The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-05-14
LAKELAND AND SURROUNDING COUNTRY
As seen BY THE VISITING EDITORS


needed rest aboard Pullmans. Again
at 11:55 we pulled out for Braden-i
town from which point another mo-
t0rcade will start out in the morning
to visit the county of Manatee.
Another hasty breakfast and we are
aboard the autos that take us through
the fields Of vegetables and groves Of
oranges and grapefruit. that have
brought returns OF millions of dollars
annually fer many, many years TO
their owners BradentoWn, Palmetto
and Manatee, the three-in-ope cities
on the Manatee River, are wonderful
little cities. The land of Mapatee
produces thousands of cars of fruit
and vegetables each season. Celery,
lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, egg plant,
as well as oranges. and grapefruit in
4 steady golden stream makes this
section beautiful and prosperous
place. Sarasota, also in the land of
M2natee, is fine place. 1t is likeise
the center CT a rich farming and fruit
growing country. 1t has made more
of its opportunities as a tourist city
than any other point of the county.
After a wonderful day in Manatee
the special carried us over to Pierce
where the cars were parked. Break
fast was served upstairs in the large
storehouse of the Pierce Phosphate
Company, whichc perhaps may not
sound appetizing but the name bellies
the conditions. .~...
After breakfast we were given the
opportunity to view the inside opera
ticns of phosphate mine, the Pierce
Company having provided several flat
cars drawn by switch engine to
transport the party to one of the
mines located near Highland Oaks.
After a thorough inspection of the
mine, the party returned to Highland
Oaks to see what is being done in the
way of agricultural and stock devel-
opment at that point. While Florida
is not one of the leading cattle grow
ing states. there are some very fine
ranches with as high grade stock as
is to be found anywhere. In this con-
nection We might also say that Flor
ida stands first in phosphate produce
ton. -,
Automobiles whisked us over to
Barlow for a survey of its surround
ings and then to Fort Meade and to
Frostproof, the southern terminus OF
the asphalt ridge of the Scenic High
land road A few miles north of
Frosproof is Hillcrest Lodge where
division D stopped for lunch. Section
C stopped up at Highland Park, sec.
ton B at Lake Wales. and section A
at Mountain Lake. An hour and
quarter later all four sections re-
united at Mountain Lake and went on
up the ridge to Haines City and then
to Lake Alfred, Florence Villa, and
Winter Haven where the big packing
house Of the Florida Citrus Exchange
was visited and then to Lucerne Park
packing house where one of the most
delightful, evenings of the whole trip
was spent.
In Polk county we found a COM
munity really under construction. In
its rawest portions one can see the
place as it was yesterday and in its
most finished you can see It as it will
appear tomorrow. Already it has won
wide recognition as the greatest CEN
ter of the citrus industry in Florida
and. hence, in the world. The various
packing houses at Winter Haven and
Florence Villa last year shipped 1904
cars, an equivalent of 100000 boxes.
This was exclusive of the large indi-
Vidual shipments Adding to this the
shipments from Lucerne Park, HaineS
City, Lake Alfred, Auburndale, Eagle
Lake, Lake Hamilton, Dundee, Wafer
ley. Lake Wales, Frostproof, Avon
Park and Sebring, you can form some
little idea why Polk county is consid-
cred the premier citrus section of the
world ~D....
There was variety indeed in today's
trip. We saw much of Polk county;
orange groves and lake sections; es.
pecially to be mentioned is the great
Templeton project of more than 1900
acres in one body east of Lake Wales
and thousands upon thousands Of
acres OF young groves, saw some OF
its great phosphate industries; ate OIL
its unbeatable citrus fruits, of its fish
its fresh vegetables; gathered flowers
from the shrubs and blossoms from
the citrus trees, saw acres of all sorts
of fine vegetables, miles OF orange
groves, fine homes, wonderful hotels
golf links, and heard the story of Poll
and south Florida told in plain words
that glowed with optimism.
AS l have said before we were tc
return to Lakeland which we die
Thursday night. After, the usual early
breakfast we again entered automo
biles for a, trip about the metropolis
of Polk county and the largest INLAND
town of Florida. This is Lakeland
which has present population o.
over 10000. 1t is clean city, city
of beautiful homes and of lakes, hav
ing eight within its corporate bound
aries. 1t also lays claim to NOR;
paved streets than any city it's size II
the South The roads radiating from
Lakeland are among the best in the
state. They have been. CONSTRUCTED
by means at countrywide bond is
sue voting three years ago $1,000 900
The city is blessed with excellen
schools and churches. numerous in
dustries and a salubrious climate
though Lakeland has not posed as .
tourist town. ..... %.
OF course you have realized tha
around Lakeland are some of the fin.