The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-06-14
Wonderful Rich Farming
Section Now in Course Of
General Development.
Thousands Of Acres Highly
Fertile Land Nov Open
for Settlement.

A wonderfully rich agricultural sec
ton lies on both sides Of the Mari
anna and Blountstown Railroad, which
operates 43 miles of line between Ma
rianna and SCOTS Ferry, the latter on
the Chipola river in Calhoun county.
The railroad cuts across the south
eastern corner OF Jackson and the
northeastern corner Of Calhoun, Civ
ing an outlet for the products Of the
fertile soil of what is destined to be
one of the garden spots Of West Flor
ida. Thousands of acres of the finest
lands await the magic touch of the
agriculturist, and these lands are still
to be had at a fraction of the cost
Of equally fertile lands in the older
sections Of the south. The climate IS
salubrious, with few extremes, the
rainfall is ample and crop failures are
unknown. Citrus fruits of all kinds
grow prolifically and produce beauti-
full crops; fruits of all kinds thrive
and the more humble products of the
soil almost lear from the earth, bring
ing wealth to the grower who finds
content in a land of plenty. 1t has
been frequently said that a living may
be too easily secured in any part Of
West Florida: the simple problem Of
existence Is no problem at ali through
out all the section traversed by The
Mariana and Blountstown Railroad
Fishing and Hunting.
Mariana and BlountstOwn Railroad
are the celebrated Dead Lakes. an i'm
n1ense tract oi watery wilderness. ira
versed by the channel If the Chipola
river Here and there along the shores
hunting and fishing resorts have been
established; here and there are sIeat
orange groves, bringing an annual
harvest of wealth to the owners The
"Fisherman's Paradise is IT. the CoLn-
trv of the Dead Lakes, for II is con
coded to be the finest fishing ground
in the United States with no e&cep-
tions. Hundreds visit the axes an
nually, coming from hundreds Of miles
in every direction. and the man who
has failed to catch fish until ne fairly
tired of the sport has not Vet been
discovered. Fish are SO plentiful and
so voracious that the catching rails
upon one after the first excitement
has worn off There are ample &C
comnodation at various points about
the Dead Lakes for the accommoda y
ton of all who come. Boats and
guides may be procured a- any Of the
hotels or fishing camps nd at ex-
trernely reasonable price.
Two Good Towns.
The town of Altha- sixteen miles
south of Mariana is a thriving place.
with good schools, churches and
stores. Altha is in the center of a rich
agricultural section and the surround
ing country is being rapidly developed
It is an Important shipping point and
many ca, loads of cattle are shipped
every month to New Orleans. Atlanta,
Birmingham and other large cities,
The town is substantially constructed,
the stores carry large stocks Of the
best goods in all lines, and it is forg-
ing ahead rapidly. There are many
large farms in the vicinity. but also
much cut-over land that may be had
at low prices and upon suitable terms
The railroad rates, through to the
larger markets, are extremely favor
able, and the management of the NJ
& B. is constantly trying to better
them as well as to secure markets for
everything grown in the section.
The town of Blountstown, one OF the
1ivest communities in West Florida,
has grown remarkably during the past
two or three years and is still grow
ing. The population of the town is in
the neighborhood of 1900 and the as
sesscd valuation of. property is up