Florida

the most southeasterly state of the Union. The name is Spanish, signifying "flowery." It was given in 1512 by Ponce de Leon, the first European to visit the state. On account of its shape, Florida is called the Peninsular State. It is called the Everglade State also, from the extensive swamps of that name. Its area is about 58,680 square miles. The entire surface of the state is low. It consists of earth washed down from the main continent or thrown up by the sea, resting in part on coral reefs. A chain of coral islands, here called keys, curves outward from the southern extremity toward Cuba. Key West is the outermost. The greatest altitude of the state is that of Mossyhead, 263 feet above the level of the sea.

CHARACTERISTICS. The most characteristic features of the state are levels of fine pine forests, extensive grassy swamps, known as Everglades, and swamps of cypress. Immense springs well up here and there. One of the most noted boils up a mile or two out at sea near St. Augustine; another, called the Silver Springs, in Marion Country, pours forth a good sized stream, almost navigable for boats. Tourists are told that it discharges 300,000,000 gallons daily. To those who are accustomed to expect large springs only in a hilly country, or among mountains, these wonderful outbursts of underground water are a surprise. Lake Okechobee at the northern end of the Everglades is fed by a number of these springs.

RIVERS. The annual rainfall varies, of course. It may be stated at from fifty to sixty inches. This, taken in connection with the large springs mentioned, makes the rivers of Florida much larger than might be expected. The largest, the St. John River, is navigable for 250 miles of its course. One hundred and fifty miles from its mouth it is a mile in width. It carries an enormous volume of water to the sea. Another river is the Suwanee, noted in plantation minstrelsy.

COAST LINE. The coast is 1,000 miles in extent, not counting islands. St. Augustine, founded in 1565, and Jackson on the St. John, have the principal harbors on the eastern coast. The western coast is better provided. Pensacola and Tampa, visited by De Soto in 1539, are the most noted harbors. Key West has one of the finest island harbors in the world.

CLIMATE. The climate of Florida is the mildest in the Union. Freezing weather is experienced rarely. The usual winter temperature ranges from fifty to seventy degrees. Navigable rivers, abundance of game, firm, sandy seacoasts, excellent hotel accommodations, and a delightfully bracing winter atmosphere enable Florida to divide honors with southern California as a winter resort.

NATIVE POPULATION. The state was long the stronghold of the Seminole Indians. Although, in deference to the wishes of the people of the South, who dreaded their influence over the negroes, every effort was made to induce them to cede their lands, it was not until 1834 that General Jackson succeeded in removing the most of them to the Indian Territory. The fate of the Seminoles is really pathetic. They appear to have been much attached to their swamps and uplands.

FAUNA. Deer, wild turkeys, green turtles, and other game are still abundant. The number and variety of game fishes is quite remarkable. Alligators were formerly so numerous that tourists amused themselves shooting them with rifles from the deck of the passing steamer, but they have been so hunted for their hides that they are now rare. Among curious birds are the anhinga or water turkey and the bright-plumaged parokeet. Several other brilliant birds have been reduced greatly in numbers by hunters in the service of wholesale milliners. Immense quantities of fresh fish are sent northward to the city markets. The sponge fisheries at Key West are important.

FLORA. The plant life of Florida is unusually rich and varied, being almost tropical in its character. Many trees and flowers resemble those of the West Indies and the Amazon Valley, rather than those of North America. The cocoanut, mahogany, palm, and a species of rubber tree grow in certain localities. There are large upland forests of pine. They are now one of the world's chief sources of turpentine, tar, and rosin. It is said that half of the state is under timber. One of the most noticeable trees is the live oak, draped with long moss, such as Longfellow mentions in his Evangeline. There are extensive cypress swamps. One of the principal nutbearing trees is the hickory.

AGRICULTURE. Although much of the soil is sandy, it appears to be unusually fertile. The swamps are filled with decaying vegetable matter, often to a depth of many feet. Ditches have been dug to drain extensive tracts. Extensive areas have been reclaimed in the vicinity of Lake Okechobee. Among the state's principal productions are sugar-cane, rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, peanuts, cassava, tobacco, melons, walnuts, limes, guava, plums, peaches, pears, and pineapples. Fortunes have been made in raising lemons and oranges, and fortunes have been destroyed by unfortunate winter frosts, coming just often enough to bring disaster.

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. Florida is well provided with railroads. Lines of steamers ply between the principal ports and Charleston, Philadelphia, and New York. The principal shipments are fruits, tobacco, and a rock called phosphate, much in demand as a fertilizer. The latter is quarried in immense quantities. The convicts in the state penitentiary are employed in digging and loading it. Fuller's earth, used in bleaching cotton is obtained chiefly from Florida. The principal manufacture of the state is that of cigarmaking. This industry is centered largely at Tampa and at Key West. Havana tobacco is used largely. Passengers for Cuba take ship usually at Tampa for Key West or Havana.

Florida was ceded to the United States by Spain in 1819. It was admitted to the Union in 1845; seceded January 10, 1861, and was restored in 1868. The state maintains a double system of schools--one for white children; another for colored. The state capital is at Tallahassee. The governor is elected for four years and cannot succeed himself. The pay of legislators is limited to sixty days. In 1900 the population was 528,542, about two-fifths colored. The next census is expected to show a gain of not less than 100,000.

STATISTICS. The following statistics are the latest to be had from trustworthy sources:

See Everglades; De Soto; Seminoles; St. Augustine; Ponce De Leon; Osceola; Alligator; Key West; Pineapple