The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1917-04-04


ways finds me eager to scan the paper
from page to page. What interests me
particularly is the sojourning of some
of the northern residents in California
and Florida. Engrossed with business
interests and economic problems of
the day as they are, thousands of the
Northerners have the good fortune TO
take advantage of their time and mon
ey to winter in Florida, America
greatest year-round play ground,
where they find all sorts or recreations
galore. Of all the states in the Union,
Ohio is credited with the largest rep
resentation in the peninsular land of
sunshine. The recent freeze, which
was the severest since the memorable
year 1895, failed to feaze the tourists,
who declared their preference of this
several days cold snap to that of sew
eral months duration in the north.
Contrary to expectation, the citrus
fruit trees and vegetable crops, sup
posed to have been practically destroy
ed, have come back in many sections Of
Florida, especially in the central and
southern tiers. Where acres of tender
vegetables have been wiped out, they
have been replanted to plants from
seed beds and the growers will be
ready to ship vegetables to the north
ern markets as soon as they mature.
The berries from the straw are matur-
ing rapidly and are now being produc-
led rapidly from the plants whose
bloom was killed by the. freeze.
The annual movement of citrus
fruits ranges from $4,000. to 10000
cars, which will be materially increas-
ed as young trees come into bearing;
that of vegetables, such as celery, let
tuce, tomatoes, cucuimbers,a potatoes
beans, amounts to about 20, 000scaEs;
and that of watermelons from 1000 t
5000 cars. 0rangea and grapefruit
lconinsssce aaoving nEas lsar7
and continue until as9ata6s June. The
tomato crop after JANUARY 1 unit
about July 1; early potatoes in Febru-
airy until about six weeks later; water.
melons about May 20 until displaced
by Georgia melons in July; lettuce
about December 1 until Christmas OF
later; celery on or after JANUARY Is
until May l. Other vegetables move
as early as December I and don't
cease moving until sometime. in May
or June. ....,
Nowhere in Florida is there a frost
proof line. Key West, lat the southern
most extremity of the state even feels
an occasional touch of winter. It is
authoritatively stated by all old wea-
Their men that a freeze occurs in Flori-
da once in Is or 20 years.
We are again enjoying the summer
from Florida, Theodore Roosevelt has
tened to the White House to congrat-
ulate the president on the stand he has
at last taken. Speaking of Wilson's
address, he said in part:
"The presidents message is a great
state paper which will rank in history
among the great state papers of which
Americans in future will be proud
1t now rests with the people of the
country to see that we put in practice
the policy the president has outlined
and that we strike as hard, as soon
and as effectively as possible in ag-
gressive war against the government
of Germany we must send troops to
the firing line as rapidly as possible.
Defensive war is impossible. We must
by vigorous offensive warfare win the
right to have our voice count for CIV
ilization and justice when time for
peace comes. I, of course, very ear
nestly hope that I may be allowed to
raise division for immediate service
at the front. I guarantee that no
finer body of fighting men could be
gathered together than there will be
in that division, but, of course, the
men to whom I would appeal will come
forward only if it is understood the
division is to be sent at the earliest
practicable moment into the fighting
line"
White House attaches were greatly
disappointed because the Colonel could
not wait to see the president. Secreta-
ry Tumulty issued this statement:
eve were pleased and gratifed by
Colonel Roosevelt's visit.
Colonel Roosevelt, en- route from
Florida to New York, did not intend to
stop here until this morning, when he
read the presidents address. He then
decided to stop over and congratulate
him.
The Colonel took an automobile sent
by his daughter, Mrs. Nicholas Long
worth, and drove directly to the White
House. From the White House Colonel
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