The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-09-12
Bv C E. Steward.

On my arrival at ChiDley last week
it was surprising to see the changes
in the little town and country around
it. Twelve years ago Chipley was but
a small town with no brick buildings
of any sort and the stores were OF a
very small type. But now 1t is town
of brick stores instead of the small
wooden buildings, and it has two
banks that would do credit to town
several times its size. Chipley also
has three hotels that are as good as
the country affords. The school
building is also equal TO any city sew
eral times its size and the people Of
the place are on the move as though
they must not be behind any city III
West Florida. It was remarkable also
TO notice the change of the farmers
who came to the city with the pro-
ducts of their farms. It used TO be
ten or twelve years ago that 80 PEI
cent of the country people came to
town in their OK wagons or carts, but
now all drive nice teams of horses or
mules.
Agricultural Development.
After spending a day or two in the
city, / took a trip through the country
to Wausau and Vernon and returned
by another route to Chipley. One
could make this same trip some ten
years ago and most all the way was
pine forest, with just few farms
and when you would find one it would
be very small with buildings to match,
and their old fashioned rail fences
Their crops consisted of corn, cot
ton and sweet potatoes, and in those
days a farmer thought he had a fine
crop if he gathered fifteen bushels OF
corn per acre and cotton and other
crops in about the same proportion.
But now in leaving Chipley for Wau-
sau, a distance of about twelve miles,
YOU are scarcely out of sight of
farm any time. Where there used
to be a vast forest Of pine, the tim
Der is all cut and there now stands a
farm. Instead of the old-fashioned
rail fence there is now wire feno-
ing and the farms are cleared and IN
better shane. the farmers using ma
chimes Of different kinds. They even
have changed in raising different
crops and where they used to raise Is
bushels of corn per acre they are
now raising from so to IS bushels and
all other crops in proportion,
In those days the farmers paid no
attention to hay of any kind, but now
they cut the grass that grows here IN
abundance as well as sowing peas,
velvet beans, COW peas, and others 10"
hay and pastures. The way in which
they farm and the tools that they use
are much different from what
they used to be. Where there Were
only small one-hOrse plows. now you
find large two-horse blows, plant
ers. moving machines, rakes, etc
Judging from all appearance all show
a sign Of prosperity Some farmers
you will find even holding part of last
years cotton crop still UnsOld.
Model Farm.
I visited one of the farms, that II
Mr.. George A. Danily, and found all
of the latest improvements in the way
OF farming tools. Mr.. Danily has 4
farm of about so acres clear from
stumps and roots and his crops consist
of all the principal crops, such as
corn, cane, potatoes, hay, etc. Corn
that will average from rs bushels per
acre and on up and other crops in
proportion. Mr.. Danily is about two
miles from Chipley and it is treat
to visit his farm and see the fine hogs,
cattle and horses. every bit as good
as yCu find IN the north or west.