New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-16
A DISGUSTED COLONY.
THE SCOTCH SETTLERS AT SARASOTA BAY

SINCE was originated Scotland by j. ). TAFT OF Eda-
burgh Six eight months ago Mr. TAFT wrote letters
several Scottish papers. in some OF which nc hai
controversy, and Published pamphlet entitled. "Emi-
grafton by Colony of the Middle Classes" Florida was
the State selected from the first. and 0range-growlg
WAS the industry specially to be conducted. Mr. TAFT
had made il a special point, In his pamphlet that for
this industry knowledge of agriculture was nnneees-
sary and II such knowledge had been acquired 1t would
have 10 be unlearned He also represented that tho
region In which he proposed TO locate the colony
admirably adaptcd to truckfsrnng and had excellent
and convenient markets that the coonlss while their
orange trees were coming TO tho bearing age which
with buddcd trees would occupy four or five years.
could more than support themselves and their families
nv trpck farming Mr. TAFT also distributed freely copies
~ the Florida number OF Descriptive Ameriea,
zine published IN NewYork in January, 1888, In which
Sarasota Bay place for his proposed cciohy was
mapped and highly spoken Of as paradise Tyr sports
men [; carefully conceang the fact which afterward
transpired but late for tho frat colons that ths
map and description only an advertisement inserted
and maid for by q Philadelphia company who were IN
tcrested in these lands and that the text OF inc maya
zine SAID nothing about Sarasota Bay the Iaha' VI
which were not then on the market
BY these representations and the positive assurance
that he OIr TaiD had connection with any lana con-
pany or emigration movement and thtt his Only nohfo
wa one OF the purest philanthropy and desire " hep
those who had moderate property from losing all IN
the depressed condition OF trade In scotand hs SUI"
ceeded in getting together sufficient number OF per-
sons from Paisley Glasgow, Leeds and Dundee 10 FORM
a colony. These persons, who were Intelligent ara III
comfortable put the most Implicit Ilh
in Mr. Tats statements and allowed themselves 10 DC
guided absolutely by him. BY his advice they bought
tract OF 600 land Sarasota Bay when was
represented "A compact piece four aud mar mics
In length and varying In width. 10 TINS trac1
the name Of Ormston was given. For TINS lana they
were charged SO 1Os-$l2 so per acre The company
eoyenanted In consideration of other payments to be
made by them to have carefully cared for on their
voyage provide shelter and lodging for them III new
York. should they have to the night there's to give
them frst-cass passage to Fernandna ana thence oy
rail and steamer Sarasota Bay, and there TO nave
erected for them and furnished for their accom-
mediation on their arrival and to have large store ana
warehouse supplied with everything they could possibly
need IN the way OF furniture and provisions dress goo
etc. etc-al OF which was to be furnished hem at prime
cost for six months alter arrival They also prom
ished that the Hon. Hugh Corley former Land Cem-
missioner ard represented as the best Judge Of lands in
Florida would personally for each colonis forty
acres land from this tract which should be OF the pest
quality OF orange and markets garden lands; and that
suitable persons should be provided to instruct then III
the proper cultivation of these lands The coousis were
told that they could grow sufficient vegetables and small
fruits support themselves aud families In from three
to foGr months they would be able 20 expenses
at the end Of the first year. and that they would nave
full bearing, FROM budded trees In hVe
years from their arrival
So much for the promises OF Mr.. TAFT and his assocl-
ate The party consisting OF $50 persons men. women
and children some 800 more expecting to follow,
went ON board FurnessA In high gee, expecting To
find everything be according to Mr. Taips assnrances
on their arrival at the promised land Thcre Rad been
no meeting Council since their Organization, 1t
was true except a very hurried just they were
going on board ship; but Mr. TAFT had given his word
that everything would be all right. He meantime, had
crossed the before them and 20 meet them In
Florida How were these promises and pledges full
filled
When they arrived In NewYor instead Of being taken
at once to Mallory steamer they were driven ashore
on the Anchor Lines pier at nearly o'clock on De-
cember evening midst OF one Of the seyerest and
most reuching OF the season. to find their way
as best they might hotels other shelter THIS cost
the coonss 900 On board the Mallory steamer they
Jared better were landed at Feruandlna. and thence
taken by rail to Cc6ar Keys where they we're detained
for four or days while Mr. Tait who had Joined them
al rnaudna to Sarasota Bay TO sec that AL
was ready for tnen Several OF the company wished 10
accompany him. but he seemed reluctant TO nave them.
saying that the Florida people were not prompt and
might not have completed the work they we're TO do
volunteers insisted upon gong but made no report
orf they did did reach Cedar Keys, and three or
| four days later the whole company went forward
Il was during this delay that few things came to
light which shook their confidence In Mr.. TAFT lie lad
declared that had interest in or any connection
|
whole matter he had entirely DISTINGUISHED ard
phianhropic and had Interest in these lands
than they had They learned that he ana his family
were large shareholders In some OF these great land COM
panies he had bought the $4,000 acres which the
company now held from another land company aud sold
10 them and then DO uht the 5000 acres which bad
been sold to the coloniss &C price not exceeding 81
per acre. and mad sold them at Sl2 so acre aad
that the deeds which professedy from the Florida
Mortgage and Investment Company were recepted for
tfs.,.
that he had visited Sarasota Bay himself when he
ended 1t to them strongly aud that the whole
| thing had been simply land speculation
The coonsts finally set sail from the little village OF
Cedar Keys for Sarasota " where they landed after
some difficulty there being but 5a feet OF water on tho
bar winch closes Sarasota Bay though they had been as
sured there nine. On their arrival at the future
town of Ormiston they found village, not house or
any signs erection Of any warehouse and sor
age house for the company building but had as yet
no roof There were scattered over Wide territory
three or four miserable hoves occupied by the natives
where the Of life could not be observed and
into which decatey reared women with tender children
were packed like herrings In box few had brought
tents with them, aud these put In use at once
Some made a rude shelter with tae leaves OF the saw
palmetto The young men were huddled together In the
rooaess storehouse There apparent intention Of
building houses. The provisions for supplying them
with food were II possible still worse; there was ono
stove which had pipes extending the roof Of howell
and frequently set fire. but cooking was almost in'
possible There -four In the store and soda or bakns
powder but the raw and sodden dough could not be
baked and the children could not eat 1t though pnched
with hunger Once butcher came along bringing few
pieces OF strngy tough meat Of the goatko Ferda
cow these eagerly purchased but he never came
| again. No men there to teach them how 10 Work
the SOIL the population was very small ana every man
| who had any land there anxious TO sell and get
| away The colonists had to hire such men as they
could meet nep them to look for their land They
had been assured that II was all within q distance Oh
fopr and half miles the bay, but the lots when dis
covered, fifteen miles apart from each other ex-
landing In rad from the storehouso Of and half
miles each way When found they were good for MOTH
al..al .la arfrur lknlk IN