The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1910-03-11
FLORIDA THE
MARVELLOUS
Interesting Communication From
Pen of Governor GiIChriSt
HAS MANY ADVANTAGES
Record of HeaIthfuIoess Not tquaIed By
Any State or foreign Country Pos
sibilities OF, Soil and Climate.

The following article from the pen of
Governor Albert w. Gilchrist, appeared
in a recent issue of the Chicago Daily
Examiner:
"Florida extends through 42O miles
north and south, being bound on the
east by the great Atlantic Ocean and
the greater portion of it on the west by
the Gulf of Mexico. Its soil and elm
ate render it friendly to the production
of corn, oats and other cereals, long
and short cotton and all kinds of vege-
tables, and tropical and semi-tropical
fruits.
Il is one of the most healthful states
in the Union. The death rate, accord
ing to the last census by the State of
Florida, is &C per thousand. The
registration area of the United States,
including the New England States,
New York, New Jersey, Delaware and
the District of Columbia, has a death
rate of l7.8 per thousand. In England,
Scotland and Wales it is lS, in Italy it
is 2l.l. TO my mind, one of the most
important pieces of information for an
intending settler in the health.
Much attention is being given in
many of the Western states to irriga-
ton Therei is no part of Florida where
good artesian water cannot be found.
These wells vary in depth from about
sixty to 400 feet. Through its rivers
and lakes. Florida is undoubtedly the
best watered state, in all the Union.
Irrigation for farming purposes can
therefore he cheaply done; however,
irrigation is rarely used. The artesian
water is always heaIthful and free from
microbes.
Though not corn state in several
portions of the state from, fifty to 100
bushels of corn per acre is raised.
As to the production of cotton, both
long staple and short, it is also peculiar
ly adapted. No wheat is raised. Pea
vine and beggAr weed hay are now re.
gartled as good hay as can be produced
anywhere in the world
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 extensive
~ for Northern Iniarkets, :the soil IN
most cases producing from 25O to 50O
crates; from l5O to 200 bushels OF
sweet potatoes most anywhere in the
state. The people in some parts of the
state seem to concentrate on certain
kinds of vegetables, in one community
hundreds of carloads of Irish potatoes
being raised, in others celery, others
tomatoes, in others variety OF stuff.
Some communities plant almost en-
clusively Strawberries
In the Southern portion Of the, state
citrus fruits and other tropical and semi
tropical fruits are grown extensively.
Of the several trunk lines of railroad IN
Florida, one alone expects to ship Z5,-
goo carloads of truck and fruits this
season. Cattle. sheep, poultry, hortl-
culture and agriculture flourish through
out the state. Manufactures, mining
and fisheries of the state are rapidly
developing. In 1906 the manufactured
products represented $S7 per capita OF
the population of the state. Florida Is
shipping now about one half of the phos-
phate mined in the United States.
There are also mines of fuller's earth
and fine clay for pottery. Its various
products are second to none In the
Union.
There are 1900. miles of seacoastt,
Ranging from the ocean to the gun,
modifying the climate ~ the winter
land making it cool and delightful IN the
summer. The climate is a big asset IN
the wealth and growth of the state.
Owing to it's salubrity, much vital force
has been added to many persons; the
lives of persons who could not live else
where have been heightened. No one
can estimate the value to the country
in the lengthening of the lives OF men
land women possessing strength ana
force of intellect and OF character-five
ten or twenty years on account OF the
mere fact of their living in Florlda.3 4
Our soil produces as much per acre OF
the product TO which it is suited as any
state in the United States. In many
counties in Florida from zOo TO oo1
crates of vegetables are easily produced
to the acre, 800 to !, 900 quasts OF straw
Berries, 80 to $50 bushels Of Irish pota-
TOES, 100 to $50 bushels of sweet potis-
Toes. etc. Lands are very similar 10
men. Some lands are better SUIT 10
produce certain results than others, as
some men are better fitted to accomp-
lish certain results than are some
others.
l remember once talking to gentle
nan from Illinois. in the conversation
he Was speaking of the productlveness
pf tho corn lands of Illinois and depre-
Eating the non pr0ductiveness OF the
poll ION which fe was standing re
plated that the lands in Illinois woald
produce about fifty to seventy-nye
bushels Of corn to the acre, or between