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Industries in Florida

The Florida Review

1911

The Hon. Francis P. Conroy, president of the Jacksonville Board of Trade, delivered a splendid address to the graduating class of the Business College of Stetson University at Deland, Florida, which was greatly enjoyed by the students and the large audience present. The graduating class is one of the largest in the history of the Business College.

In part of his able address, which contains information of great value to all interested in the state of Florida and its industries. Mr. Conroy says:

"Are you aware of the fact that we produce today about 50 per cent of the rosin and turpentine produced in the world, the estimated value of which is $20,000,000? Our timber interests are such as to make us feel that we contribute very materially to the upbuilding of the nation. In 1880, we cut 247,627,000 feet of lumber; in 1900,788,905,000 feet of lumber, and in 1909, 1,202,000,000 feet, the estimated value of which was $18,000,000.

"Phosphate discovered in Florida in 1886 has developed with such wonderful strides that in the year 1910 over 2,000,000 tons were mined, the value of which was $14,000,000. We produce 75 per cent of the phosphate consumed in the United States, and 60 per cent of the world's consumption.

"Our fruit and vegetable crops are worth in the neighborhood of $50,000,000 annually. We produced in 1910 about 1,500,000 crates of citrus fruits, valued at $9,000,000; 1,500,000 crates of tomatoes, valued at $1,500,000 and three quarters of a million crates of pineapples worth over $1,000,000. These few figures will tend to give you some idea of the vast resources of our state. My friends, carry the news to your Northern homes. We want you and your Northern friends to know that we had in 1910, 1,511,653 acres in improved farms and 2,852,238 acres in unimproved lands. Thus you will notice that while we have had immense prosperity, our development is practically in its infancy. My friends, why not join in the enjoyment of some of our coming prosperity?"

"The young ladies will find it eminently fitting that they interest themselves in matters pertaining to the moral and intellectual uplift of their fellow beings. The cares of womanhood should never be so great as to prevent giving some time to the work which so many of the splendid women of our country are carrying on through woman's clubs and organizations of a kindred nature. And let me here express the hope that the time is not far distant when women will have a right to vote on matters pertaining to the public schools of our country."

Source:
Excerpt from "Florida's Commercial Importance" The Florida Review, June, 1911, pgs 510-511.

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