The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-07-08
4 BIG LAND PURCHASE.
lCincinnati Comnercial,1

| iCincinnati Co,nnercial.l
| What is claimed to be the largest
purchase of land ever made by single
individual in tho world occurred today
when Hamilton Disston, = prominent
manufactures of this city, closed n
contract by which he securcu 4,OOO, 600
acres OF land from the State of Florida
This huge transaction has been In
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 acquirel-a tract nearly as
large as the State OF New Jersey-was
part of tho public domain of the
State or Florida, and under the control
Of the board of internal Improvement
of tho State. Owing to the recent
improved value of tho land Of Florida,
this property has been anxiolsiy look
cd after by capitalists OF New York and
Boston. For years, through agents
these gentlemen have endcavorc<l to
purchase the land. The state had no
disposition to sell until recently, when
it became necessary to do so to relieve
the State from certain obligations which
had become burdensome.
When these facts became known
there were renewed efforts OH tho part
of tho New York people who were
backed by Il we'll known German bank
ing house Of that city, and the syndi-
cate Of London, headed by Ex-United
States Minister to Belgium Sanford.
and the Boston capitalists, to buy the
land. Meantime, Mr.. Disston had be-
como we'll acquainted with tho value
of tho land through his already large
interests in tho State, from his connec-
tion with tho Everglades scheme. He
nj, In, tSn1I np,0 Sf,t tn
energy, keeping in tho background, as
he usually docs in his largo projects.
He put to work agents In Boston.
Philadelphia, Now York and Talla-
hassce, in whom he had full confidence
and suggested tho plans which have
been so successful. The other parties
have left no stone unturned to get
possession of tho property but they
were ourgcnornletl ut every point by
Mr.. Disston's licutcnnnts. Tho fight
was II most interesting ono, as many ,,s
four agents OF tho Now York Syndicate
being kept iii Florida, New York aud
this city.
During tho recent visit OF Governor
tho purchase werc arranged, tho COVER
nor having full power 10 act for the
Board of Internal Improvement, of
which he is president. But still tho
unsuccessful parties were unwilling to
give up the prize, and during the pre-
sent week used strenuous efforts to de-
feat Mr.. Disston, visiting Tallahassee
with very large sum of money for
tllnt purpose. The contract, however,
has been fully executed, and tho young
Philadelphia manufacturer is now the
posscssor of tho largest landed domain
in tho world.
The track is situated north of Lake
Okccchobcc, and Is nearly ali below
the land has not been made public, but
ii is understood to be II very largo sum
in cash. 1t is Mr.. Disston's intention
to at once begin al emigration scheme,
which will result In II very largo :l,ldi-
ton TO the population of EIoridn. TO
this end nc has already established
agencies In several places in this coun-
try, and will ut once organize cInigra-
ton burcnux I'm England, Scotland,
France, Germany, Holland and Italy.
Competent agents Will be stationed In
their proper cities In these countries to
induce immigration, and will convoy
tho cmigrants direct to Florida in
stca fncrs chartered for the purpose.
A. broad and liberal policy Will DO
pursued, tho object being to populate
tho country ns soon aa possible, and
unusual opportunities will be afforded
settlers to cmiEratc.
The lands In question are very rich,
having been selected from among tho
most valuable IN tho State. Rice,
sugar, jute, indigo, cotton, tobacco and
all tropical and scmi-tropical fruits can
be raised on them with very little ex-
pcnsc and in great profusion.
- -
On opening tho coffin of little
daughter OF Meredith * Kendrick, buried
at Newman, Ga, twenty-five years
ago, the child was seen with every
feature as perfect AS tho day ii was put
II IL, hllIll 1naa llll. LII