The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1918-07-06
TOURIST
PLAYGROUND
PARADISE FOR
HOME SEEKERS
THAT'S WHAT FLORIDA IS AND
SO PROVEN BY THE
FOLLOWING LETTER:

e. Ecker, of Lansing, Mich, treasur-
er of the Reolds Farms company,
which established the town of Odds
mar and is developing 1880 acres.
Mr.. Ecker stated that the coming
tourist season beginning in October,
should be one of the best in the histo-
ry of this state. Mr.. Ecker said:
'sFlorida is beyond question one of
the most attractive states in the I'm
ion, and is by nature and location fit
ted to be the tourists playground and
a paradise for home-seekers. Travel
ing about the state and noticing along
the roads the miles and miles of I'M
developed land makes me feel that
Florida today is in about the same
general state of undevelopment as
Michigan was a quarter of a century
ago. There were countless opportun-
tiles at that time in Michigan to make
big profits by wise investments in
property, and in my opinion the same
kind, if not better, opportunities are
available in Florida today.
ST believe northern money will lit
orally pour into Florida when the at
fractions of this state are fully appre-
eiated; in fact, the beginnings of this
torrent Of investment money can be
seen today even under war conditions.
"There are thousands of people liv-
ing in the north whose business re-
quires them to remain there a large
portion of the time, but who could Wis
it Florida every year for while, who
have never been here; and there are
thousands of families who could bet
ter their condition by moving to Flor
ida.
Many families are worried now
about staying in the north next win
ter, on account of the coal shortage
A family who have either very old or
very young people among their num-
Der realize that to be without coal
means liability to colds, grippe and
pneumonia, and they are naturally
disturbed when through the newspa-
pers they are being urged to buy their
coal now for next winter, and when
they go to the coal yards to order coal
the dealer says, Il haven't any coal,
and / don't know when I will have
any,
"What Florida needs is capital to
prepare for the people who will be at
tracted here as tourists or who will be
forced by circumstances to come here
to live. Realizing this, the Reolds
tarms company is spending large
amount of money around Oldsmar in
building homes and preparing the
and for farming and fruit growing,
so as to be ready for the thousands of
families who are and will be seeking
homes in Florida.
"Some fear has been expressed that
the reduced capacity of the railroad
companies to handle passenger traffic
on account of war shipments will af-
feet the tourist business of the United
States. If it does. it seems to me it
will hit California first. California in
the past has drawn large share of
is tourist patronage from the thickly
oopulted states east of the Mississip-
nj rived, but if conditions become in
"reasingly difficult and expensive to
make the long journey to the Pacific
'oast, believe a very large percent
age of the people who former1v went
% California will come to Florida,
which is so much easier and less ex-
1ensive to reach by railroad, and is
lso within automobile touring dis
ance of all the densely populated
states.
"This is my first visit to Oldsmar,
md | am satisfied that Mr.. Odds made
no mistake when he purchased 1880
acres of land Is miles west of TAMPA,
On Tampa bay, the Seaboard railway,
and a paved automobile road. Hun
ireds of thousands of dollars are be-
ing spent in and around Oldsmar. Our
sales manager, VIM. E. Rolles, has
sold enough farms and town lots to
create a big building activity at Odds
mar this fall, when the purchasers be-
gin coming down to locate. I expect
more than 100 families will move
here as soon as provision is made for
hem. We are getting a good class
If people, people who are honest,
Straightforward and willing to help
me another overcome the obstacles
hat have to be met in the settling of
, community. The people who are
ettling in Oldsmar have faith in the
'uture Of Florida, and l am satisfied
heir faith is not misplaced. With the
dvent of capital, Florida is destined
70 come into its own"