well. In fact, before the Civil War, when farmers settled in Florida, this was practically the only section in which farming was carried on, as the lands were the choicest of the State.
Yon would be surprised to know of the thousands of acres of large plantations in Jackson, and other counties of the State. Here you find the limestone formation, where millions of dollars’ worth of rich lime will some day be carried out for building and agricultural purposes.
Many large eaves in which most beautiful crystal stalactites and stalagmites form drapery to divide large rooms. Rivers boil up through long, green plumes of peculiar moss, clear as crystal, with bright rainbow tints in the sunlight.
The quail, the wild turkey, deer and other wild game make a paradise for the sportsman.
The great Dead Lakes, in Calhoun County, are well known as the greatest fresh water fishing in the South, and the salt water fishing cannot be excelled along the coast. Many other similar attractions in other parts of North Florida can be enjoyed by motorists.
If the motorist cares for outdoor sports, he will find the farmers through this section clever and liberal as to hunting privileges, where they know parties are reliable and responsible. Some of tbe most appropriate localities for locating game reserves are found in North Florida that exist in the South.
There is no section of the country where lands of as good quality can be purchased so cheaply as In North Florida, and the people of the North are rapidly taking advantage of these low prices. No money can be lost in investing here, if reasonable judgment is exercised. As the country has not been overrated by exaggerating advertisements, most of the counties have no real estate agents to round up bargains, and the land owners sell only to local inhabitants. So the prices of land have not been inflated to anything like their value.
The highways are being put in better condition; nearly all of them are sand-clay roads. The State Road Department is now giving special attention to ibis section, and hoping to bridge mighty streams and connect the missing links. It will not be long before North Florida will have about 400 miles of continuous highway running Bast and West across the northern part of the State.
All visitors to Florida should see Tallahassee, the Capital of the State. The scenery here is very beautiful, and valuable information as to the condition of localities, the condition of the roads, can be obtained from the State Road Department whose headquarters are here, and maps will be furnished with pleasure.
It will be remembered that Florida is a real leader in roads; there are forty counties in the State that have spent eighteen million dollars on the roads. The taxation of $22 per capita for roads alone and 75 cents per acre for road tax. There are 9,000 miles of hard road in Florida.
Motorists coming into Florida, if from the West, should come through Pensacola, and follow the Old Spanish Trail into Jacksonville. If they should come down through Alabama, directly from the North, then take the North and South Bee Line Highway through Montgomery, Alabama, via Dothan, Alabama, and hit the Old Spanish Trail at Marianna, Florida. From thence, they can travel east through Tallahassee, the Capital, on to Jacksonville, and then on south. Or, they can turn south at Lake City, Florida, and split the State open into Tampa, and other large towns along the Spanish Trail. It' tourists are traveling south through Georgia, a good route is to come over the Dixie Highway to Thomasville, thence into Tallahassee, the Capital, from which point all localities can be reached over highways in Florida. However, if tourists are coming along the Atlantic Coast lines, it is proper to come to Florida direct into Jacksonville, from which point the State can be well covered.
The North Florida Chamber of Commerce, with its headquarters at Tallahassc, Florida, will be glad to give out information or take up correspondence, through its Secretary, Mrs. F. R. S. Phillips, with all persons interested in Florida, or motorists who wish to visit these sections. And on arrival in Tallahassee, it is expected that all visitors will use the North Florida Chamber of Commerce in any way that will be of benefit or help to them.
(From “The Richmond (Va.), Motorist,” November, 1917.)