The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-18
BY w. A. McKae, Commissioner of
Agriculture

See America First" is now the
general call and national society tc
promote spirit and desire among
our people to see American wonders
before going to other continents. has
been organized and is actively al
work.
1t will not detract however, from
this most desirable effort for us to
assist in developing a "See Florida
First" movement.
Florida was the first settled state
in the union and about it clusters ro-
nance and tradition as in no other
part of the republic. 1t is their le
gacies of fiction, fable and myth.
and belief that life is so different as
much as anything else that lures our
people to foreign lands with legend
airy history reaching back to the be-
ginning Of human knowledge.
But let us see America and begin
with FLORIDA First" and properly,
as 1t was here that American history
began Some of the early map
makers applied the name FLORIDA"
to most of what was then known of
our continent.
Florida Is of easy access. It can
be reached by sea and land, on reeu-
lar lines of big steamers and ships
any by through trains from the great
northern centers
More money is now being spent in
Florida improving the roads than in
any other state. 1t too. is the only
southern state penetrated by all
great automobile roads, connecting
our chief centers, the Dixie High
way from Chicago, the Miami-Que-
Dec Highway along the east coast
and the Old Spanish Trail along the
quito Texas and connecting ON the
way with Jackson Highway, Santa
Fe Trail and with Apache Trail
over the mountains to the Pacific
coast.
The expense Is less in Florida than
elsewhere to operate automobiles and
less wear for there are no steep hills
to climb, Motoring is destined to be-
come constant source of pleasure
In Florida in all seasons.
Dirt streets in cities and towns ey-
eryWhere in the state have given
place to brick or hard surface hi2h-
ways, the main ones in many in
stances to connect with other towns
In every line of municipal bettermen
our Florida communities are setting
2 pace comparable with development {
In the older and richer towns and I
cities of the eastern and middle I
states. |
Out door life in Florida is a pleas {
ire on everyone of the three hundred :
Ind slxty-five days of common years t
Ind the hundred and sixty-six DAYS il
" leap years. a
No state has such an extent and
variety of navigable waterways. on "
which men with their families can p
'ruise in comfort and safety and at F
ess cost than to maintain homes in j
he long and expensive winter land L
II the north. Available too are Y
owns and cities with splendid F
hurches and schools. and telegraph st
nd telephone facilities and news II
'apers Of high class. giving worldly al
happenings. and cultured editorial in
omments on current events, and yet
II about the Forests PrimeyaI" F
With rare erowths and flowers bloom pt
ng IN every month, and interviewer T.
re groves of fruit and green fields bt
nd garden lands producing delica- ne
les &c supply tables of northern con- el
umers when their home land is held st
D thrall by snow and ice.
In no state is there a more attrac- A,
I've blending of the vegetation of the ed
smperate and sub-tropical zones fir
he visitor is rarely out of sight of
7ater, too. in travelling over the N
tate by rail or automobile No sky IF
more radiant with stars and no ha