The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-07-07
FLOR1DA,s LAND BOOM.
Details and Objects of tho Recent Purchase
Of Internal Improvement Lands.
Savannah Neus.

SQCQnIQH 1fet3.
A Jacksonville special to the Ne,c
announced the purchase Of 4,000,00(
acres of internal improvement lands il
Florida by the Okeechobee Company, o
which Mr.. Hamilton Disston, of Phila
delphia, is one of the wealthiest mem
bers. The Philadelphia P'ess announce.
that Mr.. Disston made the purchase per
sonally. But whether the title rests ir
him alone or in the company is of little
moment. The purchase has been made
and the State is pro6ted to the extent O.
81 100000 available capital. With ref
erence to the details and objects of the
purchase the Press says:
''Tbis huge transaction has been ir
negotiation for some months, and its
success was owing to some very shrewd
tactics on the part of the agents of Mr.
Disston. The land acquired-a tract
nearly as large as the State of New Jer.
sey-was part of the public domain oi
the State of Florida, and under control
of the Board Of Internal Improvement
of the State. Owing to the recent i'm.
proved value of the land of Florida this
property has been anxiously looked after
by capitalists of New York and Boston.
For years, through agents, these gentle
men have endeavored to purchase the
land. The State had no disposition to
sell until recently, when it became nec-
essary to do so to relieve the State from
certain obligations which had become
burdensome. When these facts became
known there was renewed efforts on the
part of the New York people, who were
backed by we'll known German bank.
ing house of that city and syndicate
from London, headed by ex-United States
Minister to Belgium, Sanford, and the
Boston capitalists to buy the land.
Meantime, Mr.. Disston had become
we'll acquainted with the value of the
land through his already interests in the
State from his connection with the Ever.
glades scheme. He entered the field and
set to work with energy, keeping in the
background, as he usually does in his
large projects. He put to work agents
in Boston, Philadelphia, New York and
Tallahassee in whom he had full conf
dence, and suggested the plans which
have been so successful. The other par.
ties left no stone unturned to get posses
sion Of the property, but they were out
generated at every point by Mr.. Dissto1's
lieutenants. The fight was nr inter-
esting one, as many as four agen~ uf the
New York syndicate being kept in Flor
ida, New York and this city.
"Duripg the recent visit of Governor
Bloxham to Philadelphia the details of
the purchase we're arranged, the Governor
having full power to act for the Board of
Internal Improvement, of which he is
President. But still the unsuccessful
parties were unwilling to give up the
prize, and during the present week used
strenuous efforts to defeat Mr.. Disston,
visiting Tallahassee with very large
sum of money for that purpose. The
contract, however, has been fully e1ecu-
ted and the young Philadelphia manu-
facturer is now the possessor of the largest
landed domain in the world. The tract
is situated North of Lake Okeechobee,
and is nearly all below the frost line.
"It is Mr.. Disston's intention to at once
begin an emigration scheme which will
result in a very large addition to the
population of Florida. To this end he
has already established agencies in sew
eral places in this country, and will at
once organize emigration bureaux in
England, Scotland, France, Germany,
Holland and Italy. Competent agents
will be stationed in the proper cities in
these countries to induce emigration and
will convey the emigrants direct to
Florida in steamers chartered for the
purpose. a broad and liberal policy
will be pursued, the object being to pop
ulate the country as soon as possible,
and unusual opportunities will be affor-
ded settlers and emigrants. The lands
in question are very rich, having been
selected from among the most valuable
in the State. Rice, sugar, jute, indigo,
cotton, tobacco, and all tropical and
semi.tropical fruits can be raised on
them with very little expense and in
great profusion."