The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-02-13
"FlOrida the Marvellous"
Governor Albert w. Gilchrist

The Chicago Examiner of February
6, 1910, published, with numerous
striking Illustrations. the following ar
ticle from the pen of Governor Albert
w. Gilchrist, under the heading Flor
ida, the Marvellous"
Florida exetnds through 420 miles
north and south, being bounded on
the east by the Atlantic Ocean and
the greater portion of it on the west
by the Gulf of Mexico. It's soil and
climate render it friendly to the pro-
duction Of corn, oats and other &C.
reals, long and short cotton and all
kinds OF vegetables, tropical and semi
tropical fruits.
1t is one of the most healthfuI
states in the union. The death rate,
according to the last census by the
state of Florida, is Sc per thousand.
The registration area of the United
States, including the New England
States, New York, New Jersey, Della
ware and the District of Column bia,
has death rate of 17.8 per thousand.
In England, Scotland and Wales it is
IS, in Italy it is 211. To my mind
one of the most important pieces of
information for an intending settler
is the health.
Much attention is being given in
| many of the Western states to irri-
cation. There is no part of Florida
in which good artesian water cannot
be found. These wells vary in depth
| from about sixty to 400 feet Through
! its rivers and lakes, Florida is I'M
doubtedly the best watered state in
all the union. Irrigation for farming
purposes can therefore be cheapIy
done; however. irrigation is rarely
used. The artesian water is always
! healthful and free from microbes.
Though not corn state, in several
| portions of the state from fifty to one
| hundred bushels of corn per acre is
raised.
AS to the production of cotton, both
i long staple and short, it is also pecu-
| liar1y adapted. No wheat is raised.
| Peavine and beggar weed hay are now
regarded as good hay as can be pro-
duced anywhere in the world
Early Vegetables and Nuts Extensive,
Iy Grown.
In some of the northern counties
| in particular, pecan nuts are being
grown extensively, in one county
there being as many as 5000 acres
| planted in such. Early vegetables
are grown extensively for northern
markets. the soil in most cases pro-
| ducing $50 to 500 crates; from $50 70
| 200 bushels Of sweet potatoes most
anywhere in the state. The people in
some parts of the state seem to con-
centrate on certain kinds of vegeta-
| bles. in one community hundreds OF
car loads OF Irish potatoes being rails
| ed. in others celery, others tomatoes
| in others a variety of stuff Some
communities plant almost exclusively
! straw berries.
In the southern portion of the state
citrus fruits and other tropical and
semi-tropical fruits are grown ex.
| tensively. Of the several trunk lines
of railroad in Florida, one alone ex,
poets to ship $4,000 car loads of truck
and fruits this season. Cattle, sheep
| poultry, horticulture and agriculture
| flourish throughout the state. Manu-
! factories, mining and fisheries of the
state are rapidly developing. In 1905
| the manufactured products represent
ed SS7 per capita of the population
of the state. Florida is shipping now
about one-half of the phosphate mined
in the United States. There are also
mines of fuller's earth and fine clay
| for nottery. Its various nrnducts ars