The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-23
ADDRESS OF Gov.
PARK TRAMnELL
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fidence to the future greatness and
of Florida. 1t is already
a great commonwealth. We who
live here have long appreciated her
Possibilities. The outside world is
rapidly learning them.
We may well be proud Of the
States great resources and her va :
ried industries. They offer an ex-
cellent field fer the advancement
and enrichment of our own people
ard for those whom we welcome to
come among us. Florida is the
greatest all the year round com.
mercial fruit and vegetable growing
section in America 1t is the larg :
est producer o. naval stores in the
United States. She is the largest
producer Of phosphates in the world;
she supplies great proportion of
the sea island cotton, which is now
valuable in the manufacture Of rub
Der tires for autos, and other motor
trucks, and her short staple cotton
reaches into the millions of dollars.
Her timber and lumber resources
have already assumed enormous pro
portions and are capable CT much
more extensive developments. Her
fish and oyster industries constitute
a source of great wealth and her
sponge fisheries are the most valu :.
able on the American coast. Certain
sections of the State are noted for
the production of wrapper tobacco
which rivals tina imported from
Cuba. 1t has long been said that
Florida's soil can supply the entire
country its needs of sugar. Time
will not permit reference to all of
the resources of our State.
The good people Of this county
are evidently determined to keep in
the front rank of the onward march
Of progress as is evidenced by the
thorough success of this splendid
county fair, and by the indications
of enterprise and notable develop
ment to be witnessed on every hand
in your thriving towns and your
busy country homes.
And, just here permit me to say
l know Of nothing quite so inspiring
and gratifying to one who earnestly
wishes to see prosperity abound as
to find the conditions of life in the
country on the farms and in the
rural districts to be prosperous and
with promising future. We all feel
strong and commendable pride in
our towns and cities and desire to
see them forging ahead we'll abreast
of the times; but every man who
half thinks realizes that the growth
and expansion of practically all
cities and towns is conditioned upon
or dependent upon and controlled
by the prevalence Of favorable or
unfavorable conditions in the sur
rounding country.
Back of the city or town must be
the support Of the producer and
creator of wealth. We may admire
the energy and enterprise of those
who make the commercial centers
flourish and grow great; yet, there
could be no centers of trade but for
the hard and skillful work of the
thousands upon thousands who till
the soil and cultivate the groves and
the farms of our country.
Without question the contentment
and well being Of our rural popula =
tion Is the measure of the prosper
ity and stability Of any community
or State or nation. It has not only
been a measure of our material
wealth and financial stability but
the country has throughout history
furnished most of the great leaders
who have made this nation what it
is-the freest and most enlightened
that graces the pages of history.
Washington was born and lived in
the country, Jefferson was a farmer.
Henry Clay rode his horse to the
mill in the slashes. Hill was a pillow
boy, and Stephens found immortal i.
ity under the trees of his country
home.
The benefits derived from these
fairs are not limited to what we
learn from observing exhibits, but
the CO -mingling of the people Incl =
dent to such occasions as this fur
nishes most excellent opportunity
for the interchange of views and
ideas upon the many important
problems affecting the social, civic,
and political side of life just as GER
tainly as the exhibition of perfected
products teaches its lessons of i'm
provement in the methods of pro
duction to all who come and OBJ
serve. Industrial progress and pros
perity are among the most desirable