The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-01-04

sonville one day before the congress
convened and visited the State Fair.
which had very creditable exhibits of
agricultural products from twent-
, six counties and magnificent live
stock and poultry show. Having Wis
|. tied many such fairs in different
states and foreign countries and from
the viewpoint of an agriculturist OF
much experience, the writer must say
that the state Of Florida, by its show
ing at this fair. has proven the exist
ence of great agricultural assets and
although figures and statistics Of pro-
duction for this year run very high, it
IS evident that the state is not 10 per
cent developed and that 80 per cent
of its wonderful opportunities are
waiting for development by enterpris-
ing citizens and others looking for
land of plenty.
The writer, who has had the bene-
fit Of wide travel, with no hesitency
will freely state that he knows of no
place on the globe Where agricultural
opportunities are so flatterfng, as
throughout the state of Florida. but
especially the western part. The won
derful climate and the soil texture are
its greatest assets. The intellect of
man with the aid of modern science
can draw FROM it's soil in such abund-
ance, that the figures would astonish
the most extravagant and optimistic
dreamer. The writer is somewhat
quo ~. with authority, as applying
himself during the past eighteen
months to wrest from Escambia coun-
tvs soil it's dues, his fondest hopes
and expectations have been so ;f-eat-
ly surpassed that he considers it his
duty and service to make widely
known the results of his efforts
County Fair Director.
As a director of our County Fair
Association. I, with others, urged the
taking of our exhibit from Moline to
Jacksonville, being very optimistic as
to results; although there were no
funds except a small sum donated by
a. few enterprising citizens, the re-
suits have been gratifying. We took
several blue ribbons and third prize
out of twenty-six counties and should
have had second as far as real pro-
ducts were concerned. I will state
here thai 1t is my opinion that the
farmers of Escambia county, have not
made per cent of an effort to show
their products and / really believe
Judging from observations, that 25 per
cent of an effort of our farmers and
business men would have. swept Es-
Gambia county far into the lead and
cultural products of quality and guam
titles are grown and live stock will
thrive unexcelled.
AS a citizen and farmer Of Escam-
bia county and the great state of
Florida, let me voice the slogan: "Es-
Gambia County First Honors at Jack
sonville in 1919"
Let every business man and every
farmer make his plans now TO that
effect and let all citizens cooperate
to make our county fair at Moline
next fall a great success and then take
it to Jacksonville and clean 'em Up"
1t might possibly be of interest to
know that the writer has purchased at
the fair and brought into the county,
specimens of fine stock, as good and
of as fine breeding as could be found
anywhere in the u. S. A. / not only
flatter myself for being SO lucky to
procure such fine animals for my own
purposes, but believe them to be an
asset to our county, as being prize
winners now. they and their get are
destined to take many honors for Es-
Gambia county.
Delegates From All Over.
AS soon as the delegates from all
sections Of the U. S. A. began to ar
rive, your representative made it q
point to get acquainted with them
and having pocket full of striking
photographs of actual agricultural
facts existing in Escambia county, he
proceeded to boost our county and
the city of Pensacola and its beauti-
full harbor They were much sur
prised and impressed with our posi-
bilities and called their delegate
friends and asked me to show those
pictures again and again and explain
r., h,
full advantage to advertise our great
agricultural resources among the peo-
pie of many states and he had many
promises of visits here.
Your delegate thought it proper and
his duty to go before the congress and
invite the delegates formally to come
to Escambia county and Pensacola
and visit this beautiful section of our
state It was difficult to get a hear
ing, but after persistent urging the
president, Mr.. j. H. Kimble, from
Maryland, consented to introduce me
providing 1 would speak not more
than five minutes. 1 promised So
on Tuesday morning, December 5th,
with a full house of delegates present,
Mr.. Kimble called my name, emphas-
izing that I would be given only five
minutes to speak. Your delegate jok-
ingly rushed for the platform ex-
as he went that he could not
afford to lose one second of those
precious five minutes. After I had =!
spoken three minutes to the congress,
the president whispered to me that /,
could have ten minutes more and j
when my five minutes expired, he |
whispered that I could talk as long
as I wanted to. Your delegate adj |
dressed that congress Of sturdy farm |
ers for eight minutes. talking rapid |
~, and during his speech was many /
times enthusiastically applauded by /
the members of the congress, with |
many of whom he has formed a |