The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-03-23
CLADES CROPS HALF
BILLION A YEAR
Reclaimed Lands viii Double
States Tax Roll
By CHARLES A. WALSH,

y
Committee and now a resident of
Davie, the first settlement in the
Everglades
The United States has use for this
whole five million acres Of Everglades
land in the production of citrus fruits.
sugar cane, meat and milk The
value of these lands when fully re-
claimed will be greater than lands
anywhere in the world, no matter
how favCrably to markets those other
lands may be situated.
1t is not too much to put a vaua
ton of gross product ion Of wealth per
acre per year when finally developed
of 500, and a s.. uation upon theI
land itself of $3.50 pr acre. The GER
tain production FROM them when the
future sees them reclaimed and set
tied will be far ABOVE the figures
given, while on 10 per cent capt
talization basis the net returns will
Justify and give a value to the land
very far beyond the latter amount
named
Hall Billion of Wealth.
But, even at the conservative fig
ures given the five million acres Of
Everglades lane 0f the state will pro-
duee a gross wealth Of five hundred
millions Of dollars in the three great
staple crops mentioned. 1t will JUS
tify at the least a tax valuation finally
placed on this land of not less than
500 an acre, or total Of five hun
dred millions of dollars against which
state, county and school taxes may
be assessed each year.
Here will be the grandest agricul-
tural empire in the world, pouring an
unparalleled and unceasing stream of
food and clothing into the lap Of the
worlds people; supporting by its mil
lions Of taxes and business the most
splendid developments of city, town
and country; and with 1t all bring
ing happiness. contentment. peace and
wealth to the great citizenship of this
most favored section and state
Greater Than Cotton Crop.
The three greatest staple crops OF
this country are corn. cotton and
wheat Texas. raising 20 per cent Of
the worlds cotton supply. has pro-
duced in her greatest cotton crop prior
TO the present world war a little less
than 1900 600 bales. which m an
average farm price Of ten cents a
pound. or fifty dollars bale. has
gross value Of but 5000 600. 600. TAX
ing an everage total production Of b.
OOO.0O bales for the whole United
States and az the same farm valua-
tion per bale. the value Of the whole
crop is but $3.50. O0o 600 or bat little
more than the gross wealth go he pro-
duced from these Everglades, II farm
ell TO the three great staples mem
tioned--sugar meat ana milk and cit
rus fruits
one year with another. Iowa j. the
greatest corn state in the Union. as
we'll as being the greatest producer OF
farm wealth Of all the states. One
year with another her corn crop runs
about 100000. 900 bushels with a
farm value of $4,000. 600 while all
her crops bring her in little less
than five hundred millions OF dollars
Compare this with an Everglades pro-
ducti0n OF Ave hundred millions Of
dollars,-and Iowa has about 30 600
900 acres Of land practically all OF
which is tillable.
The total wheat crop of the United
States for 1909 was about $50, 900
600 bushels, Of which North Dakota
the leading state produced III mil.
4
81 bushel the whole crop Of the
country was worth 1888, 900 900, and
that of the leading state was worth
$117 100000, the latter but fifth
OF the possibilities OF the Everglades
Half Billion In Crops.
Now, what is Florida's total annual
farm production? The 18th Rien-
NAL Report Of the state agricultural
department shows the total value of
every farm crop, including staples and
Geld crops. vegetables and garden
products. fruit. poultry. diaries, apia.
r1es. etc, and including as well the
farm value of every animal of every
kind. for the year 19O9-1O to have
been S56,712, 1874: for the wear 1911
Il, S63, SOB 297. and for the wear
1914. $S3. SOL .135 Leaving OFT
the value Of farm animals. the poul
try and poultry products. and your.
total wealth production was. for the
last mentioned year. but $49.7SO, 20S
Less than fifty millions While the
Everglades. with two hundred thou.
sand farmers. will give you five hun
dred millions.
The last report OF the state comp.
troller. for the year ending DecembeI
81. 1918, shows over 81 million acres
OF land In the state: exclusive Of city
and town lots. the land has a value OF
a little less than s110, 0OO.0 900 for pur-
poses OF taxation. and the total
value Of all real estate is a little less
than 5000, 100000 This same re.
port shows the total value OF all real
and personal nroperty all railroads