The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-18
THE WONDERFUL PROGRESS
AND PROMISE OF FLORIDA
BY w.
By Governor Albert w. Gilchrist.

The mainland Of Florida extend
north and south through 400 miles.
The insular possessions extern
seventyAwo miles, making 472 miles
from the extreme northern to the ex-
treme southern end Of tao state. II L;
bounded oc the east by ere AtlaIts:
ocean. OH the south by the Atlantic
ocean and the Cuff of Mexico, and OF
the west by the Cult of Mexico, ex-
cept for q distance Of forty-five miles.
where IL Is bounded by the state Of
Alabama.
Owing to its extending through 472
miles Of latitude, and owing to water
protection, a great diversity Of pro-
ducts are raised In the state. In fact,
II Is the only state In which are
shipped to the market standard crops
every month In the year. In the
more northern portions of the state
there are what are known as the red
clay hills. In some Of these coun-
ties the country 10 very undulating,
hill and dale, many running streams.
On these lands, corn. tobacco. sugar
CSue. bay and all kinds Of vegetables
are raised. Though not claimed a.
. compromising state, yet where skill
and intelligence have been exercised
eighty-five, ninety. and a. much as
ITO bushels of corn have been raised
TO the AGRA The red clay soil could
be easily made to produce as much
OF the staple crops a. are produced
on similar lands anywhere In the
United States. As much as 100
1900 pounds TO the acre Of high-grade
n.
grade tobacco 10 also grown In some
OF the southern counties, and on
candy soil This is far from being
an exceptional production. In many
Of these more northern counties large
pecan trees are in evidnce. showing
the adaptabflity Of tho soil to their
growth. In one county alone there
are fully 5000 acres planted in Pc
can trees. Sea island cotton or long
staple cotton Is successfully raised
Sr several Of the counties of tho state.
Some Of the farmers have begun to
use tho Western plan Of converting
corn. chufas, and potatoes into hogs
and into stock.
SOUTH FLORIDA.
In the more central portions OF the
state. corn, cotton, tobacco and sugar
cane are also ratsed. Many Of these
counties, however. engage In truck
growing. finding Y very profitable. In
the southern counties Of the state cot
ton is not raised However. am sat-
isfied. from isolated instances, that
cotton would do well; Still, people
have turned their attention to sugar
cane, truck raising and fruit. growing,
ard 20 cattle The people OF florida
apparently localize a certain indus
try. in one community the growing
OF Irish potatoes Is q great indus
try. In other portions Of the state
these potatoes are grown and grown
very profitable. yet the growing Of
such potatoes Is a mere incident. In
another portion Of the state celery IL
the main crop; another strawberries,
another tomatoes. etc. Thus in some
communities II seems as II an the
vegetables are grown. no ono particu-
lar crop being peculiar to that par
ticular community.
Thirty-five to forty years ago there
were practically no vegetables shipped
from Florida. and but little fruit. Re-
Gently an oficer Of one Of the three
or four trunk lines In Florida inform
ed me that his road alone shipped in
one season over $4,000 carloads of
fruits and vegetables. The cities Of
the northern part Of Florida are dis
tant from New York a little over a
day. putting fruits and vegetables In
the northern and eastern markets by
express trains and refrigerator cars
practically fresh.
Florida has zoo miles Of sea coast.
The fishing industry Is necessarily
very large. Fish IL shipped by ex.
press on Ice, to various portions OF
the country, as far north as New
fcrl~ and to Chicago In the central
northwest. We are, therefore. fur
nishing the brain food to many peo.
pie Of the United States. The citrus
fruits. oranges, grapefruit and lemons
are not only pleasant to the taste
and beautiful to the sight, but are
very healthful. Most of these fruits
are enemies to the germs Of fever.
Owing to her climatic conditions.
Florida Is annually shipping many
thousands trainloads OF vegetables to
the various portions Of the United
States In the fall. winter and early
spring. The warm rays OF the winter
sun. the pearl Of the dewdrops, the
rnoisture-ladeu gulf and Atlantic
breezes. have all been Fioridaized in
our marvellous fruits and vegetables.
We. therefore. annually send out Is.
100 to 100000 carloads OF delicious
and hcalth-g1ving delights to the peo.
pie OF many states Of our great coun.
try.
HEALTHY STATE.
Years ago the health and general
natural conditions Of Florida were
Inisrepresented. People had an idea
that the entire southern part of the
state was composed almost exclusive
1y OF swamps. alligators and malaria.
The death rate as shown BY the Flor.