The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-01-30

A FEW FACTS FOR FLORIDA
BOYS AND GIRLS AND OTHERS
(From Florida School Herald.)


There is much historical interest about our state,
which you should know Of good deal more so
than to pore over happenings in Europe, Asia and
Africa two or three thousand years ago. Our
state has in turn been under the Spanish, French,
English and American flags. You are here and
very much alive, and knowledge about the pyra-
mids in distant Egypt, and the sand covered cities
of Asia Minor, the builders of which are name
less and long unrecognizable dust, will not buy
ride on the street car, nor give you credit at the
store for loaf of bread.
Florida became American territory in 1921, by
virtue of a treaty concluded in 1919. 1t became
a territory March 80, 1922, with Andrew Jackson
as first governor. 1t became state March 8,
1S45 in the same bill with Iowa, in the days when
a free state and slave state were jointly admit
ted to maintain an equal balance of power in the
senate. The first governor was William D. Nose
ley, a Wing.
Florida is the only growing state in the Union.
The coral insect is building up islands at the
south end of the state and constantly adding to
our landed area Florida is the largest state east
of the Mississippi, Georgia alone excepted.
Florida has not been large printer of books,
yet few states have had more printed about it. as
n the beginning of white mans knowledge of
America, all of the continent north of Mexico was
land, thought in some cases to be the East Indies.
were printed in Spain, in France, in Cuba, and
9ven in Mexico. The catalogues of the congress
sional library in Washington contain over 1900
Florida titles, available to visitors only in the
magnificent reading room of the finest library
building in the world Persons interested in citrus
fruits will find Prof. Harold Humes Citrus Fruits
and Their Culture" just what is needed. Prof
Hume also has book on pecans. Truck growers
will find Prof P. H. Rolls book entitled Sub
rcpical Vegetable Gardening" to serve them in
many ways The catalogues of many of the Flor
ida nurseries contain much valuable information
Tor grove owners and farmers. The publication of
the state department of agriculture the state SUI
perintendent of public instruction, the state &C.
ologst, the state chemist, the state experimental
station and other state institutions, be made
of much by persons engaged in a study of
Florida and it's resources. Many romances and
novels have plots located in the state, volumes in
public Libraries and book stores
st. Augustine is the Oldest city in the United
States. Key West is the most southernly city in
The United States and has a ferry carrying rail-
road cars to and from HAVANA, Cuba. Miami is
the biggest town for its age in the United States.
Tampa is a factory town without smoke-sacks
but produces more stuff to make smoke by human
agency imam any Otner IN the country. 81. refers
burg is the sunshine city Plant City is the straw
berry center Sanford is the celery city. Pensacola
las the naval station for the gulf and aviation
school. Jacksonville is the largest city. Talla-
lassee is the capital. %
Florida has more sea coast than any other
state. 1t has more RAINFALL and more water in
axes and rivers, ard more underground and
available in artesian wells, than any other state
biologists say that the available underground
water supply if brought to the surface would
the entire state 800 feet deep. Okeechcbee
is the largest lake solely within one state and
he st. Johns flows north longer distance than
my other river in single state
Florida has the best fishing advantages of any
If the states. Our waters, both fresh and salt,
still water in lakes, running water In rivers, and
swelling tides in the seas, contain more than
500 varieties of fish. You can go fishing here
when the waters of the north are covered with
hick ice. We have fine beaches, with splendid
bathing privileges, along our shores, and in our
seas are oysters, shrimp, clans, crabs and big
urtles. The only sponge fisheries in America
are in Florida.
Florida has the largest phosphate mines in
Anerca. and the only mines of fullers earth
with mines of kaoin, for making pottery. Florida
leads the Union in the production of naval stores
turpentine and rosin. Florida has some of the
largest springs in America with outlets large
enough fer steamboats,.
Florida is the only state which over it's entire
area something can be grown in every month.
Strawberries are ripe and roses in bloom in the
open air at Christmas time when in the north the
ground is covered with snow. 1t is the first in
he spring markets of the country with lettuce
celery and other garden products and annually
ships thousands OF cars.
Florida ships thousands of cars of watermelons
every year to northern markets Jefferson county
is the largest producer of watermelon seed of any
in the United States. Florida ships more cars of
tomatoes than all other states combined The
largest pecan grove-72, 900 trees-in the world is
in Leon county. The pecan is the finest nut known
10 commerce. 1t does not grow anywhere except
in America.
Florida has more kinds of trees than any other
state in the Union and among them are two
kinds that are not known to botanists in any
other part of the world. Florida produces the
hnest citrus fruits in this country and annually
ships thousands of cars. Trees produce fruits
aus, oils, gums, dyes, drugs, chemicals sweets
! AnfE