Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-21
FLORIDA'S LAND BOOM.
Details and Objects of the Recent
Purchase of Internal Improve
ment Lands.

A JacksOnFllle special to the NEWS
announced the purchase of 1000 900
acres of internal improvement lands IN
Florida cy the Okeechobee Company, of
which Mr. Hamilton Disston, of Phila-
delphia, is one of the wealthiest mem
bers. The Philadelphia Press announces
that Mr. DisstQn made the purchase per-
sonally But whether the title rests in
him alone or in the company is of little
moment The purchase has been made,
and the State is profted to the extent of
$1,000,00Q available capital. With
reference to the details and objects of
the purchase the Press says:
"This huge transaction has been in
negotiation for some months, and it's
success was owing to some very sbrewd
tactics on the part of the agents of Mr..
Disston. The land acquired-a tract
nearly as large as the State of New Jer-
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 gen
tlemen have endeavored to purchase
the land. 4he Stage had no disposition
to sell until recently, when it became
necessary to do so to relieve the State
from certain obligations which had be-
come burdensome. When these facts
became known there was renewed efforts
on the part OF the New York pe6ple,
who were backed by a we'll known Ger
man banking house of that city and a
syndicate from London, headed by ex-
United States Minister to Belgium San
ford, and the Boston capitalists to buy
the land.
Meantime, Mr.. Disston had become
well acquainted with the value of the land
through his already lsrgs ,a,efests in the
State from his connection with the Ever
gIades scheme &c Hc 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
denGe, and suggested the plans which
have been so successful. The other par
ties left no stone unturHed TO get posses
sion of the property, but they were out
generated at every point by Mr.. Disstons
lieutenants. The fight was a most inter-
esting one, as many as four agents of the
New York syndicate being kept in Flori-
da, Eew I ork and this city.
During the recent visit of Governor
BloXham TO Philadelphia the details of
the purchase were arranged, the Cover
nor having full power to act for the
Board of Internal Improvement, of which
he is President. But still the unsuccess-
full parties were unwilling to give up the
strenuous efforts to defeat Mr.. Dsston,
visiting Tallahassee with very large
sum of money for that purpose The
contract, however, has been fully exc.
cuted and the young Philadelphia manu-.
fa3tHrer is How the possessor of the
largest landed DOMAIN in tha warld
The track IS situated north of Lake
Okeechobee and is nearly all below the
frost liH6,
1t is Mr.. Disstons 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, an3 will at
onsel utgani4e emigration 6ureaux 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 eni-
grants diEect to Florida ii steamers
chartered for the purpose. B broad and
liberal policy viii be pursued, the object
being to populate the country as soon as
possible, and unusual opportunities will
be afforded settlers and emigrants. The
lands in question are very rich, having
been selected from among the most valu-
able in the State. Rice, sugar, jute, in
digo, cotton, tobacco, and all tropical
and semi tropical fruits can be raised on
then with Tery little expense aud in
great pFofusion." =