Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-11-19
FLORIDA FRAUDS.
New Paper Towns Being Started 10 |
SWfndle the PEOPLE,

|
Florida's land boom has taken new
course, and in way to advertise her
many attractions and inducements to
the people abroad. No doubt, writes
correspondent at Ocala, Fla, to The
New York Sun, you have noticed
flaming advertisements of new town
In Marion county. The circulation of
there advertisement of bogus towns
has caused considerable excitement,
and many have already purchased lots
from the companies, while others are
DESTROYS of doing so, asking for iufor-
nation concerning them by letters TO
our people.
Having taken the trouble to make a
thorough investigation of this matter,
| am prepared to lay it before the
people through your widely circulated
newspaper. AS an illustration, take
g town near Ocala. Recently Silver
Spring, famously known in history
and books as the most beautiful spring
in the south, was purchased by a com
pany represented by Mr.. Brigham
Bishop, of New York. Soon after
this new town started three miles
from Silver Spring changed. it's
name from Garden City to Silver
| Spring Park. Circulars maps and other
information concerning it have been
distributed, informing that it was Sill
yer Spring proper. Silver Spring Park
is three Males from Silver Spring, and
the land is to poor too grow anything
except blackjack and gophers. Already
a number Of lots have been sold to
people who live elsewhere, and who
have not even seen their purchases.
Grant Park, Parkersburg, Marion
city, and De Witt, all new towns are
located IN this county, and each place
claims to possess the best land, con.
venient to railroads and water nayiga-
ton. and in good neighborhoods. Not
one Of them is near a railroad, and
most Of them are on poor pineland not
| fit for the culture of any kind of fruit
or vegetables. These places have
been started by speculative parties
who live outside the state and have
made their purchases through agents.
They paid about $1.25 an acre. and
are offering lots 40x200 feet at IS SO
and $15 per lot.
These schemes are the talk Of our
people. The result will be that these
lands will be purchased by parties
living IN the north and west. When
| they pay the state visit and see their
purchases they will become dissatisfied
and return hone Disguised with our
people and state. These schemes are
tie work OF northern capitalists and
OF those who are bent on reaping many
thousands for their investments. Our
state authorities ought to take action
GA such schemes.
Here is letter printed III one of our
local paper, and written by Mr., Fl. W.
Long resident in this county for
over thirty years and who knows every
foot of land in it:
''Grant Park touches the dividing
line between Marion and Levy coun~
lies, covers an area of one mile square
upon high, dry blackjack lands, sup~
posed to the old settlers to be worth
less. It is one and onehalf miles from
the nearest lake and eight miles from
the nearest railroad"
''Parkersville is situated on similar
land, and is about three miles from the
nearest railroad"
"De Witt covers two sections of $40
acres each, and is located upon very
fair grade of soil as to fertility, is surz
rounded by pretty lakes, and is four
miles from the nearest railroad"
marion city IS located west Of, and
adjoining Cotton Plant destrict, upon
bIack-lands and embracing an area of
over three-thousand acres of land, the
nearest point to the railroad being
three miles distant"
'"Th9 above is not written with s.
view to retard immigration from the
western portion Of Marion county, but
is written by me rs s. citizen of the
county of thirty years residence as a
matter of information to any who may
desire to cast their lot among us. We
stand ready to co operate with any
legitimate move to bring immigration
into Marion county and state, but
can not countenance, aid, or abet any
move that must necessarily bring res
proach upon the fair name and bril-
liant prospects of Florida, and result
in the end in the discomfort on the
part of new Corners"
The above towns are not the only
state. I know of several others that
were started to swindle people. Bel
more City In Clay county, and Bartram
in Levy county, are also emrbyo towns
which have already caused consider
able comment.
Florida invites all classes Of people
to her domain, and extends welcome
hand to all, but we do not want any
one to come who will return because
he has been duped. We have plenty
of good land and honest real estate
agents to represent us. The Free
Press of this town has already begun
to explode this fraud and will continue
the good work.
Tn fho rnunfrv l0fHaa