The Penn's Grove record., 1912-04-05
Sees Great Prospects In Florida
March 30, 1912.


My DEAR EDITOR
Upon my return to Penn's Grove last
| spring from Panama, many of my friends,
subscribers to the RECORD, inquired why
| had not written All open letter to the
RECORD telling of that country. These
inquiries having embodied me to write
you the following concerning Jackson
vile, Florida's metropolis:
| have been living in Jacksonville seven
months and have become fairly familiar
with the city. 1t is a city we'll worth the
most minute description, but your space
| will not permit such. | shall attempt to
give you in a few words a comprehensive
view OF the city and its growth.
In 1910 the present city OF Jacksonville
was founded on the northwest bank of
the st. Johns river, twenty-seven miles
from where it empties into the Atlantic
Ocean. This is the narrowest place in
the river for over one hundred miles from
its mouth. The city is located inside a
sharp pend OF the river, and has more
than seven miles OF water front. Natur-
ally it is one of the greatest shipping
cities OF the South. Five lines of steam
ships maintain regular connections with
the principal Atlantic ports OF the United
States, including Baltimore, Philadel-
phia, New York and Boston. During
the past year over 5000 vessels entered
and cleared from the port OF Jacksonville.
In 1901 a great fire swept the town, de-
stroying fifteen million dollars worth of
property in the heart of the city. The
day after the fire rebuilding began, and
from May 4th, 1901 to date over 10000
building permits have been issued, the
estimated value of which is over 1872, OOO,-
900, a daily average OF over So, 200 worth
Of buildings constructed. That's going
some, isn't it?
The population of the city has ~increas-
ed from 80, 600 at the time of the fire to
over 10000 at present. Besides this
permanent population the hotels of the
city afford accommodations for over $500
tourists and commercial travellers. Since
! the fire Jacksonville's post-office receipts
have increased from $50, 900 to over $500
900; and her imports and exports from
$500, 900 to over 50, 500, 900.
might 60 on indefinitely ennmerating
the particulars OF the growth of our little
great city. But you will ask what has
caused this unprecedented growth. The
answer is Florida's agricultural develop
ment. | can safely say that ten years
ago tilCIO NCIG NCIy lew Vi iO SIdt6S Ill
the Union with a less acreage of farms
than Florida. At the same time they
lay wild and untouched, except by tile
lumber and turpentine men, millions and
millions OF acres of as fertile land AS can
be found in Salem County. There are
to-day in central Florida uncultivated
lands several times the area OF New Jer-
| sey. These lands are rich in soil and
richer in climate. Two, three or four
crops IL year can be harvested. Thous-
ands OF people are coming into the state
| daily to settle these lands. They can be
bought for from one dollar per acre to
one thousand dollars per acre. Yon
might he surprised to learn that Florida
is the largest State east OF the Mississippi
river. Its present population is one Of
the smallest, but 1t is growing faster than
any other State not only in population
! but also in products and wealth. This
substantial agricultural growth, which
has really just begun, is what has caused
the great growth OF Jacksonville.
There are several Jerseynhen down this
way already, and | hope for their sake to
see more soon. Mr.. and Mrs. W. A..
Sack and Mr.. Benjamin F~eatherer are
located here in Jacksonville. Mr.. and
Mrs. j. p. higgins and Mr.. Harold Rig
gins are dow at Winter Haven, below
the frost belt. And Mr.. J. F. Thompson
al daughter Lou are at Hallandale. This
is a northern state. the northerners nave
captured it without sword or gun. And
it is as hard to find a native Floridian
here as it is to find a New Yorker in New
York.
In conclusion let me say to all: Come
down and see for yourself. If you want
to buy farm or city land see the land
first. DON'T buy a swamp or gopher hill,
or sand dune or black jack ridge sight I'M
seen from some rascal, and when you
find o you have been stung cnss out
the whole South. Land OH paper is al
ways the most fertile and desirable; but
it is sure disappointment to the purchas-
er. Come down and look the State over.
A thousand acres can be bought for
SD, 800, and i'll twenty years will sell for
500, 600. Taxes are low. What more
can you ask? | am not a real estate deal
err and have no AK to grind. But | just
wait to say in conclusion that every man
in Penn's Grove could be independently
rich in twenty years by investing a few
hundred dollars in Florida farm lands
now. With best wishes | am,
Sincerely,
VIM. ii. ROGERS.
p. S. We have been wearing our
straw hats now for several weeks; snm
mer is here and strawberries.
D