The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-19

secured by the location Of your
headquarters in lakeland.
In this connection would say
that on account Of the facility Of
fered by Lakeland's splendid railroad
point, for travelling men to more
easily make their territory in the
State, south of Jacksonville, we
have quite large number who
make their homes and headquarters
here. 1t is more convenient to them
and saves money for the firms they
represent.
These little matters of detail are
all important as. bearing on expenses
which the grower must meet. and, I
submit to you that Lakeland could
not have the approval of Polk coun-
ty, as the banner Exchange county,
unless the growers were satisfied on
this point. And It is no secret that
the growers of Polk county who
have considered this matter, want to
see this change made.
Some argument relative to Tam
pas favorable location as a port and
the possibility of future export OF
citrus fruits will probably be urged
by our good friends here in Tampa,
who say that this is likely after the
close of the war, but, in view of the
fact that nothing of this kind was
attempted before the war and that
Europe will probably have to spend
her money on necssaries rather than
luxuries, for long time after the
war has been closed, makes this a
very remote consideration, though
this could be handled from Lakeland
at much less cost than the extra ex-
pense OF handling the whole business
in Tampa.
1t has been considered as bold
proposition for Lakeland to take that
she is able to satisfactorily handle
the finances under all possible cir
cumstances. We come here, however,
with financial men to- assure you
that you can at any time be met
with all the ability and readiness to
finance anything you may find nee
essary now or at any time.
IT, prestige shall be urged as a
reason for keeping the Exchange in
Tampa, would remind you that I
,, am a citizen of no mean city, and
Lakeland has a prestige of which
she is fairly proud, though prestige
is not of much consideration to the
grower nor does It buy him any
grits. And the buyer will care about
prestige no more than the seller.
whether he does his business with
Lakeland or Tampa will mean moth
| ing to him, so long as he gets the
Florida orange and grapefruit packed
by the Exchange.
If you gentlemen want to go to
Tampa and know l dot 10 only
80 miles from Lakeland on Q good
hard road-with frequent railroad
service, and, after your business Is
transacted 1t will be easy FOR you
to make the trip and transact any
private business you may have
there, and 1 just know that you
would prefer to do this IL 1t appears
to you that the expense between
Lakeland and Tampa can be 20
largely avoided.
Referring to the proposition to fur
nish you with suitable offices, this
has seemed to us only the right thing
to do. 1t Is not a charitable dona-
ton, which even the growers In
Polk county would resent, but a
plain business proposition expected
Of and quite generally rendered to
enterprises OF this kind which bene-
fit the community in which they are
proposed to be located and Lakeland
realizes full well that the location
CT the Citrus Exchange would be of
benefit to the community as we'll as
to the growers. Your association is
a non-profit organization and as such
ought to receive every possible as
sistance in the community where its
operations are conducted, and, In
this spirit, and not as bribe. is this
courtesy rendered. / say Lakeland
appreciates fully the value of having
he Exchange located there. There is