Newark post., 1912-03-13
PEOPLES COLUMN
A LETTER FROM FLORIDA
Mr.. Rose gives interesting observations

Editor Newark Post. Newark.
Delaware, Dear Sir: Thinking
possibly a letter from the State of
Sunshine and Flowers would be of
some interest to you. | will give YOU
some Of the data gathered on my
trip. We left home February -.
arriving at Saratosa Monday 26th,
at noon. This town is located about
so miles south Of Tampa on the
Saratosa Bay, near the Gulf
Stream. 1t has a delightful eli
mate, good fishing and cunning,
but one has to look out for rattle
snakes for they have them here.
The bird dogs as well as persons
are sometimes bitten. Two dogs
were bitten during my stay. There
is plenty of quail in the locality,
the cunning law expiring March
first.
Mr.. Edwards. IA real estate man,
took us for an auto trip, visiting
many orange and grape fruit
groves. one of which is owned by a
Delaware man.--Alr. James Pom
der. Not finding Mr.. Ponder at
home we were shown over the place
and were treated to the delicious
fruit grown there. He has about
fifty acres i'll bearing now and is
planting ten more. owning over 300
acres in all. | think Mr.. Ponder
will have IA very profitable invest
ment in a few years.
Anyone wishing to purchase any
property III that Manatee county
will do well to consult Mr.. Ed
wards. who is Il native cracker with
thirty years experience in Florida
land, and | think one who will give
a square deal and advice as to what
to purchase. This you cannot say
of many i'll the real estate business
in this State. He advises no one to
purchase until they have visited
and inspected the land. Many pur-
chase from advertisement and when
they look for the land find it worth
less-sOmetimes under water.
After spending four days at this
point we returned to Tampa. This
is the second largest city in the
State. We noted many improve
ments since our last visit of two
years ago. We have returned to
Jacksonville, the most progressive
city in the State. We note many
changes and improvements since
our last visit here, many beautiful
homes and large business build
ings going up. The city has in
! creased in population during the
last four years by $4,000. 1t now
numbers 10000 The growth of
the entire State has been great. If
not taking too much of your time
to read. / shall give You a few of
the figures showing just what |
have gathered in that line since
coming here. Dates given are from
1880 to 1912.
Population, 1880. 100000; 1911,
| 777.OOO. Manufacturing capital,
$3,OO0,OO0; $65,000,OO0. Manu-
factured products, S5,0OO.OOO;
$72.O0O,OOO. Lumber cut, 247,-
100000 feet; 992.OOO,OOO feet.
Value of farm buildings, $2O,OO0,-
600; $117.OOO,OOO. Mineral pro-
duets, $500; $9.OOO.OOO. Rail.
road mileage. SIS; 1912. Deposits
in banks, $4,000; $53, 100000
Value Of property. $12O.0OO,OOO
5000. 100000. l have gathered this
data from reliable sources and
think them about correct.
This surprising growth. | think
will lead most any State. Lest some
may be misled by the above figures
| shall give you another side
Thousands of colonists are coming
to Florida, lured by false hopes
and promises, to eventually return
and spread the news Of their disap
pointment, together with many un
true things about the State. Will,
, it is fact that anyone who take.
seriously and believes all the de
ceptive and fabulous stories O.
Florida wealth and opportunit,
compiled in the literature Of com
panies whose only desire is to sci
their land. in a measure is deserv
ing Of the failure and disappoint
: ment almost sure to follow, it j:
also true that these deceiving state