The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-10

on what About Florida" and has
favored this paper with a copy.
which, after a careful perusal, we
declare to be one of the best writ
ten descriptions of Florida, condi-
tons. products, advantages, etc.,
that we have seen. 1t gives us
pleasure to reproduce below a very
interesting section of the book de-
voted to the "West Coast" which
follows:
j This coast is served by two main
lines Of railroad. the Atlantic Coast
Line, which penetrates almost every
section in the state. and the Seaboard
Air Line, which has numerous branch
es.
Again it is we'll to call attention to
the fact that the term West Coast"
applies in general way to whatever
is not on the East Coast The long
distance from Jacksonville directly
west to Pensacola would hardly be-
strictly speaking, West Coast terri
tory.
Let us digress far enough to proph
lesy that one day great trunk line,
originating in Chicago, or perhaps
some other large Northwestern met
ropolis. will push its way through the
Southern safes and on down through
Florida, irrespective of existing lines
bisecting the state.
Afer an hours run along the banks
of the picturesque st. Johns River on
the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, we
reach Palatka. a prosperous city of
ten thousand, with four railroads and
large shipping and lumber interests.
The st. Johns is one of the few
great rivers of the world, like the
Amazon and the Nile, to flow north,
and while it is fresh water and has a
sluggish current, it is in reality for
the most of the distance from Jack
sonville to Sanford. only big lake,
, reach its maximum width in the great
, inland sea thirty miles south of Pa
! latka, known as Lake George, body
of water seven miles across and fif
; teen miles in length.
Near Palatka, a company has set
? out a hundred thousand camphor
trees, basing their venture on the
: long held theory that these would
t flourish and be remunerative in this
genial soil and climate. The trees are
r not yet past the experimental stage
but are robust and healthy in appear
, ance, and, grouped around this agri-
cultural arena, with gaze intently
fixed on the outcome Of this expert.
ment, are a host of scientists and
agriculturists who impatiently await
the outcome. II success crowns the
effort, then new vein of gold is
found in Florida. In this section are
also numerous large peach orchards
which present charming picture in
March, when the whole landscape is
covered with glowing sheet of pink
blossoms.
DeLand, fifty miles to the south, is
delightful little city, with giant live
oaks SHADING &c u,au l,oo. ....~.. - \
with elegant homes on either side. De.
Land is the seat of Stetson Univers-
ity. one of the foremost colleges of
the South and named for its great
tbenefactor, John B. Stetson.
Just below is the thriving city of
Sanford, which you enter through
broad vegetable gardens.
Sanford has become known as the
center of great celery and lettuce
district. and the grower holds full
sway. One feature that has contrib
uted to the success of this territory
is that Artesian wells--the waters
strongly impregnated with sulphur
abound and quick and permanent
flow is easily secured.
Four divisions of the Coast Line ra.
,, date from Sanford. giving it prece-
dence as a railroad point, and this,
also, is the head of regular steam
, boat travel on the ST. Johns.
A few miles west of Sanford begins
the great lake country of Florida in
|, the Highlands, ometimes spoken of as
the backbone Of the State, one of the
, most delightful and healthful sections
OF the South. Most of the State is a
uniform. level stretch, not many feet
above sea level and much of It In
need OF drainage. but this region is
not only three hundred feet above sea