The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-04-18
FLAGLER'S WORK IN
AND FOR FLORIDA
Saw a Wilderness and
Created an Empire
DESERT MADE GARDEN SPOT

f~ustratlfe Oh the fAiioot 1AAAi'feS'
Possibilities. Not Only OF Florida
But Of tine Whole South.
Editorial Correspondence Manufac-
turers' Record.)
St. Augustine. Fla, March IL.
The man who saw q wilderness ana
out Of it created an empire; who saw
a desert and out Of it made a garden
spet.' might be said of Henry NJ.
F1agler, one OF the greatest developing
geniuses Of this or any other age.
A quarter Of a century ago Mr..
Flagler saw in the East Coast Of
Florida a country without transport
tation facilities and without material
development of any kind. 1t was the
most t~discredited part of the Whole
State in the estimation of the general
public. He turned his attention to
the building of q railroad to Open up
that region and to the construction
OF magnificent hotels in order to fur
nish an incentive to the travelling pub
lie to visit Florida. With unfalterins
faith, and despite the skepticism Of
even his closest friends, who regarded
his investment of millions and tens
of millions OF dollars in the East
Coast as the expenditure Of a vision
AIRY enthusiasm, Mr.. Flagler contin-
ued his work of development. Gath
ering around him men Of ability in
~SA < 1Aid ~ 49,
has given to the world an illustration
Of what energy and enterprise can
accomplish. To the casual observer,
the Last Coast of Florida 25 years
g was probably one Of the most I'M
inviting development prospects in the
whole South. Without transportation
facilities except for a short line from
Jacksonville to st. Augustine, and
two short, d~isjointed pieces of road,
the great stretch of country from
ynal-Snn yiIIN IN Knr West SHh rniIad
in length, was without railroad faci-
sities and without industrial or agri-
cultural advancement. What Mr..
E1agler has achieved in the creation of
an empire is illustrative Of the al
most HmitlesS possibilities, not alone
OF Florida. but Of the whole South.
h same energy, the same capital,
the same fa~r-Seeing vision of q great
leader who can bring things to pass
as Mr.. f1aS1er has done on the East
Coast Of Florida, would duplicate his
achievements throughout the South.
9TH man who bets on the growth
OF the Cnited States and keeps his
debts paid will win financial success
is a statement made by Mr.. Flagler
when asked as to his views on the
past and present business possibilities
of the country.
I'm the year in which I was born"
added Mr.. F1agler, the United States
had only "A miles of railroad. Today
AZ mas nearly 2fv,V0V Niles. Inc mar
yelOus XpansiO in railroad Develop
ment during my lifetime, as indicated
in these figures, is only typical of the
vast expansio1 in every line OF human
activity. Wonderful, however, as has
been the development OF business and
amazing as has been the growth Of
our country in the past. the future is
destined to show a still more wonder
fuI expansion. Instead of our country
having attained unto the zenith Of It's
so,ne have assumed, We are only in
the infancy OF our growth. The pos
sibilities Of the future far exceed all
that has been achieved.
Never in human history has there
been such a limitless scope for men
Of broad horizon. Of energy and we'll
directed enterprise as there is today,
and as the future will continue to
open up to coming generations. For
the individual nan there is. I am
sure. a broader field Of activity, with
greater opportunities for fame and
for fortune than the past ever at
forded to those who have achieved
success. The limitless OF
our country awaiting development will
furnish opportunities for profitable
employment and for the creation Of
wealth beyond the dreams even of the
most far-seeing optim;st of today.
While the development Of the
whole country affords scope for CAPT
Of the South is climate. soil
and mineral advantages, and in
geographical position for
will enable this section to create
greater business development and
greater wealth than that OF the en-
tire country today. My own exper-
tence In the development of the Easi
Coast of Florida is. / believe. typical
of the possibilities Of the South.
Though I thought l had measured
the growth of this section
it's advancement has far xceed my
anacApstions. Outside OF the erea,
rush into Oklahoma. some l. or Is