The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-29

might be even more efficient by not
sca. tering their influence quite SO
much.
Two modern and we'll equipped
sc1cci buildings provide for the edu
oalional interests Of 1900 pupils.
nave taken some pains 10 observe the
schools wherever | have been, won
GCring if the idea we Northern folk
entertained that the schools of the
South were inferior was correct. 1t
doubtless used to be, but | think is
no longer so, at least so far as Flor
ida is concerned. The buildings are
lust as modern and up-to-date, with
manual training and domestic SCI
ence equipment, just as complete as
any have seen in Ohio. The super
intendent here informs me that
teachers in Florida must pass a pref
ty rigid examination and that col
lege diplomas and certificates from
other States are not recognized, a
feature which he does not approve.
A good many teachers are from the
North, and many from Kentucky.
Mississippi and Georgia. In fact a
large majority of the people down
here. of all callings, are from some
y~here north. A native Florida
or cker" is only occasionally en-
countered.
in our trips around through the
country we have noticed a number
OF cabbage and other vegetable
heids and few citrus groves.
equipped with elaborate overhead ir-
rlgating systems. 1t gets pretty dry
here during the winter, but the
owner of one of these can turn >on
a shower whenever he needs it: II
must be remembered that these Flor.
lda farms are extremely small as
compared with our Ohio or Indiana
farms, but where the owner has the
capital to provide the necessary ma.
! ohinery and appliances ten acres will
no doubt return as much as ten
times the area in the north. 1t is en-.
tirely possible here to grow three
crops year. 1t is an example of in.
tensive cultivation. IT must be re.
membered also that Florida farms al
rule, are just little patches here
land there that have been cleared out
or the primeval pine woods, and no
one acre out OF hundred. and
shouldn't wonder II one might no
safely say five hundred, has yet beer
developed. As I drive through tn,
country ! constantly wonder wher,
all the money comes from to supper
the numerous thriving towns, will
their banks and business enterprises
Just now the whole State is pourin!
out money like water for road i'm
rrovement. Polk county has Just is
SUED bonds to the amount Of $500,
Geo with which to build more thar
zoe miles OF roads, and the same 4
true In greater or lesser degree o
almost every county in the State
The city of Lakeland is preparing I,
pave twelve additional miles Is
streets. though all the principa
streets are already beautifully AMI
substantially paved. and the SAM
condition holds good in PRACTICAL,
all the towns We have visited. and
thcy are many.
OF course, one OF the factors IL
the situation Is the winter tourist
business, which is enormous in It.
volume and brings millions of dol
lars into the State every year This
is destined to increase enormously
for Florida is bound to be the play.
Ground of the nation. The improve
nent OF the roads here and between
here and the north will greatly has
ten this. for with the assurance oil
good roads, thousands and multiplied
thousands of northern cars will b.
driven south every winter. AS \