The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-12-14
Lakeland'S Growth
Advantages And
Opportunities

The Tampa Tribune issued it's an
nual Christmas number yesterday in
which appeared descriptive articles
of the various towns of South Flor
ida. The following story of Lake.
lands growth and its advantages,
written by the correspondent here,
also appeared:
1t is impossible to see Lakeland
without coming to Florida. 1t is
equally impossible to see Florida
without coming to Lakeland. This
is a strong statement to make, but
there is strong proof to back up the
statement. The hundreds of people
who are coming to Florida, as soon
as they reach Lakeland and take suf-
ficient time to see the town and sur
rounding country, say they have not
..seen anything in the whole State
which looks so good to them. With
an altitude of 227 feet, in the CEN
ter Of rolling country, affording an
excellent watershed, with nine lakes
within her corporate limits and
hundreds in close vicinity, the city
of Lakeland truly makes a gem in
, magnificent setting. The rich and
fertile lands tributary to the city
are the backbone of the town and
assure a large population in the near
future.
Only fifteen years ago Lakeland
Ehad little over 1000 people; in
1910 the population had grown to
3,719, while at the close of the year
1914 there are almost 5000 inhabi-
tants, not counting winter visitors.
No boom, as may readily be seen, but
Ia steady, healthy growth. The people
are cosmopolitan and progressive.
The churches and schools are among
the best in the South; the business
houses are a credit to city ten
times the size; hotels, including a
large fireproof modern structure re-
fcently erected. offer the best in the
lway of comfortable accommodations
at reasonable rates; three banks of
hunquestioned stability; residences
(which are the pride of her people
land the envy of her visitors; miles
iof paved streets, sanitary sewerage,
Jup-to-date fire equipment, municipal
sownership of light and water plant
including absolutely pure water
smodern white way serving the whole
; of the business section. one of the
largest play houses in the South
two excellent newspapers, one Of the
best equipped and up-to-date print.
ling plants in the country, large
number of small but growing indus
ftries and a big railroad payroll dis.
bursed monthly; these are some o.
the features which keep those will
fus who are attracted to US.
/ Lakeland has long been known fol
1.-THE excellent quality Of her citrus
fruits, and the big shipments Of lus
cious Strawberries in the winte,
months go to cater to the epicurea,
of the North who Is willing to pa!
well for what he wants. Not da!
in the year which is not a growing
day. Something can be produced
in this soil and climate every day
: Property values are only high whel
not compared with those elsewher'
in the State and who shall say tina
a grapefruit grove which produce
!, in one season $1,000 worth Of frui
lis high at $500, or that land 4
high at 500 an acre upon whicl
, lsuch fruit may be grown? The writ
!. Ter paid soc for quart Of straw
. berries a few days ago and tn
= grower expected to have 900
. quarts from his two acres and 70
= which he would averege zoe a guar
at the depot platform, this being hi
: last years record.
i This Is no place or country for
: poor man who does not know how
. Granted a little money, which on
e lmust have anywhere, reasonabl
n knowledge of how to grow and wha
Ito grow and proper intelligence i
the marketing of his crop and tn
D farmer in this section must make
I comfortable living because nature
D cooperating with him every minut
s land there is hungry mouth for ev
t Iery bit he can produce.
The Lakeland Board Of Trade ez