The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-04-03
THROUGH ALABAMA
and FLORIDA
J. p. Conner Tells of His Trip From
New Orleans Through Alabama
and Georgia to Florida.
JACKSONVILLE A THRIVING CITY
Lakeland District One of Orange
Groves and Grape Fruit-Straw-
berries 10 Cents per Box.

IN my former letter what l had t
say related to what l saw in New O.
leans and vicinity. now desire t
mention what came under my obsel
walton after leaving New Orleans TO
Alabama and Florida. We took tn
train on the night OF February 21s
for Dothan, Ala, stopping off at Mont
gomery, the capital of the state, wher,
we arrived the following morning
and where we spent the greater par
OF the day. The trip was made from
New Orleans to Montgomery in VIC
lent storm OF wind and rain, which
ragged all night long, not only in Ala
bama, but over all the southern states
and the Gulf Of Mexico, the wind at
several places assuming the form of 8
cyclone and doing an immense amount
OF damage, both on land and water
The wind blew gale during the day
while we were in Montgomery, the
weather growing cold toward evening
and making it uncomfortable to go
about the city.
Montgomery is beautiful city of
$4,000 people, located on high ground
which furnishes'sp splendid natural drain
age 1t is said to be healthful place
where many people from the north go
to spend their winters. The schools
fNf tho rify oS ohou
ter, better than in many other parts
OF the south. We visited Methodist
college, which is located in the outer
limits of the city.
Dothan, Ala, where we spent sever
al days, is one of the young but pro-
gressive cities of the state with pop
ulation of seven or eight thousand
people, and at this time is growing
rapidly. There are three strong bank
ing institution, all doing a satisfac-
tory business. Manufacturing of var.
ious kinds is carried on, although coal
has to be brought for considerable dis
tances. There are three large public
school buildings for the white popula-
ton in addition to the schools for the
colored people. The towns and cities
of the state have apparently surpassed
the rural districts in growth and de-
velOpment, but OF late years consid-
cradle interest is shown in placing the
land under cultivation. Cotton is
raised extensively, although Alabama
is not one of the leading cotton states
On leaving Dothan we soon passed
out of Alabama into Georgia, crossing
over the southern portion of the state
as far, as Waycross. Georgia is the
greatest cotton producing state in the
union, according to its territory. Corn
is also raised, the average yield be-
ing quite as large, if not larger, than
the yield in Iowa. 1t is, however,
more expensive to produce corn there
en- account of the high price paid for
fertilizing the soil.
The farmers Of Georgia seem to
hold over those of Alabama and Of
the other states of the south and west
1t is rare thing to see a farmer at
work in the field with a single mule
and rope harness as in Mississippi and
Louisiana. Modern machinery is en-
ployed, producing better results.
We entered Florida soon after leav-
ing Waycross and found ourselves in
Jacksonville, the gateway and chief
city of Florida Almost everyone who
comes from the north to visit the
state must pass through Jacksonville,
where large amount of northern cap
ital is invested. 1t is northern capital
which is pushing the city along at
tremendous rate of development. The
banking institutions are quite the
equal of the best found in large north
ern cities. The hotels are not sur
passed in size and comfort in cities
of like size anywhere in the country.
Manufacturing is carried on extens
lively and with profit to the investors.
After spending two days in Jackson
Vile we started south, stopping for
few days at Green Cove Springs,
where thousands of northern people
visit during the year in order to Sc
cure benefits from the waters of
famous sulphur spring found here.
From here we passed on south through
Sanborn, the center of the celery in
dustry, to Orlando, one of the oldest
and best cities OF central Florida,
where we spent day at sight seeing,
after which we visited for a week or