Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1908-01-17


ever lying just west of Fort Pierce
have recently been successfully drained
and it will be short time only before
this whole section will be producing
immense quantities of all varieties of
early vegetables In 1905 the Florida
East Coast Railway Company con-
structed a canal about three miles In
length, running from west Of Fort
Pierce into the Indian river which
accomplishes much good in draining
the surrounding country. Not being
entiI ely satisfied with the result, and
determined to make the drainage com
plete, this company the following year
placed dredge on the canal and deep
ened it from five TO seven feet, produce
ing rapid continuous flow, and which
is now giving the most satisfactory re-
suits. The surrounding land owners
have constructed lateral bitches, feed
ing the canal, aud the land for miles
around is perfectly drained.
Ap excellent crop Of tomatoes, water
melops and Irish and sweet potatoes
was grown last year on some of this
land Beyond the canal, which previous
ly bad been periodically covered with
water, demonstrating the success of
the draining system as well as the
superior quality Of this land for the
growing of all kinds of early vegeta-
bles, Experts who have examined
this land and who carefully watched
this experiment declare emphatically
the prairie land west of Fort Pierce
is among the finest vegetable land in
the State and in every way superior to
the famous high priced tomato land of
Dade county, the potato land of the
Hastings section, and the celery land
around Sanford
Messrs. Andrews, Hoofnagle and
Hemmings of Fort Pierce, who made
the experiment on this land last year
are so convinced Of Its profitable qualiS
ties that they are now planting forty
aefes q this land principally in toma-
.iata,ces togetherwith some
d Arly vegetables.
The realestate men report that there
is an Increasing demand for prairie
land and that they are making sales Of
trrcts Of from FIVE to forty acres at
prices ranging from $40 TO $50 per acre,
to buyers who intend TO at once de-
velop the land. Those who buy now,
while the land is cheap are bound 10
reap rich profit from the increase in
value alone, as there eau be no doubt
that the price of land will soon jump
in value, as it has done in other sec.
tions, when the Immense profits to be
made from the cultivation of early
vegetables become known.
To those seeking health and profit,
St, Lucie county offers unrivaled adj
yantages. The winters are warm and
balmy, and the summers are cooled by
the refreshing brezes from the ocean,
while this section OF the country is free
from malaria and various types Of
feyers.
The profitable returns common to
the raising OF pineapples, citrus fruits
and early vegetables seem almost UNI
beIieveable TO our northern friends.
These products bring net returns Of
from 800 to $500 per acre annually.
Aud yet the investment Is small in
proportion TO the returns. Developed
groves and pineapple plantations can
be bought at such price that the net
income will pay for them in from three
to four years.
Undeveloped land suitable for pine-
apples or citrus fruit along the famous
ridge can be bought for from $50 70
8l00 per acre and vegetable land west
OF Fort Pierce cost from 800 to $50 per
acre. A small investment and a little
industry on from I've to ten acres win
give anyone good living. Our coun.
W is filled With happy, prosperous
families who started with small means
and are now enjoying all the comforts
OF life, all produced nom St. Lucie
countys fruitful ground
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The Fort Pierce Prize.