The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-11-15
FLoRIDA's ADVANTAGES

Every day there are occurrences
and happenings that should convince
the resident of Florida that he is for
tunate. The advantages Of living in
the state are innumerable, but occa
sionally some one feature of climate
or productions, environment or pos.
sib1lities, overtops all other consid
erations and makes itself apparent
without in the least detracting from
the others. Just now the fact that
ON account Of location. or climate
conditions. the epidemic which re-
Gently swept the state is being for.
soften should be recorded as q very
considerable argument in favor OF
Florida as place Of residence.
Never before, in the history Of Am
erica, has any disease become preva.
lent and extended from North to
South, from East to West, reaching
into the country, while bringing down
great numbers in the towns and cit.
les. The grip, after being introduced
In the Northern and Eastern sea-
ports, spread with amazing rapidly
in every direction, and Florida,
among the last to feel the influence,
was the first to throw it off. That
the disease ran its course" here is
very generally admitted, but compa-
ratively speaking it was mild in form
and the death toll was scarcely
tenth of what was reported from
some sections.
Through the month of October the
grip held on, having reached its apex
In the third week, and then condi-
lions took rapid turn and within a
week or ten days afterwards things
had gotten to be almost normal
again. The progress Of the epidemic
into the state was rapid, although
moving strictly from North to South.
and in Tampa things were little
longer getting Strengthened out. But
the beginning of the second week in
November finds the state practically
free of the disease, while guarantees
and restrictions are yet on in various
parts of the country.
Pennsylvania is yet suffering from
the trouble and has had a terrible
time. Massachusetts, where the dis
ease, starting in Camp Devens, was
most severe, is only now getting
back to normal, and even in Ken.
lucky there are quarantine regula-
tons that forbid gatherings and re-
strictions about various matters that
concern the public.
Whatever the circumstances that
gave Florida a better chance with
tnls strange and most unwelcome
visitor they are noted whenever any
trouble appears. and while not fully
by many, there are some
who are ready to ascribe this favor
able condition to the geographical no.
Sltion of the state. Surrounded by
salt water on almost every side and
with a portion of the state in the
'ubtropic area it seems that disease
If many kinds loses it's virility.
When the figures are finally COM
)leted in the history of the first
general epidemic that has ever Wis.,
ted the United States it is certain
hat the record for Florida will show
percentage that should convince
my investigator of the advantage Of
ne State from health standpoint
me epidemic came at a time when
ne weather was not particularly
old or wet or dry in the country :
although the conditions in
florida were unusually bad at the
lme. 1t is therefore easy to claim
hat the state while exposed and
cry large number acquiring the dis
ase, withstood the attack with
minimum fatality and shook herself
rec from 1t while other sections still .
ought against 1t. 1t is to be hoped ,
hat there will never be another epi.
emic of grip in the country-but it