Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-23
100000 ACRES SOLD.
Hamilton DIsstOn Sells Half his Re-
cent Florida Purchase.
Philadelphia Press, 21st.

1t has been known for some time that
Hamilton Disston was negotiating with some
heavy European capitalists for the sale of a
portion of his 100000 acres of land in
Florida. On last Saturday a contract was
made by which Mr.. Disston sells 1000, 900
acres, reserving the right to select his por-
tion of the land. The progress of the nego-
tiations has been watched with much in
terest by many capitalists who are interest
ed with Mr.. Disston. They began last
summer, when an agent was sent to
Europe to fud a market for the
lands. Sir Edward j. Reed, who is
a representative of the purchasers, is a
wealthy Englishman who has large interests
in America and who is engaged in extend
ing the Atlantic and Gulf Coast and West
India Transit Railway. This road has
branches from Waldo, running south to
Osceola, and is being rapidly pushed to
Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. Its
course is through a great portion Of the
Disston purchase, and 1t must evidently add
largely to the value of the land. Sir. Ed
ward Reed was Mr.. Dsston's competitor
for the land at the time of the original pur-
chase, and his knowledge of its worth has
led him to consummate the present bargain
with Mr.. Disston and the Florida Land
Company.
AS is we'll known, Mr.. Disston and num-
Der of gentlemen with him, after the land
was purchased, organized a company under
the title of the Florida Land Company, and
1t was as the representative OF this company
that Mr.. Disstou negotiated with Sir Edward
j. Reed. Meantime. Sir Edward associated
with himself DR.. JacobUs Wertheim, of Am
sterdam, and other capitalists Of Holland
who were interested in the bonds of the
Florida railroads and other American Sc
curitiee of like nature, and a syndicate
was thus formed to buy half of Mr..
Dlsston's purchase. Sir Edward Reed and
his friends have been In this country for
some months and have visited Florida and
examined the lands. On his return to New
York, Sir Edward and Mr.. Disston had fire.
quent interviews in reference to the sale,
which eliminated on Saturday, as previous
ly stated, in the traT sfer OF the 1900, 900
acres to the syndicate controlled by Sir
Edward Reed. He aud his friends started
Immediately for Florida, where thev will at
once organize a land company. whose head
quarters will be in England. This company
will be conducted in connection with the
railroad companies, and, It is expected, the
land will be settled rapidly by English and
Dutch emigrants.
The Florida Land Company ratified the
agreement at a meeting of the directors
yesterday, and the first payment of $50, 1000
was made in cash. The lands of that COM
pany will now be placed upon the market.
Sir Edward j. Reed, K. @. B, Nj. P, is
well known English civil engineer and ma
val architect and consulting engineer for
Russian and Japanese Governments, having
constructed the entire feet of the latter
country. He is at the head of number of
enterprises in England, being chairman of
the Milford Dry Docks, which is the great
est work of the kind in the world. In con-
nection with the docks a line of steamers,
built upon designs furnished by Sir Ed
ward, will engage in trade with the United
States. With the party of Sir Edward, now
in Florida, are his daughters and son; Lady
Becker, of Amsterdam; w. H. Bennett, a
well known London Solicitor; Gen. P. D.
Roddy, of Alabama, who for five years has
lived in England, and Hon. Jacobus Wer-
theim, LII D., the Holland capitalist, who
has very large interests in this country.