The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-11-24
MAYOR MERR|AM'S
ADDRESS Of WELCOME.

{
Several months ago when your
PRESIDENT, Mr.. Barrett, was here TO
arrange for this convention, he said,
among other things, that when we
arranged for speakers not to let them
touch on politics, for it would be
right after election and they would
have enough of politics, and l guess
they havc-Florida has anyway, and
we are willing to let that subject
drop and abide by the majority. :.
He also said not to talk on rellg-
ion, for the members of the Union
knew as much about religion as any
speaker we could get unless it were
Billy Sunday and we have so far been
unable to get him. And also said
tell all speakers to make their talk
brief except the address Of welcome
make that long and have the speak
FER talk about the home people, SO you
may all settle back and make your
selves as comfortable as possible.
We have a state that we are very
proud Of, and city that we are more
proud Of and we are getting on the
map too, or you never would have
chosen Palatka for your convention.
Our greatest asset is our climate
good the year round. When you
we're sweltering in the north and
west the past summer, we were en-
Toying fine summer weather-the
thermometer in Palatka all summer
long did not reach 100 in the shade,
and the nights were very comforta-
bic. You can see right now what
our winter is, and you know what
kind of weather you left behind only
few days ago--snow as far south
as Atlanta.
After Mr. Barrett rode over our
county when he was here in October,
he seemed very much pleased with
everything, but he said there was one
thing needed and needed badly. and
that was "sure enough men," Now,
we have some "sure enough men," and
lots of them, but we have such vast
amount of uncultivated land that we
need a lot more "sure enough men
and women to help us get it under
cultivation.
Coming into Florida you probably
noticed in southern Georgia and nor
thern Florida, a great deal of what !
looked like waste land and you wonder |
ed what on earth could grow on such
land but you noticed something was
growing there-may be not protita- !
hle crop, but there was something on
it--some of the sweetest oranges YOU
ever ate grow on just such land as
that. The sun-kissed oranges of |
California cannot compare with our
good oranges along the st. Johns riv-
er in Putnam county. and some of the
finest grow almost within the city linn
it's Of Palatka, and | hone you can |
pick some before you go, though right |
now thev are not as sweet as they will |
be little later
We also want you to see what Put
nam county has in real good land that |
will grow two or three crops a year |
of almost any produce than can be
grown in the states further north
Now. | am not going to tell you
about the state, for there is a speak
ar here who has forgotten more about
Florida than I know, but | do want
you to know about Putnam county
End Palatka. And when Governor
Trammell tells YOU about the state,
you can apply all the GOOD things he
says to our county. We cannot raise
2o"oanuts or bananas to very much
croft in this county, but we can raise
better celery than Kalamazoo, better
potatoes than Maine. and Mr.. Barrett
admits he never saw such corn as he
saw here in October. rs bushels to
he acre is record OF one of the Corn
Club boys in Putnam county.
AS to the manufacturing-we are
roing right ahead as fast as we can
There were 235 car loads of mNnufac-
ured products shipped from Palatka
n October. and everv month sees that
number j0creasin~ If YOU huv prop-
'rty in the cit7-, the citv makes . so
'er cent valuation and charges YOU 10
Mills for owning it. Can YOU do any
'etter anywhere else and get the ad-
'"ntagpS of the naved streets. good
idewaIks. and thoroughly severed
II" anywhere?
You will find our citizens the most
ordjo), HNd tho famous southern hos
'it"litv Of PalotI,q IS most genuine.
Don't hesitate to ask anv one YOU
ee with 4 CLONE Folks" badmo for
NY information Won want. and dort
cave PalntEH 2nd pu+n9n, r0un+,- nv