Evening star., 1925-09-13
BY /. A. FLEMING.

from there 1t radiates throughout the
southern half OF the State and is re.
fiected to a greater or less extent In
every city and hamlet in Florida.
There are more real estate agents
to the square acre in many sections
than there are visitors--and real
estate Is about the only business open.
ing available for the intending set.
tier unless he is possessed of trade
or mercantile training or knows how
to care for an orchard or for the
highly specialized farming" of the
State.
Mechanics forget their trades in
Florida, drawn by the lure of easy
money in buying and selling realty,
chiefly selling realty.
Vast Acreage Available.
There are thousands of acres of
farmlands in Florida--finest truck
farming sections scattered all over
the State-thousands of acres in eel
cry, in berries. in Spring vegetables.
in tomatoes. In peppers. etc.
An imaginary line drawn from
Cocoa, in Brevard County, on the east
coast, to Clearwater. on the gulf
coast, practically marks the northern
boundary of the great citrus fruit
belt of Florida and you will nearly
have bisected the State. This would
ulous and prosperous Orlando, Deland.
Stamford. Lakeland. Kissemmie and
Tampa.
There is not a city south Of the
line that has not felt the influence
of the boom and is sharing in it.
Matter Of Recent Years.
Up to a few years ago regular Win.
ter visitors considered that these
towns were taking themselves too
seriously They would not believe the
stories that came up North. Agents
seeking to make land sales found II
harder to get small prices than the
inflated figures Of today.
The general improvement seemed to
start at St. Petersburg on the gulf
coast, and then in Tampa. Clearwater,
on down through Bradentown. Mani
tee, Sarasota, San Marco and Fort
Meyer, where the fishing is so good
one doesn't have to wait long be-
tween bites.
Miami Makes 1t Unanimous.
Then Miami joined in the chorus.
intensified in volume. Standing room
space became almost a premium and
fabulous prices were paid over and
property.
Hotels found the crowds too great
and inflated prices while constructing
larger establishments.
New developments. backed by
wealthy real estate corporations, were
brought forth, much money was ex-
pended in making snowy improve
ments, in building artificial islands
and waterways. in operating fleets
Of buses free of charge bringing peo'
pie from the North to note the
TO
the beauties of Florida in general and
of the development in particular.
Echoes of Miami and of the ad-
jacent developments were heard all
over the State. Acreages out on
country highways miles from the
towns were opened as suburban sites;
small town property doomed and
throughout the land the chorus OF
the realtor was heard in jub!lant har-
vest song.
Show places. homes of millionaires
and great estates were used as ad-
vertising.
Rivalry Between Two States.
There has been much rivalry, much
bitter interchange OF opinions, De-
tween partisans Of California ana
Florida-but it has been over the
question of frost, with the Floridians
y
greatest handicap of the fruit belt
of the former State.
In the matter Of frost, Providence
alone dominates. but throughout GER
tain sections of Florida, as In New
Mexico and probably California,
pyres are kept constantly ready over
fruit belts for the warning by the
agencies of the Government or the
approach of a storm of damaging IN
tensity. Florida has few frosts In
the belt.
If California had half of the aqua
of various degrees of pura that Flor
ida has it would be the garden spot
of the world, perfect American
ItaIy-that Is, southern California
would be.
Florida gets entirely too wet some
times, but the soil there and out west
fairly drinks down the rain in satisfy
ing draughts.
Study of Locations Needed.
II is poor policy for any person to
b,Iv a piece of land merely on a de-
scription Of its elegant location,
coupled with some statement that 1t
will advance $40 a foot week from
next Thursday"
a study of actual conditions, on the
spot, shows many splendid develop
ments that will. in all probability, In
crease somewhat in value as the days
go by.
Under high sounding names. with
Spanish tang or q beautiful word
played on for high-sounding title,
thousands of acres are being sold "un-
sight and unseen" also unimproved
and unworthy of being considered
development.
Much of this land has been fenced
In, some not even that; some Is still
under water; some has undergone a
partial development on highway, but
is neglected for two miles or more In
the rear, where lots are being sold by
mail.
lots in Chevy Chase.
Where Boom Is Busiest.
The boom in the east coast towns
is chiefly south Of Cocoa. Miami, OF
course leads all other cities in growth
Of population, In amazing beauty or
the surrounding developments and in
the wondrous prices charged Tor
apartments and hotel accomm odations.
Miami is going ahead by leaps and
bounds, and only those Of large purse
need make application for anything
from fishing to buying nearby acreage.
But there are other places. The
wise man VINO goes 10 floriua anu
sees, weighs and measures, may re-
ceive quid pro quod. But wisdom is
rare jewel.
Practically from St. Augustine all
the way down, there are rivers and
canals connecting them making one
continuous inland water way. with the
Halifax and the Indian rivers as the
main channels.
Between the ocean and these rivers
is a strip of land varying one-half to
fve-eighths of a mile and in some
sections to much more.
This strip of land is now being