Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1927-02-10
Dougans write From Florida

Dougans Write From Florida
Editor Democrat:--A number OF
good friends back In Ohio are clam
oring to know something about the
weather In Florida--just how much
different 1t Is from the regular Ohio
brand, and to write to all of them
would be a task we are loath to as
sumo, SO IL the editor will kindly
oblige, one letter will do for all Of
them, and for many others who con-
template coming to this sunny land
some time in the future.
As many know we staid in Colum-
bus some time before coming here,
and our last view of the capital city
remains a vivid memory. 1t was a
bright winter day in December. Old
King Winter had locked all shade
trees in the city in a glistening case
Of CONCEALED Volstead beverage;
hung sharp pointed spears from ev-
cry telegraph and telephone wire,
and from every cave; covered
streets and sidewalks with a treach-
erous sheathing that played havoc
with numerous automobiles whose
owners belatedly sought the shelter
of their own homes for the few re-
naming hours of the preceding
night. For an entire day the sun re-
fused to shine, and the mercury in
all self respecting thermometers
stubbornly refused to come out OF
the dumps. Then came the day We
left. Old Sol showed his face again.
His rays were reflected from mil
lions of diamonds pendant from
every bough of every tree and bush.
But bright though they were, they
failed to loosen diamonds or spears
from their settings, and our last
sight of the city was brilliant one
of Natures own setting.
Two days later we were in Winter
Haven, Florida, where summer held
undisputed sway--real summer with
dry bright sunshine that sent us in
quest of the shady spots. Later came
a day of showers and freshening
breezes, and a day or two of cool
evenings when couple of blazing
pine sticks in the CRATE spread
most grateful warmth. Again it
was warm-rather hot, then when
the big cold wave blanketed the en-
tire north we had taste that was
not to our liking. The weather bu-
reau warned that killing frost was
coming--a warning needed by many
but unheeded by some, but with all
precautions considerable damage
was done in the lowlands--early veg
etables were nipped, and consider
able of the citrus fruit was damaged,
and the foliage of many young trees
was frozen Just how much fruit was
damaged no one seems to know. The
freeze varied with location and
elevation One thing is certain, there
will not be nearly the amount of cit
rus fruit exported this season that
was expected
Speaking of exports reminds us
of something else that Florida has
exported to her very great advan-
tage during the last few months and
if this good state only knew what is
UCSl IO1 Hcl, Sil0 "ouio SApoi' AA~AS
more tons of the same product in
the near future. We refer to the
realtors and binder boys. She still
has a goodly surplus of these dis
tinguished gentlemen whose ab-
sence would entail no loss, neither
now nor in the future, but what
might be easily replaced by super
ior citizenry.
OF course there will always be
realtors here, and elsewhere, as long
as our present system of taxation
remains in yogue--no doubt they are
a necessary evil in the present stage
of society. They probably do some
good along with the train of evils
they bring about through inflated
values, and until we are wise
enough as a people to stop land
speculation by the method of tax
ing land values instead of taNingtha
products of labor, Florida like the
rest of the states will have her
share of the apostles of high-power-
ed salesmanship and the seekers of
the unearned increment.
Even now so soon after the bitter
experience Florida has passed
through, these gentlemen are pursu-
ing, so far as is possible, the same
methods of lot selling that brought