The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-07-12
FACTORS IN
DEVELOPMENT
OF FLORIDA
MRS. POTTER PALMER, AFTER
WORLD TRAVEL, CHOOSES WEST
COAST OF FLORIDA.

Z
/ H. H. Richardson, secreary Of the
Board of Trade, Jacksonville, Fla,
having read one Of the recent articles
printed in the Sunday Patriot about
the climate and products Of that
great peninsula State, in form almost
the counterpart of the lower penin-
sula of Michigan, writes to the edi-
tor of this paper. under date Of June
29, that he has read with much in
terest your articles upon Florida.
Permit me to thank you for the splen-
did way in which you have set forth
the opportunities of this State. I
consider that you have been quite
conservative, and that doubtless the
article will be of considerable bene-
ct to Florida.
In ali the articles that have been
printed the writer has been conscious
OF purpose not to overstate the at
fractions and opportunities that Flor
ida offers to those who contemplate 4
permanent change Of residence, now
that, through the construction Of
railroads and the natural trend Of
population, for economic reasons, to
milder climates, an awakening to Z
new life and a larger destiny has
taken place.
Quite responsibility rests on thcse
who induce people. even when theE.
minds are made UP that they would
| like to live in miider climate, to
make the change involved in going
south twelve hundred miles to build
e home. The interests of the colon
lists and the State are identical. In
State like Florida, where there is
much poor land, it is the plain duty
of those who are concerned for its
welfare, to see that the newcomers
are not deceived. A State, or par
ticular locality in a State, gains by
the coming of every person who finds
conditions as represented and what
he was led to expect, and loses BY
the coming Of every one who is dis
appointed and dissatisfied.
Florida has not, it seems to me,
been taken as seriously by northern
people as it deserves. Much OF it
has very crude look, and a great
deal Of its land is very poor. Henry
M. Flagier has been one Of the few
men who saw in Florida, rough and
raw as much Of it was and is yet,
that its climate, products and Ioca-
tion were natures materials out of
which man could create a veritabIe
paradise. He visited it first for his
health, he saw with clear vision the
opportunities offered, he based the in
vestment Of a great fortune upon his
Judgment, and during the summers
and winters for several years the
work went on to completion of one Of
the most remarkable railway enter
prises in the world, bringing Cuba.
Central and South America and the
Panama canal into close and rapid
connection with the expanding COM
merce of the United States
Another northern man, Henry B.
Plant, also the possessor Of a clear
vision, started out to do for the west
coast of the State what Mr.. Flagler
has, for quarter of a century. been
doing for the east coast, but while
his plans were in their formative
stage he passed to his reward, and no
other genius for achievement, match
ing Plant and Flagler, has appeared
on the scene Of west coast activity
and development. What Plant plan
ned and partly executed has become
the Atlantic Coast Line Co., which is
now building a new road in Polk and
DeSoto counties Of South Florida
Mr.. FlagIer is also building a new
north and south line of ITO miles
to develop the interior Of the State
During the years that these great
trunk lines and their branches ana
orange and grapefruit grower; and
with this essential point kept in
view, taking the least risk, there is
no portion Of the State that equals.
in all respects. the newer sections Of
feeders have been under construc-
tion complaints Of the severe heat Of