The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1911-04-14
[ROGRESS0 OF
| SOUTH RAPID
|sorv NJ. Flagler Expresses Ills
C;o.vs in Manufacturers Record
|As1 COASTS GROWTH
l,s,,o Florida Railroad Man. Has Seen
|o.,I,osds Grow From "a to 100000
Miles During His Life

Harry NJ. Flagler expresses IN an IN
rview in last week S issue of the Man
aotnrcr's Record the CONVICTION that
. nrogress of this country in the com.
vears will far exceed that of the last
Bsyter of a century, and that the next
arter of century Of material devel-
bment belongs to the South, the re.
nrcss of which in climate, soil and
neral advantages and in geographical
rst;on for commerce will enable it to
sate greater business development
"A greater wealth than that of the en-
~ country today. Mr.. Flagler is in
rested in the completion of the extern
IN Of his railroad across the Florida
IVA and in the building of 10 miles of
ew road through the center of the
ate. and says that, were it not for
(at he would Immediately undertake
Ie double tracking Of his system which
il satisfied must be done within the
ext few years. -,
"In the year in which ! was born,
bded Mr.. Flagler, 1.-THE United States
Id only twenty:four miles'of railroad.
bday t has nearly 240. 900 miles. The
Marvellous expansion in railroad devel.
bment during my lifetime, as indicated
these figures, is only typical of the
hst expansion in every line, of human
etivitv. Wonderful, however, as has
len the development of business and
mazing as has been the growth of our
buntry in the past, the future is des-
ned to show still more wonderful ex-
hnsion. Instead of our country hav-
y attained unto the zenith of its ma
erial progress and prosperity, as some
hve assumed, we are only in the in
kncy of our growth. The possibilities
4 the future far exceed all that has
Rer been achieved.
"Never in human history. has there
Zen such limitless scope, for men of
road horizon. of energy and we'll direc-
I'D enterprise as there is today, and as
be future will continue to open up to
pming generations. For the individual
ban, there is, am sure, a broad field
4 activity, with greater opportunities
pr fame and for future than the past
Yer afforded to those who have achieved
(ccess. The limitless resources of our
buntry awaiting development will furn-
Ph opportunities for profitable employ
bent and for the creation Of wealth be-
ond the dreams of the most farseeing.
while the development of the whole
ountry affords scope for capital and en-
rgy, believe that the resources of the
'outh in climate, soil and mineral ad-
antages, and in geographical position
pr commerce, will enable this section
create greater business. development
nd greater wealth than that of the en-
Ire country today. My own experience
! the development of the East Coast of
'!orida, is, believe, typical of the pos
Utilities of the South. Though thought
had measured the probable growth of
his section, its advancement has far
Exceeded my anticipations., Outside of
ne great rush into Oklahoma. seven
zen years ago. and one or two similar
lovements of population in the history
our country, nothing like the present
'ovement to Florida has ever been
nown III the United States.
TWO weeks ago the East Coast rail-
Dad carried into the Fort Lauderdale
ectlon OF Southern Florida over 5000
len from the North and West. who went
mere to select lands previously pur-
nased from one of the land companies
peratlng in that section. There were
amped on the ground at one time near
o'oOO men, living in tents, arranging
secure their allotment under the pur,-
hase plan. My advices are that these
zen are of the most substantial char
cter OF Western and Northwestern
armers and business men. Another
'mpany has recently sold. in tracts Of
. 70 twenty acres tn Western people
Dody OF $4,000 acres of land.
Ihe growth of the East Coast, which
Seyeloplng much more rapidly than
nas been possible to provide railroad
sc,l'tles for, is indicated in the fact
;a ITO on Sunday night last in a distance
oOV miles we had thirty-twO loaded
'e'ght trains going in both directions,
~ last night we had ON the line l8O
.rloads of miscellaneous merchandise
ON Jacksonville bound down the road
.ne Fort Pierce section. In order to
'eet TINS rapid grow tn of business we
= now building nineteen miles Of sid.
~, ana have placed an order for %
ssavy locomotives of the Pacific type.
,ere It not for the fact that | am now
Irving out the building of ITO miles
,ss contract to be completed not later
~ october. 1912. through the center
,ne state to the head Of Lake Oke-
'o, n addition to the Key West ex-
I" would Immediately undertake
:. ooIole tracking of the entire sys.
~, ~ which am satisfied must he done
~. .'n the next few years in order to
'. ~, the rapid expansion in traffic
toe growth Of business on the East
vsst line Is Indicated in the fact that