Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 07.djvu/834

FLORIDA. garden farming. In 1898 the public lands of the State—exclusive of swamp lands granted to the State—amounted to 1,757,000 acres. The State contains much excellent pasture land, especially in the central portion, and rapidly increasing numbers of cattle are raised. The decrease shown in the table in the number of dairy cows is only an apparent one, being due to a change in census methods. Horses, swine, and sheep are raised in considerable numbers. The following tables show the relative importance of the principal crops and farm animals, and the changes which occurred in the last census decade:

. Manufacturing has always held a minor place in the economic activities of the State, but recently it has made remarkable progress. The total annual product ($48,000,000) more than doubled during the last decade of the nineteenth century. The manufacture of cigars and cigarettes is of great importance. This is confined largely to the southern portion of Florida—particularly to Tampa and Key West—and is the outgrowth of the immigration of Cubans to these parts. A large part of the raw tobacco is imported from Cuba—the port of Tampa being exceeded in the year 1900 by New York alone in amount received from that island. The following table, taken from the United States Census Reports (1900), shows the relative value of the different manufactures and the changes during the last decade of the century:

. The most important factor in the manufactures of the State is its extensive forest area, which yields nearly one-half of the value of the total manufactured product. The forests cover over two-thirds of the total land area, the long-leaved pine extending over about 6000 square miles. From the forests of pitch-pine, tar, turpentine, and rosin are produced, and these products have increased during the last decade from almost nothing to a large figure. (See Table.) From the live-oak forests timber for ship-building is secured. As will be seen, the lumber and timber products have doubled in value during the last decade. The forest resources are found mainly in the northwest portion of the State, and timber worked in the Florida mills.

. Florida is well provided with means of communication, both by land and by water. In 1900 there were 3255 miles of railroad, most of which was constructed during the two preceding decades. In 1880 there were but 518 miles, while in 1890 there were 2489 miles. There are 21 lines now in operation, of which the three longest are the Florida Central and Peninsular, 689 miles; Savannah, Florida and Western, 618 miles; and the Florida East Coast, 484 miles. In 1897 and 1899 the Legislature provided for a Railroad Commission to fix and enforce rates, the courts to hold the rates thus imposed as prima facie reasonable. The validity and constitutionality of this State Commission have been fully established by the Florida Supreme Court, and it is now one of the most effective in the United States. In the natural means of communication Florida excels, its peninsular shape affording more coast-line than that of any other state. This advantage is supplemented by many navigable rivers and bays.