The Florida Boom by R. W. Parmele

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 21, 1912

The Florida Boom

By R. W. Parmele

Our workers are continually receiving letters from our people in the North containing such inquiries as the following, which I quote from a letter recently received:—

“Please write me a little explaining the condition of a working person in Florida.”

“We desire to buy ten acres on which to raise poultry, fruit, and truck. Could we do well there at such work, or not?”

“What would be the price per acre, and condition of terms?”

“Have you good drinking-water?”

“Is the State malarious?”

“I would be pleased if you would kindly go into details a little on conditions there.”

These inquiries have been prompted by the extensive advertising that the State of Florida has had during the last few years. We appreciate the desire of our brethren to obtain reliable information, and are willing to do what we can to help them in this matter; but we are sometimes much perplexed to know how to reply to questions. For instance, how would we reply to the questions quoted above, which are not at all unusual? The price of land ranges from ten dollars to one thousand dollars an acre, and “conditions,” or “terms,” are very numerous. Whether a person could “do well” depends upon so many things, the person himself primarily, that we can not predict with any degree of certainty the probable measure of success. So, when all is said, a personal visit is the only satisfactory way of obtaining the information sought.

The soil of Florida is very sandy, and requires heavy fertilization to produce a profitable crop. There is but little if any land in the State that is an exception to this rule. It costs in the neighborhood of fifty dollars a year to fertilize an acre of land properly. But perhaps three crops will be obtained during the year, and the produce being so unseasonable in the North, the returns are sometimes very great. By far the larger portion of the land is almost worthless for truck raising, but quite a portion can be made to produce citrus-fruits. These, however, can not be grown successfully in the northern part of the State. It seems that there are more risks by far in agricultural work in Florida than in the Northern States.

A great many of our inquiries are concerning the Everglades. Drainage canals are being cut as rapidly as possible, but to my mind the question of the utility of the land is still far from definitely settled. Doubtless a good portion of the land lying near the canals will in time be successfully cultivated, but from personal observation I am led to believe that it will never be advisable to reside in the Glades. The most of those who utilize them, I am confident, will reside in the towns on the edges, and will go to their places in motor-boats on the canals. This will, of course, greatly increase the population of such towns. I do not think that the promoters of the drainage project even hope to use horses for farm purposes in the Glades, as the soil is too soft.

For equability of climate, there is probably not a superior State in the Union. For healthfulness, this State is said to be unexcelled. The diseases found in the North are not so common here. Pellagra, hookworm, and malarial diseases are prevalent, but proper sanitation practically prevents them all. There are four kinds of water in the State,—salt, sulphur, hard, and soft. The salt water comes from the sea, the sulphur from Artesian wells, the hard water from deep wells, and the soft from shallow wells and the lakes. In portions of the State the water compares favorably with that in the North, except it is usually quite warm; in most sections it is very agreeable. During the summer, mosquitoes exist in many places, but in most localities they are preventable by proper care of the community. On the coasts sand-flies are found to some extent.

The principal railroads run in a northerly and a southerly direction. Transportation facilities are comparatively poor, and in selecting a location for a home this point should be carefully looked into.

This article is not written for the purpose of influencing any one to consider Florida as a place for future residence. Neither is it for the purpose of provoking inquiry, but it is solely designed to give in few words answers to a large portion of the questions which come to us. We shall gladly make personal replies to those desiring it, if they will enclose a stamp. Literature is often asked for. This can be had by addressing the board of trade of any of the county seats or larger towns in the State.

We would be glad to see more of our brethren move into this South land to become a strength to the cause of present truth, as our people have been exhorted by the Testimonies to do; but we do not wish to be responsible for the removal of any one to any particular locality, lest he be disappointed. We believe that, before taking the step, all should carefully consider the effect their move would have on the cause of God both where they are and in the place to which they contemplate moving. We have a number of struggling churches that would welcome other brethren, and we would be glad to see them thus strengthened. But let us consider the needs of the cause from both standpoints. Time and money are now too precious to be lost in unwise moves. So consider carefully before making a move, and above all things, do not buy land until you see it, nor before you have had an opportunity to study conditions in the locality where the land is, by a personal visit and counsel with those who reside there. R. W. Parmele.