
ornaments in the great field OF agricul.
ture and husbandry. The county was
rapidly settled because of its vast re-
sources and many advantages in
everything. Grand and majestic for
ests covered and shaded soil unsur-
passed by any in the land-a sandy
loan resting upon a solid clay foun-
dation; the entire county watered with
a pure freestone water that equals any
in the world, the free flowing spring
rushed from every hillside, and, in
dancing gladness, kissed the light OF
more than Italian day, as it went mer-
rily down the shaded valley soon to
Join another, and another, until the
brook, then the branch, the creek
were formed. These same springs,
| brooks, and creeks are here today, an
eternal gift from the Most High and
Beneficient God, to those who inhabit
these lands
Agricultural Products.
The county, like most others in the
South. was soon settled by large slave
holders, who took up and bought
the larger portion of the best hands,
! and titled the soil with slave labor to
! great advantage Cotton, corn, tobac-
co, sugar cane, potatoes and many
other products, yielding immense re-
turn yearly This county was then,
as now, the great and attractive to-
bacco centre, not only of the state,
but the South. 1t was here alone that
the Cuba, in the United States,
equaled that raised in its native
island. 1t was to this country thar
the great tobacco firms of the north
i and Europe sent their agents to buy
the crop The yield of tobacco alone
brought an immense revenue into the
county before the war, the crop one
year netting over $500, 600 at the
barns.
For many years after the civil .war
the tenantry system was followed in
the hope of keeping the large farms
and plantations of the ante belium
times together. This was done prin
cipally by farming on shares" and
. generally resulted in failure to both
landlord and tenants. but as the years
passed new generation of young
men, the offspring Of former master
) and slave, becoming acquainted witr
the fact of their mutual dependencies
! who together, had learned by years o.
toll and experience, gradually adopted
ticed by their forefathers. Thus, with
in comparatively recent years, have
: the large plantations operated by ten
ants who paid rent in part of th'
crops, but mostly in cotton, have
given place to far more practical farm
ing-one of smaller area, better cult
: walton, more diversity of crops, i'm
: proved implements, higher fertiliza
ton, etc. Such is the present condi
ton of the agricultural system o
Y Gadsden county, and by leaving waists
I a large amount of fertile and gooC
d farm lands, has created great ant
S urgent need of immigration.
: Rich Hammock Lands.
3 The lands of the county are of thu
d character known as hammock ant
pine, and are remarkable for thei
e exhaustless fertility, those brough
r under cultivation yielding large crops
). The great body of these lands are Gov
e cred with forest of all tree-growth
h known TO the Southern climate.
e The hammock lands are inter
y mediate between the water course
I, and pine tracts. They afford health,
S localities for settlements, and are cas-
e ly cultivated, yielding abundant re
Z turns for the labor and expense be
= slowed upon them.
Y The pine lands have an exhauslles
|. wealth of timber, and brought int
e cultivation produce abundant crops
II These lands having a clay subsoil ar
almost inexhaustible when properl
Y cultivated, whist the heritage of tn
e forest furnish permanent pasturag
n for cattle and sheep, which requir
Il no shelter and very little care.