The National tribune., 1910-01-27
CONDITIONS AT ST. CLOUD.
A Letter From the President of the
N-afcsnIaS, AsSaGia ion

Veterans Association.
The National Tribune is in receipt
of the following letter from Judge
Robert Anderson, President of the Vet
erans' Association at st. Cloud. 1T is
short and to the point and represents
the sentiment of several hundred mem
bers of the Association:
st. Cloud, Fla, Jan. 20, 1910.
Editor National Tribune: 1 am receiv-
ling so many letters from old comrades
laSking in the main the same questions.
| 1t is quite impossible to answer in de-
tail with long letters. If you will kind
| ly grant me space, 1 will answer the
more important questions, and trust
| that all will regard it as personal to
Them.
The Colony holdings, in fact. all of
Florida, are only comparable with the
levelest portion of Kansas or NebraS-
| ka, except here the major portion Of
| the surface is covered thinly with tim
| bers, principally pine, ranging in size
| from four inches to II inches, very tall
and straight, with here and there small
oak and a few other varieties, and a
low growth of palmetto.
| The soil is from a very light sandy
loan to a black sandy, and then on
to a jet black muck, resembling very
much the black waXy land of Texas.
These lands in their variations are
adapted to growing different kinds of
iVegeta bles. On a single five-acre tract
of land may be found all of these va
rious kinds of soils, blending into each
other, without the semblance of a
rock, or even a pebble stone. AS to
productions. will say L have not been
here long enough to speak from expert
ence; but if land that will produce
from 900 to 400 bushels of sweet pO-
tatoeS to the acre, and from 500 to
$500 worth of Irish potatoes, tomatoes,
etc, to the acre, over and above all
expenses, except the cultivation and
marketing, is not good land, then l
don't know what good land is; and
that's what people here tell me it will
do. If persons want to grow straw
berries, lettuce, eggplant, cabbage,
celery, etc, which require much more
attention and labor, they can grow
from $500 to $500 worth to the acre.
Intelligent people who came here from
the Northern States and have been
raising these things tell me this is so;
and / believe them. For citrus fruits
this State leads the Union. Trees are
to be seen in groves around still hang
ing full of ripe oranges and grapefruit.
The weather is soft and clear. 1t is
not as cold as in the North, but so
far as ! know and can learn, it is per-
fectly healthful. Driven wells give
water at from 10 to 20 feet and artesian
water is had at 200 feet. The climate
lis a delight, day and night.
Land in tracts can be had in this sec
tion from IS per acre up to 500, de-
pending upon character, nearness to
town, improvements, etc. 1t is my Opin-
ion this country to-day double discounts
for opportunities and possibilities GEN.
trail Kansas 90 years ago, where L lived
from 1877 to 1894, to say nothing about
the difference in climate, and the lat
ter is worth 4 good deal.
There are fewer flies, gnats and
mosquitoes, in fact, insects of every
kind, than in any place / have ever
lived before.
The first issue of the st. Cloud Trib
une, soon to appear, will print wages
and market tables, and other interest
ing Information. Board and lodging
can be had here as cheaply as in any
Northern town.
We have over 400 houses and tents,
occupied by more than 1900 people,
the growth of five months. Nothing
can stop us from growing. I expect
to see thousands of contented, prosper
Gus and healthy people living in St
Cloud before / am mustered out"
hearty welcome is extended by the
old coffee coolers to all newcomers.
a committee from the Association meets
all trains and aids visitors in finding
stopping places. -
ROBERT ANDERSON,
President Veterans Association.