Putnam patriot., 1914-05-01
The Land of Manatee
a E. Maynard, Bradentown
 EIoriaa

we are Tn "the new Florida" on the wide-awake west coast. Out of all the coast we chose the beautiful Manatee river region, and out of that Braden. town, pride of the county, queen of the river, 8 city of homes and of the best people under the flag. Here they come, in quest of the perfect climate. And, finding it, Michigan and Maine and Florida exchange a "Here's hop ing" and a "Howdy.n Illinois and Georgia drive out to Braden Castle to. gether, Texas and New York, Virginia, Kansas and massachusetts, smile gaily and go mullet fishing or to the Group CT Banks or driving together in Penn sylvania's touring car. They are the "real folks,n the back bone of society, too.
 Because they are "real folksn they wanted the best and got it. The mas. sive, artistic court house costing S1OO,- 900 is just finished, and the new City Hall ready for business. The S35, 900
 High school was opened this year with
 fine equipment, the Baptist, latest
 built of several fine, new churches, was
 recently erected at a cost of S20, ,0O0.
 Electric lighting, complete water and
 sewer systems, twenty miles of cement
 sidewalks and ten of asphalt paving,
 an attractive new railway-Seaboard-
 station, public library, four school
 buildings, many neat business blocks,
 are some of the other things they got.
 And three years ago the town was
 practically asleep. It is wide awake
 now, finding itself and being found.
 Land sale follows land sale in quick succession. The soil has revealed its rich possibilities and all the wealth that has lain dormant since the pal.
 metto and the pine took root and died | and lived again.
 Florida and citrus growing will probably always be spoken of in the same breath, but the romance of the truck patch has laid hold upon us. We stood with woman looking over their three acres. Mother of six, burned out twice in the north, she and her husband and the six had all driven their nails in "the homemade home. .n Their land was muck pond. One year from the day clearing and drain- ing was begun, we looked over the riot of color, eighteen different vegetables
 in perfect lines, bearing in unbeliev- able quantities. Already the produce had paid for the home. The succession
 of crops, three in year, wise manage.
 ment and unstinted labor had "done the trick.n
 The town impresses the tourist at once as clean, prosperous, orderly. A saloon license has never been granted
 iD the town. A good place for a win ter or summer home, since frost is unknown and the temperature rarely rises above 90 deg rees in summer. The average is much lower. Atlantic and Gulf breezes meet and our northern "scorcherso are out of the question. Sc say the oldest inhabitants and north. erners who have tested it for from fiS { to twenty years. We are going to tIy | it.
 The snow fairly sifted out of oul
 northern letters month or two ago We stood in the open door while W, read them, our summer garment: | fiuttering, the mocking birds singing
 in English, Italian and 'Just bird, butterflies opening lazy wings on tht
 royal poincianas, roses and jasmine. Il | was hard to remember snow banks ol
 even skating ice, while glorious sun shine warmed the very marrow of ou souls.
 The tourists about us were planning
 walks, motoring, fishing, a visit to tht Atwood grove across the river at Pal
 metto, the largest grape fruit grove ir
 the world. If you can and will yor
 may walk ninety miles under the At wood trees.
 Others had been for "juice" dowr the tropical drive to Palma Lola which ends at the cane mill. Still others an nounced that the packing house of tht Citrus Growers Association was run
 ming and that the process was Of in tense interest. Another group haC chartered 1.-The Leminolen land were starting for Long Boat Key. Up from
 the wharf toiled gala crowd in fish ing attire, dangling an amazing catch There is no opportunity for dull days
 here, and yet you may rest if you will or must.
 Just now the subtle perfume ol
 orange bloom is done and the tiny
 green oranges are 'sset." The streets
 rumble with celery carts going tc
 wharf or train. Tomatoes furnish the
 next shipment. The lingling feeling
 of ssomething doing" is in the air. Except by night. Then the white
 moonlight drifts over slumbering
 town, sweet with oleandar Eioom, ,only
 the faint singing from the negro"quar.
 ters" or the bursting forth of a mock.
 ing bird into joyful speech interrupts
 the warm silence, perfect in it's rest.