The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-08-21
TAKING WINTER BoARDERs
Jacksonville Times. Union)

| The farmer who keeps summe
boarders is known in all sections t.
(which summer tourists flock. In sucl
sections there are summer hotels IL
the cities and towns and an occasion
al one in the country, but there are
a vast number Of farmers in the
country who derive almost If MOI
quite as much revenue from thei,
boarders as from the sale of theil
crops. Summer boarders in the coun
try are known in nearly every part
OF the Union. Why not winter board
ers in the country?
Florida is we'll supplied with no.
tells, but this state has room for 100.
600 boarding houses in the country
The country is attractive at the
rorth only in summer 1t is attrac.
tive in Florida all the year. If homes
could be found in the country for
tourists who wish to hunt and fish.
who desire to eat chickens grown on
the place, fresh eggs, homemade
butter and vegetables taken imme.
diately from the garden instead Of
the kind that dry up before reach.
ing the consumer-if homes could be
found for men and women who de-
size these things they would be filed
throughout the entire winter.
Anybody can get vegetables any
where in the summer though they
are not often perfectly fresh If
bought in the cities. But fresh veg.
etables in the winter can be found
east of the Mississippi river only in
Florida. OF course few hardy veg
etables grow in the winter in states
further north, but Florida is the only
state east of the Mississippi river
where nearly all vegetables can be
grown then.
Accommodations could be made as
good in the country as in the cities
and these would command as good
prices. There are quite number of
farmers who raise practically all that
they eat and they continue to raise
1t in the winter. They could sell
their surplus to much greater ad-
vantage to those who would come
TO their homes for it than in the dis.
rant markets. In this case no mid.
dlemen would divide the proceeds
with them and nothing would spoil
in transit.
The expense of installing a water
system and lighting system would
not be great and after they were in.
stalled the cost of lights and water
would be no more in the country
than In the city. These things would
be conveniences for the farmers own
family No man can live comfort.
ably anywhere without bath tub,
and electric lights are much more
convenient than lamps. Every pros
porous farmer should have these civ
for his own use. and ~
he had them he could share them
with tourists and charge for them.
Farmers who are not we'll equipped
could get winter boarders though
,hey could not get as good rates from
hem. In either case as much could
be made on boarders in the winter
rs on the sale of the produces of the
arm Either would support the
'amily and the other would be
surplus.
This state is dotted with the most
beautiful lakes and these as well as
he rivers are full of fish, Game Is
more plentiful here than in any other
state east of the Mississippi and
country life in Florida could be made
aeally pleasant. There are hun.
lreds of thousands of tourists who
would like to get taste of it and
Who would if they could find winter
ZONES with the farmers of this state,
Those who came once would come
gain and accommodations would be
Il demand from season to season.