The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-13
(St. Augustine Record

IF there is any nation or people
in the whole world that have super
abundant reasons for satisfaction
and self congratulation, it is the
nation over which the Stars and
Stripes proudly floats. If there is
any single state in the Union that
has superintendent reasons for glad
ness and pride, that state is Florida
There are still a few people, almost
exclusively those who have not seen
the state or have not stayed in it
long enough to become personally
familiar with her great resources,
who say disparaging things about
her, magnifying her disadvantages,
and minifying her advantages.
Those who are on the ground, how
ever. and have had better oppo:-
tunity to Judge than those who
know nothing more than can be
Gathered from a railroad "trip
through the State, are enthusiastic
to a man, and simply cannot help
boosting every time they gel an OPP
portunity. Some of the reasons why
Florida is naturally certain to be-
come the greatest state in the Union
when properly developed. were Civ
en- by Commissioner McRae on the
occasion of the launching of the
schooner Palatka in the city of the
same name some time ago and are
as follows:
/. Florida produces two fifths Of
the worlds phosphate. ard there is
more phosphate already dlscovere
in Florida than will he aimed in the
next two hundred years. at the
present normal demands
2. Florida has ;wo-thlrG. OF the
worlds known Fullers earth, and is
annually mining Is per cant of that
which is being used by the coun-
tries of the world.
3. Florida was producing, up to
the time of the panic. Go per cent
of naval stores in the United States.
a. Florida produces large per
cent of the yellow pine lumber of
the United States, and has large
areas of yellow pine timber YET
standing that has never been touch
cd by the lumberman's axe, or the
hack of the naval stores operator.
3 Florida has the largest solid
body of standing cypress IN the
world.
6. Florida has more miles of sea
coast than any state in the Union.
7. Sponges are found in the
United States only on the coast of
Florida, and spong culture is being
extensively engaged in on the Fl
lila coast.
s. Florida has the greatest area
of sea-bottom adapted to the growth
of oysters, and these bottoms are
rapidly being developed. More than
COCO acres were leased by the state
to private citizens for cultivation
during the year 1914.
Q. Florida is the second largest
state in The growing of citrus fruits.
California heing the largest, but
Florida eXcels the world in the quail
ity of her fruit.
10. Florida grows the best cigar
tobacco of any state in the Union
and makes more cigars than any
state in the Union. Tampa last
year made nearly 100000 cigars
day, for every day in the year.
Il. Florida has more cattle on
the natural range than any state in
the Union, and can carry more cat
TIC on the natural range than can
be carried on the natural range Of
any other state, Texas not ex-
Guided. This is made possible CT
account of the splendid climate of
the state.
IL. Florida has more wealth per
capita than any other southern
state, except it be Texas, and ranks
with many of the best of the north
ern states.
10. Florida has the argest and
richest drainage district in the
world, with an area of 100000
acres. When completely drained.
this district could be made to sup
port population equal to the state 5
present population, or nearly one
million people.
IA. Florida produces more kinds
of crops than any state in the
Union. The plant growth is such as
may be found in the tropical. semi
tropical and temperate climates.
10. Florida leads the entire coun-
try in the furnishing of fresh vcgr-
tables for the winter markets In
the matter of fresh tomatoes. Flor
ida shipped in 1914, 5000 cars while
all the balance of the United States
jointly shipped 1896 cars.
16. Florida is the only state in
the Union in which camphor trees
are grown for commercial purposes.
II. Florida has provided more
money for nuhIic roads in the last