Evening star., 1933-07-02
Florida Preparing
ToLend Its Help to
Recovery Program,
Much Federal Public
Works Money Expected
to Be Spent in State.
BY GEORGE HOYT SMITH.

BY GEORGE HOYT SMITH.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, July Flor
| ida is generally preparing to take its
part in the great work of rehabilitation
undertaken by the President and 1t is
found that there is response to various
Of the appeals made, in agricultural
! sections especially, where reduction Of
cotton acreage is being sought. That
Florida growers of cotton and Of to-
bacco will accept the program arranged,
is indicated in reports from various
parts of the State.
Florida is not among the great cot
ton States, having some years ago
found other crops more satisfactory in
sections.
A call to reduce acreage by 5000
will be met without much protest.
Reduction in the harvesting Of tobacco
will probably also be made at the
Government agents request.
Millions TO Be Spent.
Public works programs for Florida in
clude the proposed expenditure Of some
millions in this State; jacksonville Is
watching the construction Of a $2,000,-
600 Federal building. now 81 per cent
completed; and several other cities of
the State are expecting construction
work to begin on post offices and other
Government projects during the Sum-
mer. The highway program, in the
general recovery plan, includes proposed
extensions and improvements in Florida
to cost at least $4,000, 900. There are
several groups Of workers in the Civilian
Conservation Corps located in various
parts Of the State.
Coming out Of q Winter which was
marked by almost an average influx Of
visitors and Winter tourists and resi-
dents, the Spring in Florida found only
comparatively few industries at less
activity than last Fall: some were show
ing improvement. Since April there
has been Slow. but steady improvement
along practically all lines. and the
Summer promises to show a decrease in
unemployment and general optimism
regarding the future. Real estate, which
was at rock bottom the past year, is
showing strength again. Rents are stiff
fening in the cities, and some excellent
sales have been reported-with reports
OF considerable new construction and
improvements almost everywhere.
Year-Round Resort.
Florida IS taking up once more ex-
ploitation as year-around resort State
With many delightful seaside, lake and
inland resorts advertised and offering
accommodations equal to those avail
able in Winter. the season already is
proving excellent, particularly on At
lantic shores. Visitors from neighbor-
ing States are fiocking to the beaches,
and finding Florida delightful with
tiIyoly
changes in hotel ownership and man
agement Of general interest are being dis
cuSSed in Miami Beach and elsewhere.
In Palatka, where the magnificent
memorial bridge across the st. Johns
is about to be opened as a free
bridge" with much ceremony, a lum-
Der manufacturing company is to
make and ship a carload Of cypress
shingles. patterned after an old type.
They are to be set up at Mount Vernon
and will be similar to those used by the
Father of his Country when roofing
his home
A statement from an Everglades sec
tion regarding the hunting of alliga-
tors for their skins and showing that
four or five hundred fine ones had been
secured recently may cause some one
to worry about the possible extermina-
ton OF the reptiles. There are no
grounds for such fear, however, as the
alligator breeds prolifically, nests often
being found with so or more eggs, and
the swamps and bayous and streams
of the Everglades affording them ample
ranges for growth with but compara-
lively slight chance of being disturbed.
Great Fishing Found.
Down at ST. Petersburg, on Tampa
Bay, and near the Gulf OF Mexico, the
greatest fishing waters for tarpon in
the world, with several thousand appli-
cants already listed for the prizes Of
fered this season. It has been a Won
oerful Spring for water sports in Florida.
Industrial progress is suggested in
a report from Pensacola, which tells Of
the establishment there Of q big pot
terry works, the clay for use being said
to be abundant in the vicinity. Pen
sacola is anticipating extensive i'm
provements at the navy yard and avia-
ton field. The Government is pro-
posing to spend lot of money there
to increase the value and usefulness
OF its plants and training school,
Efforts to secure the designation of
large area on the southernmost tip
OF the United States mainland, in the
vicinity of Cape Sable, Fla, as the
Everglades National Park have not
yet succeeded. Twice the Senate has
adopted measures proposed by Senator
Duncan u. Fletcher and Senator Tram
NELL for adding great new section to
the national park group. But through
delay and the pressure Of what was
considered more important legislation
the bill has failed in the House. It will
be brought before Congress early in
the regular session.
Amendments to Constitution.
Echoes of the recently adjourning
biennial session of the Florida Legisla-
ture included the listing Of seven pro-
posed amendments to the State Con-
stitution, among them being one to re-
peal the bone-dry prohibition amend
ment, in the event that the eighteenth
amendment to the Federal Constitution
is repealed. The amendments will be
voted on at the next general election
in November, 1894. Another joint
resolution adopted would exempt home
steads from taxation up to valuation
of 5000.
It is significant that q joint resolu-
ton, which had been adopted by both
Houses and was ready for signatures,
which would hAXa coneoltdeted the