The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-03-27

cult to visualize its great Importance
and benefit. In some sections in
drive Of ten miles there is almost
continuous groves on both sides of the
road extending far out and inter
spersod with crystal lakes presenting
an enchanting view never to be for
gotten.
An individual recently remarked
that Florida is not quite heaven, but
is good place to start for heaven.
On March list, with the thermom-
eter reading so degrees, a party de-
cided to take q drive 35 miles to see
10000 acres of muck land. Four au-
tomobile loads of men and women
from five different states made the
trip, and on the way we saw six hun
dred and seven hundred acre Grange
groves. Stopping at a cabbage pal
metto grove we ate picnic luncheon.
Arriving at the muck lands, we tested
the depth of the soil by running
pole down ten feet in several places,
indicating that depth of soil. This
land will be drained in the near fu-
ture and placed on the market.
There is now building through his
land for a distance of 1870 miles a
siXteen-foot roadway, running from
Palm Beach to intersect with the Dix
lie Highway at Haines City leading
from Jacksonville to Tampa. A float
Ing dipper dredge is used in making
the road through the muck land. The
dipper is forced into the soil, making
small canal and sufficient water fol-
lows in the channel to float the ma
chine. The dipper deposits the soil,
thus making "a high ridge and it is
then loveled and rolled and surfaced
with rock, again rolled and oiled.
Polk county is the banner county for
good roads the mileage being GAG of
hard surfaced highways. l saw a
road sign which read, "This road is
not fool proof; don't speed"
Leaving Sebring, l went to Moore
Haven, sixty miles south. Travelling
about twenty miles, the beautiful
lakes and orange groves were left be-
hind, when we passed through level
pine lands for some distance, Their
through an immense acreage of prai.
rio IopI with oohbono ,,oI,oo++o o,yo,-o.
on slightly elevted ground presenting
a beautiful scene for as far as the eye
could reach. Water is too near the
surface for cultivation, consequetly
this land is used for grazing cattle
and judging from cattle seen neal
the railroda they are fairly goot
stock. l arrived at Moore Haven
town Of 600 people, with a bank, goot
school building and other buildings
the county seat of Glades county. Thu
town had bank failures, fire and flood
but is now on a solid basis.
Prompted by curiosity, I liked sew
oral miles over the land in this vicin
ity and found several hundred acre
in cabbage; also potatoes, beans, peas
tomatoes, peppers and other vegeta
bles. Cabbage is sold for $50 per to-
loaded on the cars. | saw one field o
potatoes, said to contain 143 acres
and many other fields of lesser size
New potatoes ere now being shipped
The great handicap is to control tn
flood waters which sometimes destro,
the crops.
Mr.. Parker, at one time candidat
on the Democratic ticket for Presi
dent of the United States, owns nea
1000 acres of land three miles fror
Moore Haven and has about 600 acre
in various crops. I saw the land am
it surely is rich ground
Leaving Moore Haven in littl
boat 81 feet long we proceeded thr
a canal into Lake Okeechobee 40 mile
wide and 60 miles long. Crossing tn
lake we reached Canal Point, head o
WeSI aim Deacn cdildl, WHeie I'll
Florida Food and Sugar Refining CO
have 10G acres in sugar cane, making
nice sugar, so | am told. l saw par
of the cane field and several hundre
acres of vegetables. The land is i'm
mensely rich and no fertilizers ar
used on any of the land | have men
toned.
| omitted writing of many thing
of interest just skinned along an
hit a few spots.
f. W. KELSO.
; West Palm Beach, Fla, March Is.
OLD IVA CHIN CTOM L ETWHINI