The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-07-23
I'LL 10 ID.

houses and IN its well kept farms.
Bot what 4 difference is there today.
TIE editor Of The True Democrat re-
Gently travelled over one Of the best
roads IN the county, q distance Of
twelve miles, passing thousands and
thousands Of acres Of land Of surpass-
ing richness, and alOng that entire
stretch Of fine road. bordering with al
most unparalleled advantages, only two
white families were living.
These rich lands and magnificent
farms were surrendered soon after the
war to the negroes, and they have con-
tinued 70 till them IN their crude way
with Indifferent success.
What was seen on this road is praeti-
cally duplicated on almost each one Of
the fine high ways that lead out Of the
city OF Tallahassee. There are a few
excellent tobacco farms. presided over
by white people, but practically the en-
tire sgrieulturalinterests of this county
Is in the hands Of the ignorant negro.
Is il any wonder that there is no gem
uine prosperity here Could there be
prosperity any where in America under
such conditions?
The only object The True Democrat
can have in advertising this disadvah-
tage to the world is It's hope in bringing
about change.
The few white families who still live
in the county and till their own farms
are all happy and prosperous, and are
the redempuve forces Of this country.
II few can find contentedness and
plenty among such disadvantages, how
much greater would be the blessings
were there thousands instead Of hun
dred or so.
II might have been necessary in the
past to desert the farms, but every
present and prospective condition in
vites a return TO them.
There is money for every Industrious
white man who will iatelligently till the
soil Of Leon county, and abundance Of
room for all who desire TO come.
The produeuveness OF the soil of this
county is prOverbial and two, three
and even four crops can be profitsbly
harvested. Then our products can be
wonderfully diversified; there being al
most an hundred different ones which can
be proftablygrown here. Statistics show
that cane. and potatoes, and vegetables
and melons yield rich return Of from
$50 to $3.50 per acre. Doubtless greater
yields would result If there was studied
and industrious cultivation and fertili-
zation. Lands In certain districts in
this State yield $500, $1,000 and even
more per acre. And the advantages
are not greater than ours.
What is needed is intensive farming.
The dividing up Of our big plantations,
which are deteriorating yearly in value
through an unwise system Of eultiva-
ton, into small tracts of 5. 10, 20 and
40 acre farms. One intelligent, ambl-
tiOus, industrious white man can do
more for himself and his county on ten
acres In this way than a whole settle
ment Of negroes on hundred acre
plantation.
The surveys show that there are
467, 900 acres Of land in Leon county.
II 200, 600 acres, or less than half Of il,
we're divided up into ten acre farms.
and settled as we have described, there
would be 20, 900 different white families
filling our soil, producing a financial
return Of from $1,000 to $4,000 ger
acre, Even accepting the smaller sum,
the annual crop product of Leon county
would be eight million Of dollars, nearly
three times the total taxable value Of
the entire county. This is not an ex-
ag0erated superstition, for il has been
satisfactorily shown US that several
small farms In the county are doing
even better. This would give as q
population Of 1876 10 the square mile, or
q little over eight to each forty acres.
There are agricultural sections Of this
country with far greater population
than this, where the advantages are far
less.
There would be no question as TO the