Wed May 08, 2013 6:00 pm
It's been a long time, but as I recall, the resources are all predefined but not always displayed early in the game. Sometimes the resource isn't there at all (no oil anywhere on the map at start) sometimes there's just more of the same resources, sometimes there's new resources. As time progresses some hidden resources are revealed by either event or randomly. You can pro-actively reveal such hidden resources, but not those that aren't there to be found.
For the most part the devs seem to have gone to great lengths to be pro-active in terms of what resources are or aren't where (no rice in Scandinavia). What resources is Florida known for during the time period of the game? Tropical fruit. Maybe small amounts of fish or lumber. maybe not? Fruit is there from the start, not sure if anything shows up later, my old games are long gone.
I'd suggest you're not discovering new resources because there are none hidden to be found. The are is to this day largely undeveloped (for good reasons) and most of what development there is happened post WWI.
Personally I've never found the reclamation decision to be worth the cost. Most resources that could be discovered and you would be worthwhile, aren't in areas that are both national and swampy such that the decision can be played anyway.