The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-11-08
parison Of products from different 10

parison of products from different To-
calities.
The fair represents principally a
collection of the works o. '-dustry
of the men, and Of the art and the
work Of the women, of South Alabama
and West Flrida.
"Our institution had It's birth = lit
tie over year ago, when the Mer-
chants Association of Pensacola de-
c1ded that it would be good thing to
have fair. To think was to act, and
as result the Tri-County Fair of a
year ago was successfully exploited.
The results Of that effort were so
satisfactory that it was decided to
have a fair bigger In it's scope and
bigger in every way. The present
program for week Of entertainment,
exhibition and instruction is the re-
suit. The Tri-County Fair was sue
cess, and there is no doubt in my
mind but that the Pensacola Inter-
state Fair will be a big success in
every way. This Interstate Fair is
a permanent organization chartered
ny tIS Sldle anu Is Oh SplSuUlU
working basis
And right here / want to pay a
tribute to that energetic. fndefatiga-
w. Storrs, general manager of this
fair. Providence was eood to us
when 1t directed that he should be-
come a. citizen of West Florida, there
by placing him within our reach, and,
in my judgment, if every county in
Southern Alabama and West Florida
were fortunate enough to have a few
Of his kind within their confines, the
proper development of this great sec
tlon would be greatly accelerated.
My friends, the department Of ag.
riculture in their published reports,
state that Florida produces more dol
| lars in value, by $17.00 per acre, in
agricultural and horticultural pro-
ducts, than any state in the Union.
California standing second. i
THE reason is not because of the
richness of the soil, but because Ma
ture has practically placed a green
house over the state, thereJy endbnn
the -ormer to grow his products at sea
sons of the year when other sections
Of our country cannot produce them,
and consequently growers here can
secure big prices for their produce.
In other words, our greatest asset is
our climate. 1t is my belief that the
great section Of country. commencing
in southwest Georgia and middle Flor.
ida, and extending across west Flor
ida and southern Alabama and south
ern Mississippi, is capable of great
er development, agriculturally at
least, than is west Florida
THE clay sub-soil lands which are
the prevailing type in this section are
richer and can be relied on for staple
crops, such as corn, sugar cane, cot
ton. tobacco, potatoes. etc. The soil
is friable and easily titled. The rain
fall is equable and conditions are
healthful to a remarkable degree.
PENSACOLA THE CENTER.
Pensacola is the natural CONNER
| cial center Of this great section, and
! it is fitting that this fair should be
held on the shores of the greatest har-
| Dor in the south.
| Il have seen great results from the
fair of year ago. Farm land values
have increased considerably in the
last year, and farmers are using i'm
proved methods and machinery, and
many new farms have been start
| ed.
! The exhibition and opportunity
for comparison cannot fail to stimu
late the spirit of emulation in every
farmer who visits the fair. The farm
er is the best citizen the country has
today, and in the south especially
he Is coming into his own.
The day of the saw mill and the
| logging camp is fast passing away
and the era of real development is al
hand. In my, minds eye see land
thlckly settled with prosperous farm
ers. with widely titled acres, substan
tlal homes and we'll filled barns, Of
which the time is not far distant
| when it can well be compared tt
Tennyson's Island of Avilzon.
Where falls not hail nor sleet mol
any snow,
Nor ever wind blows loudly, but lies
deep, meadowed
Happy, fair, with orchards, lawns an6
howery meadows
! crowned with summer seas.
ADDRESS OF THE MAYOR.
hon. Frank Reilly. mayor of Pen
sacola, who followed Mr. Stillman, at
ter extending hearty welcome Il
| the visitors from all sections of tbs
country. heartily CONGRATULATED tn;
management OF. the Fair upon tbs
wonderful showing, which had beer
made and the success, already assur
ed, which was SO well deserved. HI
| briefly detailed the history of the
Fair and referred to the exposition o
last year as the first step in the di
! rection of an annual exposition of tn
t products of West Florida and Souti
Alabama, an institution which woult
be Of wonderful and ever increasin:
benefit to the entire gulf coast coun
try. He spoke of the men whose la
boTs had contributed so greatly to
, ward making the Fair a success ant
L.. :,