Evening star., 1926-09-20
Florida's Heaviest Blow.


Nationwide sorrow is caused by the
latest Florida disa ster, which has, at
present reports, cost 1000 lives and
the loss of $125 100000 in property
1t is one of the worst catastrophes OF
its kind in American history. Intense
suffering has been caused to great
numbers of people. who have been
left homeless, who are deprived or
the necessities of life, who have lost
all their possessions. The country
stands ready to render assistance,
awaiting only the word of summons
The American Red Cross is already
at work with supplies and medical
succor. The Government has supplied
shelter and food in such quantities as
are possible in the short time that
has elapsed since the magnitude of
the disaster became known.
AS in all previous emergencies of
this character, there is no lack of help
for those who survived the storm.
The pitiful part of the situation is
that the extent of the horror was not
immedia tely known. The storm de-
stroyed all means Of communication
and not for a good many hours was
the desperate plight of Miami and
neighboring cities disclosed.
The coast of Florida has perennially
been visited by violent storms, form
ing and gathering force in the At.
lantic north of the Greater Antilles
or in the Caribbean. They are caused
by the rising of moist, hot air from
colder air in concentric lines, increas-
ing in violence as they spin toward
the land.
In former years, of comparatively
little settlement, the State suffered
only slight damage when these cy-
clonic disturbances hit the shores.
Trees were uprooted, the sandy soil
was shifted, some injury was done to
the crops and a few small buildings
were perhaps destroyed. Rarely was
life lost except at sea. But now con-
ditions have changed. The State has
developed remarkably in the last few
years, has become indeed the play
ground Of America" Enormously val
liable improvements have been made,
buildings have been erected on
metropolitan scale of altitude and eX-
pense. Where a few decades ago lived
only a few thousands of people. now
live several millions. Where then the
constructions were worth only few
hundred thousand dollars in all, now
they run into the billions.
A stretch of shore about one hun.
dred miles in length, which may be
called the Gold Coast of America, has
now been hit by one Of these furious
storms of hurricane velocity. A more
vulnerable point could hardly have
been chosen for such a visitation. It
is true that the area of close habita-
ton and intensive development is
shallow, extending back only a few
miles, with a comparatively sparsely
settled interior But on that narrow
strip of shore centers the result of a
few years of remarkable settlement
and construction and business enter
prise. At Miami, which appears to
have felt the worst fury of the storm,
a thriving, progressive, modern city
has been developed, one of the Won
ders of this country. Present reports
do not reveal how badly it has been
wrecked Some of its smaller neigh
hors have been almost literally wiped
out of existence.
Florida has been badly hurt, but not
mortally injured, by this shocking
blow Of nature. 1t has suffered some
what in prestige as a climatic attrac
ton. 1t has lost some of the ground
gained during the recent boom in the
way of improvements and business
development. But the spirit that has
given 1t such marked advance within
a few years remains undiscouraged
and unchecked, and it will doubtless
rise from it's wreckage quickly and
substantially.