The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-06-24
Truth Stranger than Fiction.

There is mn old saying to tho effect tina.
'thnre Is nothing new under the sun
and yet from the following it would III,
pear that there is an exception, even to
this rule.
AT point six miles west of st. Aur
Justine, Florida, on tho line OF the St.
Johns Railway, lies beautiful tract OF
land which has recently been laid out il,
Il townsite called, West st. Augustine.
st Augustine proper is the oldest City
in the United States, and abountls with
lengendlore, and historical antiquity, and
few if any of the many thousands that
visit Florida fail to take look ut the Sea
Wall, Old Fort, and the many other in
teresting objects. 1t was founded Sep
tember 9th, 1865, forty two years prcvi.
Ous to the settlement of Jamestown, Va.
and fifty-five years before the landing OF
the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock. TIL,
name, st. Augustine was given TO the
place by the Spaniards, because they Ian.
ded upon the day dedicated to that rev
cred and learned saint. ST. Augustine is
growing rapidly, boing the terminus Of
two railways, and others are being exten
ded toward it, and it is now known rs the
Hotel City of Florida.
The proprietcrs and owners of the II
lustrated Southern World, sixteen page
weekly illustrated paper same size az
Harper's Weekly, noting the great prog
ress being made i'll the Ancient City, pur-
chased large tract of land near st. Aug
ustine, from Mr.. VIM. Aator, of New
York, Immediately on the line of the St.
Johns Railway, which is also owned by
Mr. Astor, and i'll tho midst of this tract
and within two hundred feet of the rail
road, have planted in q plot Of 700 acres
tho CITY of West st Augustine.
From West st. Augustine thcre exists
direct daily connections for tho st. Johns
River, nine miles distant, with steamboat
connections going north, and south, dai-
". To t.Auguatine, six miles distant.
TO Pnlatka, the Gem City of tho south
by river thirty-fivo miles, or rail, twenty
miles, and Jacksonville by river or rail
thirty eight miles distant
In addition to this, the tract on which
is located the city of West ST. Augustine
is much highor i'll altitude than either st,
Augustine or jacksonville, and is rich.
high, dry, open pino land.
And now comes tho strange feature of
the whole matter; the proprictcrs of the
Illustrated Southern World conceived the
plan of giving to each and every yearly
subscriber to the paper, deed to u lot
in the city Of West st Augustine, 40 X
100 feet, free and clear OF I'LL incumbran-
ces, and parties becoming owners of these
lots are not required to build, though it
is confidently expected, because of the
delightful location thnt many will do so.
Florida today is tho Mecca to which
thousands arc looking with longing eyes,
and it is now made possible through the
enterprise Of tho propriotors and owners
of the Illustrated Southern World, for NIL
to secure HOME i'll that delightful State,
FREE.
Many will no doubt wonder how it is
possible for any ono to absolutely givo
away lots in the city of West ST. Angus
tino, and yet the reasons, when explained
are worry simple. Adjacent to the lands
upon which is located the city of West
st. Augustine, tho proprieters md own
crs OF the Illustrated Southern World
own other lands which they no doubt ex
pect will greatly enhance in value, these
lands will he by them divided in plots Of
Ave, ten, and fifteen acres, and sold ns
! the value increases. which Gs the lots are
taken will be very rapid, they also have
in view desire to induce subscribers to
become actual settlers in tho State, and
at the same time secure for the paper an
extensive paid up circulation.