The Florida agriculturist., 1907-07-17

ing Patriot, Of Jackson, Mich, for the
following interesting article which re,
Gently appeared in it's columns:
DR.. Mar Mclaughlin, who has
purchased winter home in Florida
on Sarasota Island, forty miles south
Of Tampa, speaks i'll enthusiastic terms
OF the prosperity and progress of that
southern city. Two winters in Florida
have convinced the doctor and his
vile that the pleasure of living is large
ly increased by spending the cold sea-
son of the north in a Florida home
The travel by rail is from Jackson
to Tampa and then about four hours
ride on a steamer to Sarasota Island,
their winter home During the past
winter experienced no frost.
The entire gulf coast of Florida is
improving rapidly, and Tampa is it's
cOmmercial city. Located at the head
Of Tampa Bay, forty miles from the
gulf Of Mexico, it has an immense
harbor, and is growing rapidly. The
city has more than doubled in wealth
and population within the past five
years. There are now $4,000 people
in the city and it's contiguous suburbs
parts of the city to all interests and
purpOses-as against 900 in the CEN
sus year Of 1000. The prices of real
estate have advanced in the same or
greater proportion.
What is the cause of this remarkable
growth, SO apparent in Tampa, but
which is. to a large degree the ex-
perlence of the entire state of Florida?
In the first place, Tampa is to be at
an early day the gateway between the
eastern half of the United States, the
West Indies, Mexico, Central America
and all countries to be reached by the
Panama canal. 1t is the nearest port
in this country to the mouth of the
canal, and is the pOnit at which great
railroad systems will converge to part.
icipate in that commerce that will be
developed.
Already it is the greatest terminus
of two of the greatest railroad sys-
being rapidly constructed from Tampa
as its initial point, and a fourth is
being built from the north.
With these four trunk lines from
the heart of the country, with a depth
of water at least 22 feet, with all the
necessary harbor and shipping facil-
tiles approaching completion on an
ample scale, Tampa is sure to be for
all time, as it is today, the point Of
transhipment from rail to water and
from water to rail Of the travel and
traffic of one of the greatest routes
OF international exchange in the world.
The manufacture of cigars is it's
greatest industry. Its output of Ha-
vana cigars is greater than any other
city in the world, having won the ST.
premacy from even Havana itself.
Within ten years the production Of fine
Havana cigars has increased from
0o,ooo,ooo in 1897 to I'll, 900, 900 in 1906
and it is expected that the total will
reach 35O,OOO,OOO this year.
The number of persons employed in
the factories has increased in the same
ten years from 3,175 to o,o5o, and the
weekly wages average $I68,ooo, dis
bursed in cash on every Saturday pay
roll The market for cigars embraces
the entire world, and the total pro-
duct exceeds one-third Of all the Ha-
vana cigars smoked on the globe
AS to the health of the west coast
Of Florida DR.. Mclaughlin entertains
not a particle of doubt. He visited
this part of Florida last summer in
the month of July, and the only dis
agreeable part of the visit was the
journey by rail.
Government records of rainfall, tenn
perature, movement of the wind, and
other meteorological conditions, prove
that the climate of this section OF
Florida is superior to that of any To-
ity too