The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1917-04-04
Florida VS.. California as
Fruit and Truck Section
COMPARISONS OF CLIMATE, SOIL.
AND TRANSPORTATION

climate in the winter time while the
Californians are experiencing the most
miserable winter climate at this time
of the year, where from fifteen to
eighteen frosts, ice twice and snow
once are reported to have added to the
fury of wintry elements and where
they have to keep fire in their homes
almost every day.
Climate.
Like the poor, we have the climate
with us always. And it is subject
matter we all love to talk about. Ev-
cry state in the Union claims its eli
mate to be Incompatible, and when
Florida has the temerity to dispute the
claim, the other states-California
particularly-sit up and take notice.
That Florida has a better climate
than California has been conclusively
proven by those who attended the
great exposition and incidentally took
side trips to the interior of the Golden
State, giving themselves an opportun-
ity to contrast the two states Some
went there in winter time and others
during the summer. All admit Cali
fornia is wonderful state in some
respects and may retain its superiori-
ty for years to come, insofar as the
boosting spirit is. concerned. Florida
is sadly deficient in this important
phase of publicity. but since the
"Florida First" campaign is now I'M
der way our state will, be heard of
more, talked about more and traversed
more, according to inquiries received
by the boards of trade from all Sec
.tions of Uncle SANS domains.
It is the opinion of nine out of ten
of the people who have spent the sea-
son in both states that Florida is the
most desirable state of the two, be-
cause of its more equable climate.
Here the annual rainfall is more even
ny distributed. a
If You vii lQok.a 1t the map Of Flor
lidas 6u VIII 100 u see that Florida
fis q peninsula Greece, Italy, SPAN
and Portugal, Central America and.
Lower California are five other great
peninsulas that compare favorably
with Florida and each one has pc
culiar climate to itself, but none more
favorable as to latitude, topography
and slope is found than in Florida.
Florida has about 800 miles of coast
line and the peninsula proper is only
115 to 125 miles in width. It has the
ocean on the eastern side and the gulf
on the opposite side. Cool breezes con-
stantly watt clear across the state
with the result that the climate is gen.
ial and equable throughout the year.
Unlike California, the peninsula has
no high mountains from which cold
blasts sweep down chilling the air and
causing a sudden drop in temperature
of 20 to 40 degrees in few hours
after the sun goes down. The secret
of Florida's wonderful climate lies in
the fact that the gulf stream and
ocean currents keep the air stirred all
the time, thus checking sudden chang
es of temperature.
In summer it is sometimes as high
Jas 80 degrees in the shade, but the
effect of the heat is imperceptible, the
rains performing the cooling part.
Nights are delightfully."- cool and one
may sleep with or without covering.
Towards early morn, an extra sheet
would be quite comfortable. In Cali
fo?rnia the wet or rainy season oc-
ours in winter time, while in Florida
it does not begin until summer.
AS the Bingsville poet once said:
"Man's an animal prone to scold;
When it's hot he wants it cold;
When it's cold he wants it hot
Meier contented with his lot"
The grouchy person is everywhere,
not excepting Florida. There are some
days when it is chilly and again there
are some days when it is hot, but be-
cause of brief duration, it is hardly
worth while complaining. In fact, the
change is always welcomed. Only the
comparison of the California and Flor
ida temperature figures can we appre-
ciate the evenness of the Florida tenn
perature throughout the season. In
winter we occasionally have touch Of
frigid weather, and when it does come
we are awakened to the knowledge
that it is colder in the north and north
west. Consequently fire is made to
heat the house, especially early in the
morning and after sunset. We are
warmed up by the sun during the day.
The superiority of Florida's climate
is generally accepted fact. Further
comment is superfuous-I might go
on telling the Leader readers ad infin-
itum why Florida's climate is more sa-
luxurious than that Of it's only rival,
but few of the following testimo-
MES. than which no stronger r,resenta-