The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-07
MAJOR WOODSIDEs.
IMPRESSIONS Of.
THE SUNNY SOUTH.
CTrom Ottawa Daily Journal).

Wrom Ottawa Daily Journal).
Major H J. woodside, who has tust |
returned from the southern states, |
where he was hurriedly called at the
beginning OF April, speaks well of
the spirit Of the people there. and Of
their hoepitable. kindhearted recep-
ton Of him.
Through the British embassy at
Washington I received orders on the
4th to report there on the 5th Of
April, which 1 did and was sent by
Mr.. Horner Of the treasury depart
ment on to Atlanta, and to, Mr.. P. H
Aston. who directed me on to PEN
sacola- Arrived there on Sunday morn
ing and a few hours later was called
on to address a large parade in aid OF
the liberty loan On Monday addresses
and to the combined Rotary clubs Of
Mobile and Pensacola.
"Mr. n. r. Mitchell, a prominent
business man Of the city. and chair
man Of the district, had made out a
route for.me, which was carried out to
the letter in four weeks Of strenuous
travel and speaking, eastward toward
Tallahassee and Jacksonville. Oo-
casionally It was by train, but usually
by auto and these big touring cars
used to rush through the country from
% to 40 miles per hour, except In
small stretches of heavy, sandy road
A top dressing OF the tenacious all
prevailing red clay Of the south, turns
a sandy, heavy road into a first class
highway, except in wet weather, when
1t becomes rather slippery. The coun-
ties Of Florida were the divisions, and
spoke in sixteen of these, some
times seven times IN one day. on an
average OF nearly one hour. I am glad
to say that every one Of them went
over the top in their subscription
quota, and some Of them three times
over.
This is a great numbering as we'll
as farming country. Immense and up
to-date sawmfl1 plants convert the
yellow Georgia pine into lumber for
export north and across the sea. But
in spite Of the long settlement of this
country. there are great areas OF pine
timber, where the turpentine indus
try Nour1shes. The pine trees are
SCARED by successive tappings and on
them are hung small vessels to catch
the pine sap. from which are produced
the spirits of turpentine after the
rosin is SKINNED off in the boiling
watts or stills. It Is replica Of our
sugar bush. only that the product is
not as popular for family food. Ship
building IS springing up in the bayous
off the Gulf OF Mexico. and a number
Of smart looking sub chasers have al
ready been delivered at Pensacola,
while large steel shipbuilding plants
are rushing work near Jacksonville.
while the whole soil OF Florida Is
q gray sand, except in the low and
Everglades country, would be passed
over by q Manitoba farmer, yet the
wonderful variety of grain, vegetables,
fruits, nuts. etc., show that with it's
fine climate (cool at night from the
Atlantic and Gulf breezes), Florida
has a great future and the develop
ment is on a large and steady scale.
1.-THE old pre-civil war farmer, hunt
er and timberman has been nearly
superseded by more modern farmers
and stockmen, some OF them from the
north. The negro population is also
improving In education and thrift
The Florida razorback hog is replaced
by Berks and other fine breeds, while
Jersey cattle are everywhere with
other high grade strains The auto
which is becoming almost universal
Is driving out the horse and buggy.
but the mule shows a stubborn intenN
ton or staying.
Among the principal products Of
this region are lumber, resin, turpen-
tine, cotton. corn. tobacco. Irish and
sweet potatoes, rice oats field veget-
ables. cattle, hogs, picanninies, ALI
gators, fowls, pecan nuts, oranges,
grapefruit, bananas, 1iga peaches.
melons, berries. etc.. while the Gulf
yields red snappers tarpon, turtle. lob
sters, shrimp, sharks. etc. I saw many
wild doves. the nearest approach to
the wild pigeons Of my boyhood days.
'T was passed from one chairman
to another of q county and as they |
were the leading business men OF the |
district was entertained IN a prince
iy manner. Sometimes I would have |
two Judges with me for several days
and some of them were eloquent |
speakers who assisted In the meet |
fngs
What struck me very much was
the large and handsome school houses
In every town ana village. which
speaks highly for the progress OF edu-
cation IN the south. Among my most |
enthusiastic hearers were the school
children. who often marched in a
body to the haIl If were not able to
address them separately. I was Inn
n