The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-05-03

Franklin county, the greatest portion
OF which lies between the Apalachicola
and Ocklocknee rivers, has an area of
approximately 730 square miles avail
able for development along agricu1-
turaI lines. But there has been com
paratively little effort to take advan
tage of the wonderful rich soil and
equable climate, the chief industries of
the county being the manufacture and
shipment of lumber. timber and naval
stores. the great fish and oyster bust
ness and the bee industry.
For years the sawmiu men have
made fortunes, and are still making
them, from the great pine and cypress
forests of the interior, the product go
ing both inland and to all of the mar
kets of the world.
For years the oyster industry of
Apalachicola bay has furnished en-
ployment and livelihood for hundreds
of people and Franklin county has
been a factor in the oyster markets
of the country. The oyster beds in
Franklin county waters cover $4,000
acres. and the oyster industry here is
simply in it's infancy the supply being
practically inexhaustible.
For years the bee men who have
their apiaries back among the feeding
grounds OF the bee have furnished the
highest grade of honey which the mar
kets of the world can boast. The
swamp areas provide the finest food
for bees which any section Affords
the tupelo gum, the black gum, the
Palmetto bloom, the gall berry, the titi.
and various other natural food
products from which the best of honey
is gathered. The profits of the bEe
industry are large, and net average
Of $500 per colony Zone hive of bees)
IS what the practical apiarist can usu-
ally count on.
Now Easy of Access.
The county of Franklin. of which
Apalachicola is county seat, has been
n4oW In coming to the front as an agrl-
cultural territory for the reason that,
until a few years ago, it was rather
remote. from the farmers standpoint.
Now, however. two lines Of railroad
penetrate to the coast. termins ting in
the largest towns of the County; the
Georgia, Florida and Alabama railway
coming into CarrabeIle, the Apalachi-
cola Northern to Apalachicola From
now on there Is nothing TO stand in
the way of development in this Florida
coast county. county as rich In pos
SibilitieS as any county in the South,
whose soil will produce phenomenal
crops from sea island cotton to straw
berries and oranges. where one may
live literally under his own vine and
fig tree and partake of milk and fine
honey; where sea food and wild game
abound, where flowers bloom and birds
sing and the sun shines the year round
and where there is no winter. and
health and long life are the rule.
From any standpoint, the man look
ing for a home can find attractions
here that can hardly be duplicated
anywhere IN the world. The fruit
grower, the gardener, the farmer, the
fisherman, the FISHERMAN, the business
man, the sportsman, the pleasure
seeker, the health-seeker, the home
lover and homebuilder the artist and
the artisan-an can find a place.
An Infinite Variety.
The infinite variety of Franklin
county can scarcely be made plain to
n Northerner; a trip here is required
tropical growth OF the wonders that
may be wrought in this latitude. Farm
ing here becomes a joy to such a man
If he has any love for color and
beauty, since he can have figs and
pomegranates, grapes and oranges and
pecans as well as cabbage, onion nd
potato patches: can grow cotton, suSar
cane and roses on the same soil, have
green stuff and fruits in winter as we'll
as summer and cultivate his garden in
his shirt-sleeves when the SHOWS lie
deep on his native heath.
Undeveloped farm lands in Franklin
county may be had for from $500 to
$500 per acre and as high as $50,
depending upon location. There is
nothing in the form OF farm or garden
products that will not grow prolth-
cally and not only one crop a season
may be raised. but Certain crops grow
during every month of the year.
Good farms are scattered over the
county. some in staple crops and others
IN vegetables fruits and melons.
Three crops a year may be made
on this land. One of corn. one of field
peas for hay and then winter veg
etables. The field peas make two tons