The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1921-04-22
Senator Fletcher Talks
OF Florida

thousand dollars are held by the state
authorities, who are trustees in charge
of the educational funds in the states
bonds. Florida owes itself, therefore
the amount of all it's outstanding
bonds.
Farm lands have increased in value
during the last ten years from IL per
cent in some counties to GIG per cent
in others.
There were 66,792 carloads OF fruit
and vegetables, consisting of over zoo
different farm, garden and grove pro
ducts, shipped out of the state last
year to domestic markets.
| Over two million tons of her pro
ducts will be exported this year.
Due attention is given to the build
ing of good roads the counties have
spent, during the three years ending
September, 1919, s17.OS5,432 on roads
and bridges.
The northern portion of the state
i produces staples, such as corn, cot
/ ton, hay, wheat, oats, potatoes, pea
nuts, tobacco, velvet beans, peas,
sugar cane, grasses, livestock, fruits
nuts and vegetables
The peninsular portion yields abun
dainty, corn, sugar cane, potatoes
and early vegetables of all kinds,
tobacco, grasses. livestock, and citrus
! fruits.
The annual rainfall is about 81 in
ches and is quite evenly distributed
throughout the year.
The two prime factors in the max.
ing of an agricultural state are
present, to-wit: sufficient heat and
| moisture
/ The chief industries, besides agri-
culture in general, may be stated as:
1.-The naval stores industry,
which is in operation in. all portions
OF the state. Florida is now produc-
ing more turpentine and rosin than
any state in the Union.
2.-The phosphate industry is most
Important and is operated in the pen
| insular portion. Florida now produces
| 70 per cent Of all the phosphate mined
in the United States and about SO per
cent of all that is produced in the
world. The high grade hard rock and
the pebbles. lower grade, are found
in inexhaustible quantities.
3.-The lumber industry is extern.
sive- particularly yellow pine and
cypress-and is statewide.
4.--F1orida produces about one.
third of all the long staple Sea Island
cotton produced in this country, and
also considerable quantity of the
short staple.
5.-The state can produce the raw
material for everything required by
man and beast and is manufacturing
in large part much of the finished
products.
6.-The state now yields about g.
100000 boxes of oranges and 100000
boxes of grapefruit annually-the
finest grown in the world.
THE livestock industry is de-
veloping rapidly and has been most
successful. particularly as to cattle
and hogs.
8. Early vegetables and fruits are
ready for markets before other por,
tons of the country can offer them,
such as potatoes, beans, cucumbers.
peas, celery, cabbages, and the like,
produced in increasing quantities and
with great success.
9--Fish, oysters, shrimp abound
along the coast, extending 600 miles
on the Atlantic and 500 miles on the
gulf, and create an important indus
try.
The beautiful lakes and rivers af-
ford plentiful fresh water varieties of
this most valuable food supply.
have referred in very general
terms OF the principal facts which it
seems to me one interested might
wish to know about. To detail or elab-
crate would require book.
!, The major portions are shipped into
other states and large proportion
moves to foreign markets.
The climate is most delightful all
the year and the healthfulness of the
state cannot be questioned. In fact, it
is the nations health and pleasure re-
sort, especially during the winter
months.
In many portions the people have
never heard Of the high cost Of living
They produce practically everything
they need. and have no niisgivings
about the future so long as the sun