The National tribune., 1909-07-15
The City vs.. the Country.

Edltor national tribune: what does
a $4,000 or even $4,000 house in
Washington or any other city repre-
sent? AT best it can be but a plain
cottage on lot 25x100 feet (maybe
less, -as Washington city lots are some-
times as narrow as 16 feeD, while for
less than half the first-named sum a
comfortable home and profitable small
farm can be secured in Florida.
The city home must be supported,
while the properly managed farm home
supports not only itself, but those who
occupy it. All things required for the
city home must be bought, while most
things required at the farm home can
be bad from the ground. Living in
your own house, on your own land,
there is no rent to pay; owning your
own water supply no bills are present
ed; your own cow and hens shut off the
milk, butter and egg bills; there is
abundance of fish for the catching from
neighboring lakes in central Florida,
and one of the finest fronts st. Cloud.
The soil and sunshine make possible
vegetables and fruit, either fresh, dried
or canned the year around, thus cutting
off another item of more or less cost to
those living in cities. The Florida coun-
try resident can have good, crisp vege-
tables right from the garden and fruit
from the trees at all times in the year,
not the wilted stuff found in the city
market and grocery stock, handled by
all kinds of people and exposed to dirt
and flies.
Another costly item of expense in the
city which is escaped in Florida is the
price of fuel A small wood lot will
keep family supplied, and wood ready
for use is delivered at nominal cost IT
any door. A little blaze in the fireplace
is all that is needed for heating pur-
poses in the evenings during the Win
he CT IN hrin ha
perature to the normal for personal
comfort. For cooking, If the fireless
cook box is used, there will be very lit
tie need of long. hot fires. No need is
there of burning hay or corn, as prairie
farmers are reported to do occasionally
out beyond the Mississippi
There is lumber to build houses in
FLORIDA. Sods are not needed. There
is no snow to shovel off the walks, nor
is there ever an occasion to thaw ou,
the pump nor chop the ice in the water
Ing trough in the feed yard.
There is room and chance in many
parts in Florida for interesting expert
ments BY budding or grating oranges
marketable fruit can be gathered in
from three to four years, and the trees
Will continue to bear for quarter of a
century and much longer under proper
care. 1t is possible by budding them to
have trees producing at the same time
oranges, lemons, lines. grapefruit, etc.
Many striking operations and useful
results are possible, and therefore the
student of nature has a world Of op-
portunities before him to conquer and
levy tribute upon tree and plant and
vine and weed, and subject them to hui
man use.
1t is estimated that more than 1000
o0O European immigrants will come 70
our shores this year. One day last
90
Der SO far, came to New York The
natural annual increase of our native
population is over 100000. The time
is coming when good land will be worth
hundreds of dollars an acre in Amerj
ca as IL Is now in England, France.
Germany and other densery populated
countries. 1t has been well said that
one of the pathetic facts of the modern
world Is TO see the able-bodied man
knocking in vain at the door of life
Degglng simply for a chance to live nv
the work of his hands. There are many
such in this country, and the number
VIII increase as land goes higher in
Price price and living expenses increase.
There should be no poverty in this
country at this time, when in Florida
and other States there are vacant acres
awaiting industrious hands and active
Drains. Would that we could speak this
knowledge all over our great country
with force enough to influence city
families now suffering for food to po IN
the country and strive for better things
L was much pleased with the trip to
81. Cloud. ] see many opportunities In
the genial climate Of Florida to acquire
a living from the land. The townsfte
ana the land for farm purposes are
most desirably located. The comrades,
WIN Sc many things favoring them,
ought TO create fine community. They
nave so much in common. a tie that
nothing can sever, and the gathering of
SO many of them in such a pleasant
land' VIII make their last years most
attractive and enjoyable.-Jobn q
Ioepper, 42s G street northwest, Wash