The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-02-18
THE DIVISION OF
STATE OF FLORIDA
is AGAIN URGED
Some Logical Reasons in Behalf
Of the Plan
A FORMER CITIZENS VIEWS
Interesting Ideas Regarding the
States Future With Two Capt.
tails Are Expressed-Suggest
Names for the Two States.

Names 1Or the Two 0IdIcS.
Division of the state of Florida
is urged by resident of Washing
ton, d. c., who formerly lived in
this state, in a letter written to
the Orlando Sentinel and publish
edD in that paper. The letter reads
as follows:
"Word comes to me from
friends in Florida that the state is
entering upon an era of unprece-
dented prosperity; that winter
visitors and home seekers are
coming in in unusual numbers and
more than usually early; that
business is picking up right along.
houses going up in all sections,
paved streets and roads extending
in towns and rural sections, and
other improvements keeping pace
with the general growth. This
is the news from Orlando, and |
hope the same can be said about
other sections of the state.
"There is, however, such an i'm
mense difference in the climate, re-
sources, topography and general
, interests, between the northern
and southern sections of Florida,
that the time must come for di-
vision of the state into at least
two parts.
Northern Florida has its dis
tinct products of a substantial
farming character like that of the
neighboring states on the north.
Tobacco, pecans, grain, fruits OF
the temperate zone, and other
products, do better there than
further south, and that section has
a solid prosperity not dependent
upon winter visitors or tropical
agriculture.
"But it is not the Florida of
our dream and desire when the
SHOWS begin to fall, nor is it the
garden of Hesperides' nor the
land of the orange and grapefruit.
"There should be South Flori-
da, and either a North Florida or
state Of Jackson or of Jeffer-
son carved from the northern end
of the peninsula.
eff a line be drawn, beginning
on the west coast near the twenty
ninth parallel, following the south
border of Levy, Alachua, Putnam
and st. Johns counties eastward a.
cross the state, division is form
ed which places semi-tropical
Florida on one side and strictly
agricultural Florida on the other,
at about the narrowest portion of
the peninsula.
"The northern portion thus laid
off has 23,548 square miles, and
the southern or typical Florida
portion, 30,692 square miles. The
difference Of about 1000 square
miles in favor of the southern
portion is perhaps balanced by a
larger population and perhaps
greater wealth, in the northern
portion.
Jacksonville should of course
be the capital of the northern di-
vision, and Orlando should be the
capital Of South Florida. A
state which has for so many years
put up with capital so far re-
moved from its geographical cen
ter may well be satisfied with
these proposed locations, which
are logical from the point of view
of accessibility, wealth, rapid
growth, and intelligence and en-
terprise of the leading citizens.
No town in Florida can excel
Orlando in these qualifications.
man for man, and it is the place
for the capital of South Florida,
without a doubt.
"This view will be disputed, of
course, but it will stand the test of
time. In all probability, any Sc
riOus move made to divide the
state and to place the capital of
the southern half at Orlando will
be met by the united effort of the
sitizens of that section to put up
such an attractive offer Of grounds
and other accessories, free to the
public, that it can not be ignored.
"The writer, a former resident
of the wonderful South Apopka
region of Orange county, and of
Orlando, is still heavy tax payer
in the former section, and has be-