The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-11
many TOURISTS WHO
ATTENDED SOUTH FLA.
FAIR ARE INTERESTED
IN LAKELAND

/ SiHCc the OpeuiuS, Is eutuuSldSllC
not only over the showing made by
Polk county but also upon the COM
plimentary remarks which have been
made by hundreds with whom he
has talked from day to day. Many Of
the counties represented at the Fair
Eave splendid exhibits and some o:
them had large sums of money avail
able for the purpose of getting an
exhibit together. But for the sum of
one hundred dollars reluctantly
granted at the last moment by our
county commissioners, Polk county
had to make her exhibit voluntarily
and at the cost of the exhibitors
themselves or some person or organ
/ ization having sufficient public spir-
1t to provide the ways and means.
~ l.. Thompson, of Frostproof. was
selected to take charge of the Polk
county exhibit and with such volun-
teer assistance as has been given to
him he succeeded i'll making a very
attractive presentation. He may
easily be forgiven for the prominence
Uf the exhibit of his own Bonita
farm, because had he not at consid
cradle expense to himself brought
this splendid display, Polk county
would have shown up to considerable
disadvantage Not that the products
of Polk county are lacking in va
riety and quality but simply that
growers neglected to send promised
exhibits. Attention is called to this
neglect so that a remedy may be ap
Piled with regard to a more repre-
sentative exhibit at the Polk county
Fair in Lakeland the week after
next In speaking of the fair, Sec
retary Holworthy said:
"In spite of what we ourselves have
Lad to regret it has been gratifying
to hear the complimentary remarks
which have been passed from day to
day. We have heard about the pro-
ductiveness of Polk county but
thought it was considerably eXag-
gerated. This is conclusive evil
dence Of the fertility of your soil and
the agricultural possibilities of your
section, said man from Ohio. 81
was bound for the East Coast" said
an Iowa visitor, but | am coming
to Polk county and you people will
! see me when this fair is over" Said
a farmer from Michigan: Il had
thought all along that you people in
South Florida raised only citrus
fruits and find here samples of al
most everything we raise at the
North, including many crops that we
cannot raise at all. This Lakeland
celery is as fine as any | have ever
prominent man, from New York:
You are going to have some of the
very best advertising possible as
result of this exhibit. Thousands
who are seeing these products are
going back to tell the story to thou
sands of others who will be inter-
ested and you can look for these peo-
pie next winter. If not sooner, and
this is advertising you cannot buy"
Lakeland can. look for many of
these same people we have talked to
as visitors to Polk County's Fair and
it is up to the management and ev-
cry one interested in the develop
product of Polk county is worthily
rpresented, whether agricultural,
manufactured or otherwise, every
thing which is produced in this
county.
1T is encouraging and worthy of
note that in view of more favorable
provision made by other counties for
getting good exhibits together that
Polk has secured some enviable pre-
miums and there are others yet to be
awarded. This county has been CIV
en- first prize for largest and best dis
plays OF minerals, for largest and
best display of preserved products;
best exhibit of products of field, or
chard and grove, given to N. l..
Thompson. of Bonita Farms; second
prize for best display of vegetables;
Cor largest and best display of indus
trial resources; for largest and best
horticultural display; for largest and
best display of Wild animals, birds
and reptiles; for largest and best
display of fish; to say nothing of
scores of individual first and second
premiums which will be announced
later"
Thousands of pieces of literature
thave been distributed by the secre-
! tary who will close up his work at
the fair tomorrow and it is safe to
say that nothing attempted by the
LAKELAND Chamber of Commerce will
bring greater or more lasting results
than this personal representation
and opportunity to meet and talk to
thousands of people vitality interest
ed in Florida as their future home.
Florida is just beginning to grow.
Polk county, and the Lakeland dis
trict especially, can get it's full