Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-23
fEditorlaI Correspondence. !

During the few weeks that ] have
been privileged to spend in this de-
lightful section of Florida, the con-
viction has been forced home that the
evolution of a Commonwealth, like
that of a municipality, depends not so
much upon laws as upon the initiative
of the citizen. Harrisburg has not
been helped by the alleged progressive
legislation of recent years; it has, in
fact. been hindered. Florida likewise
suffers in her development as a re-
suit of laws which must be repealed
before the surging energy of a large
element of the population shall find
its fun expression. For years the
Peninsula has been growing in every
legitimate way. however, notwith-
standing a body of laws which have
stood as a serious barrier to progress
in several directions.
Here as elsewhere the good women
are asserting themselves through
State federation of civic leagues one
cannot help being amazed when the
part women are playing in the de-
Velopment of Florida is properly un-
derstood and appreciated OF their
particular activities, shall speak
hereafter.
Busy College Men
Many college men from all parts of
the North are here also and these are
plunging with enthusiasm into the
big things that are making for the
expansion and prosperity of this
fruitful and beautiful corner of the
United States The other day | ac-
cepted an invitation to attend a regu-
lar weekly meeting of a citrus eX-
change and the discussion was a reNe-
lation. Here the young men fresh
from the big versitieS-managers OF
important citrus intestests and proml-
nent in other activities involving the
substantial growth of Florida-ap-
peared at their best. They expressed
their views clearly and forcefully not
only upon the subjects which came
Immediately within the scope of their
organization. but likewise gave at
tention to the other interests of the
community and the state as embraced
in the good-roads movement and canal
construction. This is the type of men
who are going to give Florida its
greater prominence in the future.
They are opposed in a way to the ma
tive element, generally denominated as
Crackers" These latter are regard
ed as the ultra element
of the population who believe that
what was good enough for their faith
ers and still more ancestors from the
beginning is quite good enough for
them. And this attitude upon the
part of some thousands of citizens
naturally makes more difficult the pro-
gressive work of the Northerners.
Among the people, however, there
seems to be a material breaking down
of this antagonism and the men with
whom I have discussed the subject
are quite hopeful of better conditions
within a few years. Perhaps the old
Florida may be best described in
couple of verses which are upon a
blackboard of this hotel. They run
as follows:
wisht ! was a little rock,
A-settin on hill.
An doin' nothin' all day long
But just a-settin still.
wouldn't eat I wouldn't drink,
I wouldn't even wash
But set and set thousand years
And rest myself, by gosh.
Old Florida Is Passing
But when one sees the hustle,
energy and intelligent direction of the
interests of this section manifested in
civic associations and leagues for pub
lie Improvement he must realize that
the old Florida is passing and that
new era is dawning with the building
of permanent highways, the connect
ing of the myriad lakes by canals, and
llle general tranSl OIllaJlOn lIldl Is TAX
ing place everywhere.
Florida may be compared, in its
physical shape and development. to
the. horn of plenty inasmuch as there
is flowing into it. from the top of the
boot to the very toe, millions of out
side capital through the expenditure
of tourists and heavy investments of
outside capitalists. Millions of dol
lars have flowed into the State dur
=
dent on all sides. Last year the or
ange crop was not financial success
because the demand was not up to
expectations as a consequence of the
business depression and the European
war, but this year there will be ship
ped out of the State not less than a
million boxes of oranges and probably
half a million boxes of grapefruit. in
addition to the other products Of this
sandy soil worth millions. | am told
that the citrus industry is more or
less a rich mans game. The grower
must have patience and be prepared
10 stand a loss one year which may be
made up the next. This gives the
business the element of chance which
appeals to many investors. II ought
TO be said, however, that the doubtful
feature of the citrus industry is grad
Ually being eliminated through scien-
titic treatment of the soil and care of
the orchards. Even the United States
government is taking a hand in sup
pressing the citrus canker
Guests at this hotel are permitted
10 stroll among the trees and help
themselves to the fruit freely and gen.
erously. Within a mile or two of the
Nil1a are some of the most EXTENSIVE
grapefruit and orange groves of the
State. one New York capitalist is
said to have paid S150,000 for large
grove near here which is managed by
his son. a Princeton graduate. Other
energetic college men are looking af-
Ter similar investments for their faith
ers up North.
Good Roads Propaganda
Just now the most important mat
ter engaging the attention of the live
wires of Polk county is a proposed
bond issue of S1,250,OOO for the build
ing of over 200 miles of improved
highway within the county, and the
interest in the loan is so intense that
men and women are taking a strenu-
Gus interest in the preliminary can
Nass. A straw vote was polled the
other day through the various asso-
Citations and it is said to have ind-
Gated the success of the loan at the
election in May. Inasmuch as this is
not a partisan or political question,
the negroes are being registered and
in some cases their employers are
taking care of the occupation taxes
and other primary requirements which
viii entitle them to vote. In my hear
II a Of fbo