The Lakeland Evening Telegram

FLORIDA ACTIVITY.
Industrial Development Following the Wake of Agricultural Progress.

James L. Ingraham, vice president of the Florida East Coast railroad, writes to the Manufacturer's Record:

The striking illustrations shown on these pages in the last two issues of Florida's remarkable advancement in population, in farm land values, in the leading diversified farm crops, in the capital invested in factories, and in the value of factory products, all combine to emphasize the wonderful agricultural activities and possibilities of the State.

This growth, while showing a great percentage of increase in the last decade, has been a steadily advancing one; and when the many large undertakings that are under way in Florida, such as the draining of the Everglades, extension of railroads, etc., are considered, all of which will open up opportunities of even wider magnitude, a still greater advance is conservatively predicated in the next ten years.

Railroad building is typical of business advancement, and what Florida is doing in this respect is worthy of notice. In 1880 Florida had only 518 miles of railroad. As late as 1900 it had 2,935 miles. At the present time it has nearly 5,000 miles of completed road, with many new lines under construction while existing roads are in many directions pushing out branch lines.

A State which is drawing an ever-increasing number of health and pleasure seekers, of permanent settlers—some to engage in general agriculture, some in manufactures, some in fruit growing—oranges, grapefruit or kindred interests; some in trucking, some in dairying, and some in chicken-raising—is an ideal land for investigation on the part of those who want—

The most perfect all the year round climate to be found in America;
Manufacturing and agricultural advantages of vast and varied extent;
Transportation facilities that are rapidly being extended to meet the ever-expanding business of the State.

Florida is the State. He who investigates invests in it.