The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-08-17
As Others See 1t
OBSERVATIONS
(RY Moses Folsom.l

(By Moses Folsom.)
It may be bit of news to some Flordians to
learn that pig iron is being shipped from Bel
GUM, Norway and Sweden. and coke from Ger
many to Pacific coast points and manufactured
into steel. This is cheaper than to ship across
the United States by rail Before the war under
the cid freight rates, pig iron was shipped from
Birmingham to the western coast at cost of
SIP ton. Now it is $22 a ton. This European
material crosses the Atlantic passes through the
Caribbean sea, the Panama canal, and pays $3.50
toll per ton, and goes the long trip up the Pacific
to mills in California, Oregon and Washington,
at less cost than from Birmingham. Why not
ship this material to Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa
and Pensacola and start some mills in Florida?
1t would be less than half the distance to the
Pacific coast. Florida has access to the sea as
other state and freight by water is much cheaper
than by rail Why not make Florida manufac-
turing state? The chocolate of the tropical coun-
tries south of us goes right by Florida to the
north to be manufactured. The coffee of Brazil
goes right by our state to northern ports to be
distributed. Why not distribute it from Florida
cities? The American mahogany market is at
Louisville, Ky. 1t comes from the countries south
Gl us. VI lily SUOuiu II not ne iHdIheleu from
ida cities? The sugar of Cuba goes to New York
and yet it is much shorter haul to Florida Why
should not Florida distribute the bananas grown
in the countries south of us? Are making the
best use of our opportunities?
Regardless of the millions of worthy things
which have been done in the world, there are
millions more OF worthy things to do The OPP
portunity to do worthy things is up to you. No
body can live your life, do your thinking make
your decisions except yourself 1t is intelligence
that gives value to things. Ii you have good
idea develop it. Every kind of work begins with
an idea, but it is worthless unless developed.
DO not let others discourage you Edison made
his ideas work he had troubles of his own but
he went over the top. So did Ford, and Howe,
and Goodyear, and Mccormick and Rockefeller,
and Carnegie and Pullman, and Armour, and Hill,
and Fagler and Woolworth
Noah was told by his neghbors that it wouldn't
be much of a shower but he finished the ark and
moved in, and Fulton built his steamboat and
Holland his submarine, in face of discouragng
words Morse told he could never send mes
sages wire; Bell told he could never
talk wire and Marconi told he could
not send messages without wire, and de Lessep
was told he could not dig the Suez canal; and
the NTlSHt brOtHefS were IOiu IHey were IOOlluS
away their time to try and fly in heavierthan-
air machine Cyrus w. Field crossed the Atlantic
twenty times before he could secure the money
to make and lay the first ocean cable. Surprising
all these men, and others who have achieved, had
yielded to discouraging advice, the world would
not be as well off as it is today.
Never allow yourself to think you are too old
to develop an idea! Swedenberg 81 years
old when he gave up his scientific career and
devoted himself to a study of religious TOPICS
and during quarter of a century following, he
produced wonderful series of books and founded
a church system, and coming nearer home and
now there is Dr. J. D. Kerrison, musical COM
poser of Jacksonville who at 81 years of age, has
just completed opera with words appearing
in both English and Spanish. Make use of your
time, for Shakespeare says
How many ages hence
Shall this lofty scene be acted over
In states unborn and accents yet unknown"
The person with good health, good character
and good reputation is rich. To possess these
requisites all men and women so blessed have
foundations which they can build with full
assurance of success Those who seek success
in which gain is the sole object are playing with