The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-06-14
Largest in West Florida
Subdivisions, a Leader il
Progress and Prosperity
Wealthy in Natural Re
sources, Development is
Going on Rapidly.

The wonderful farming lands of
middle Tennessee find rival in the fer
tile soil of Jackson county, Florida,
largest of the West Florida sub diVl-
sions and not only one Of the Oldest
from point of settlement, but one Of
the richest counties from the stand
point of development. The area Of the
county is some fourteen hundred
square miles and a large part of this
area was settled before the civil war.
The history of jackson county dates
from the early days of the Union, the
present county seat, Mariana, hav-
ing been chartered in 1929 and first
settlement of the county preceding
that by many years. The population
of the county is estimated at $4,000,
an increase of 1000 since the taking
OF the United States census in 1910,
and a large majority Of the residents
are engaged in farming. Jackson
county produces nearly one-third or
the cotton grown in the state OF Flor
ida, large crops Of corn, peas sugar
cane, oats, hay, peanuts, Irish ana
sweet potatoes, hundreds of cars of
watermeIons and almost every variety
of berry and garden vegeta BILE. 1t has
been nicknamed the Hog and homlny
county Of Florida" on account of the
ease with which corn and hogs are
produced and, in addition to hogs,
raises hundreds of cattle, horses and
mules.
Jackson county is noted for its lime
Ystone quarries, and large quantities or
this stone is quarried annually and
used for building material. The stone
il soft when taken from the quar-
rfes, being easily cut cut with knife or
saw, bur it hArdens after exposure to
the elesz1ex4s- Some or the buildings
constructed OF this material have
withstood the ravages of half CEN
tury of exposure and are today even
more solid than when first construct
ed AS yet but little of this stone has
been sent outside of the county, but
It is understood that plans are under
way for its production upon large
scale for shipment to other points in
Florida and adjoining states.
Railroad Facilities.
There are five lines of railroad
touching Jackson county, two of which
ere operated by the Louisville and
Nashville Company. The main line of
the L. & N. passes through the south
ern section of the county from Ay-
cock, on the west to Sneads on the
west, giving excellent shipping facil-
files to q large territory. The Grace
vile division of the l. & n. connect
ing with the main line between Mont
Eo1nery and Mobile touches the north
western section, and there is some talk
Of extending this line to Campbellton,
on the Atlanta and St. Andrews Bay
r. R The latter road runs directly
through the county almost due north
and south, crossing the main line OF
the L. & ". at Cottondale and contin-
uing on to Panama City, on st. An
drews Bay. The northern terminus of
the line is Dothan. just across the
state line in Alabama. The Mariana
and Blountstown Railroad. giving SER
vice between Mariana and Blounts
town, a distance of 81 miles, operates
through the south central portion OF
the county and the development along
the line has been extremely rapid dur
ing the last few years. In the north
eastern part OF the county the Ala
barna Florida and Southern Railroad
Company connects the town of Malone,
Jackson county, with Ardilla- Ala, the
latter on the Atlantic Coast Line. The
Jarratt Lumber Corporation also OPP
crates several miles of railroad in the
county, but handles only its own prod
ucts as yet.
All OF the railroads are doing their
fun share in the work Of development
and have granted extremely favora ole
rates on farm products of all kinds TO
the markets of the country. Hun
dreds OF cars of watermelons are
shipped from various sections Of the
county annually, and this business is
rapidly increasing, the fine flavor OF
the Jackson county melons and the
feet that they are among the earliest
upon the market, giving them an ad-
vantage IN the markets = both norm
and south.
Coed Road System.
jackson county has taken the LEAD
In the building of good roads. amonS
al the other counties OF " est Flor