The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-04-22


Pensacola claim to be the first set
Our boat circled the old battle
ship Massachusetts,. which was re-
Gently sunk by gunfire from the
army railway batteries and then we
returned to old Fort Pickens for a
seafood luncheon. Crossing the bay
we were reminded of the last days
at Swan Lake; not by the weather,
but by the great flocks of bluebills
and redheads circling about and
feeding on the surface.
A banquet was served at the San
Carlos In the evening and the fea-
ture Of the program was an address
governor referred to president Hard
ing's visit to Florida this winter and
said the president went back to
Washington with the hearty good
will OF the entire state.
Among the other speakers of the
evening were John 8. Beard of Pen
sacola, Gary s. Willard of New York
and President Will Wilkie of Mime
George E. Hosmer of Bradentown
secretary of the Florida entertain
ned, arranged for, and contributed so
much to the pleasure and success of
the entire trip through Florida took
charge at Pensacola and informed us
that our train would leave for points
farther east at 11:55. We heard that
11:55 so much during the remainder
OF our wanderings that it became a
by word, but believe me, George Hos
mer kept things going on schedule
and carried out his plans to the letter
Mrs. Tompkins and / spent a very
quiet and pleasant evening in Pensa-
cola at the home of our friends Lieu
tenant and Mrs. Jack iseman. Lieu
tenant Iseman is a naval flyer and
did the most daring and difficult of
the stunt flying featured at the sta
ton during the day.
The City That Buried Gloom
The morning of March 8 found us
at the beautiful little city of DeFun-
lax Springs. "The city that buried
Gloom" they call 1t and Judging
from the happy. prosperous look OF
its people and the welcome accorded
us they must have hung the old ras
him deep. The stop here was only
for one hour and thirty minutes, but
it seemed to me that the energetic
people of that city OF $500 crowded
more into that one and half hour
than l have ever seen pulled OFF in a
like time in my life.
A bountiful breakfast was served
and We were given refreshing morn
ing drive around the lake, which is
fed by springs and to other points
of interest.
Before entraining Mayor w. NJ
Kemper presented each member of
the party with a key attached to a
card which he had signed with pen
and ink and on one side of which
was printed this message, "The may
or and citizens of DeFuniak Springs
Florida, extena to you individually
and to the National Editorial asso-
citation collectively hearty welcome
We hand you key to the city so that
you may know its gates will ever be
ready to swing open for YOU" On
the other side of the card appeared
some important facts concerning the
city and surrounding country.
The next stop was at Chipley
where boxes of paper shell pecans
and bottles of syrup were distributed
and We were taken for a five mile
auto ride to where contractors were
drilling for oil. Some of the drivers
were not correctly informed as to
the time of departure Of our train and
We were returned to the station to
find the special gone, but we board
ed the regular passenger train which
was then waiting and caught up with
the party at Mariana where lunch
con was served on the grounds of the
new 100000 high school building.
This thriving little city of Marian
| ma is the seat Of school for the deaf
| and blind and Immediately after lunch
the entire party were taken in autos
to see the school and as much of the
town as possible In the hour before
our train left.
In the Tobacco District
Arriving at River Junction we again
left our train. which was sent on to
us at River Junction to take us
through the great tobacco districts
of Godsden country. To the fuller's
earth mines, through the wealthy
little seat and half way from there
to Tallahassee where cars from the
capital city met us and took us in
charge for the remainder OF the days
trip. All these changes. the break
fast, luncheon and refreshments were
provided for and arranged by the
civic associations OF the various
that there was always an abundance
Of excellent food, more automobiles
than needed and not waiting mo-
ment.
Our host and driver through Quin
cy was superintendent of one of the
largest of the tobacco plantations and
was able to talk intelligently CON
corning the country and explain the
cost, manner of producing, curing and
preparing tobacco for the markets.
Godsden county is known as the
tobacco section of Florida. In this
country about 5000 acres of land are
covered with artificial shade con
sisting of frame work covered with
Stats over which is stretched cheese
cloth under which q fine type Of CT
gar leaf tobacco is produced.
Imagine if you can, one field of
seventy five acres covered entirely
with white cloth, and over which is
system of piping to provide even
moisture and spray the growing crop,
all by opening valves at the edges
Of the field. And remember that all
of this covering and piping must be
high to provide trucks, teams and
workers to pass beneath.
In addition to the shaded landed
lands about the same acreage is de-
voted to the growth of sun grown
tobacco, which is used for filters and
binders.
Stop for Refreshment
A stop was made at Quincy for re :
freshments and view the two large
fullerS earth mills located there.