Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-24
THE SARA Sofa LAND sCHEME.
Statement of the Secretary az n Florida
Mortgage Company Mr., Tait's Con
necttOn with It.

from he New York Herald.
hpINBURGH, N. b., March $50 far
the companies aud individuals on this
side of the ocean who were attacked by
the Herald for their connection with the
Florida schemes lave preferred to say
little in reply. Yesterday l therefore
called at the offices OF the Florida Mort
gage and Investment Company. They
consist Of two small rooms on the third
floor OF house in st. Andrews square
Three clerks were writing in the outer
ohice. BY one I was usbered into the
sanctum Of Mr.. |. A. Cesar, Secretary OF
the company, who, though he at hrst
regarded me with Suspicion, at length
consented to explain sara Sofa matters
for Mr.. Tait's patrons"
THE STORY OF THE COLONY.
In replying to straight questions in re-
gard to Sir John Gillespie and Mr.. Taits
status the history Of the Sara Sofa scheme
aud the company's connection with the
atttir Mr.. Cesar said: "NOu may spare
yourself the trouble OF calling on Sir
John Gillespie. Eeis i'll. Neither he nor
the other directors will say anything fur
ther on the subject. | will tell you the
whole story. In the first place, it was
originally intended that this company
I
not as a land company, which was
purely an afterthOught. The COM
pany subsequently acquired the
small amount of territory under
$4,000 acres-which it holds round
about Sara Sofa. This tract was pur-
chased at las. per acre from seven or
eight vendors, among them Col. Dunno,
who sold us about ope-hfth OF the whole.
The sale was effected through Col. Dunno,
but MIR. TAFT acted for him during the
COlonePs absence from this country. The
$4,000 acres include all kinds OF land,
from the richest hummock 20 the poorest
scrub land. The company spent a great
deal on drainage, road making. building
hotel, wharf, store, etc. After the pur-
chase all the land was surveyed by Mr..
DuVai, the State Engineer, who made
private report TO the directors Of the com
pany, which was never made public, but
was communicated to the shareholders.
MR.. DUvAL's REPORT.
''Writing In December, 1884, be said in
su distance. Here Mr.. Caesar read from
the TepOrt): Il went down with Warhur-
ton and found tract consisting OF 1900
acres. The situation OF the land makes it
particularly suitable for growing trees of
the citrus class, semi-trOplcal fruits and
early vegetables. At various places with
in the tract l saw orange trees. lemons,
IHNsNNFN'a
all doing well. The settlers assure me
they have never been touched by FROST
OF the soil, Duval saws great part OF the
soil would appear somewhat disappont-
ing TO those unacquainted with the pecu-
| liaTIties of Florida soil. 1t includes pieces
of disintegrated shell mari, vegetable
mould and alluvial deposits. The tract
includes all grades Of land found in this
part Of Florida.
THE COLONY FIRST HEARD or.
''Continuing, the report says: Il have
closely Intercepted the settlers, and lind
they will not sell their unimprOved land
under $l5 to $25 per acre. In many cases
they ask much more.' Duval adds, tine
| village of Sarasota is situated at about
| the centre of the coast line. There are
also settlements at Little Sara Sofa and
CaseyO Pass, and scattered houses and
! improvements all down the Gult' AS 20
| the colony, except through the papers
/ which published Mr.. Taips letters, the
company never heard Of IL till the begin
! ming of last September. Mr.. TAFT then
wrote to me be had formed a colony and
| got about fifty emigrants to join him and
i expected one hundred more. In this let
| ter be said be was sending me copy OF
the pros pectus be intended TO commune
! cate TO the leading land railway corpora
| tjOns In Florida to see which offered the
/
| He also asked the company '0n what terms
would it treat for the sale Of a sufficient
quantity of land adding, III inclined 90
| sell will Il We evidence of the suDstan-
! TALLY of the scheme.' The company had
nothing TO do with the formation OF the
colony.
ADVANTAGES OFFERED BY THE DIREC-
TORS.
"ShOrtiy after the receipt Of the letter
the Board of Directors considered the
scheme, and after much negotiation
agreed to let Mr.. TAFT, as President Of the
Colony Council 1--WE never treated with
him in any other capacity pick out 5000
acres anywhere In our 47,O00 at f2 los.
per acre. This contract vas made out
with Mr.. Tait as President Of the colony
at that price, but the cOlOnists got great
facilities in payment. They only had to
pay 90 per cent. down and nothing more
! for two years, when they were to begin
paving the balance in instalments. They
also acquired gratis a building lot in Sara
Sofa bay, near the site OF the proposed
town OF sara Sofa. Moreover, the COM
panv undertook to purchase all necessary
agricultural implements, domestic uten-
sils and articles Of domestic consumption,
and retail them 10 the colony at prime
cost.
THE PATRONS.
SMr. TAFT, should mention, is a small
shareholder ia the company, though TO
less extent than was stated"
sThen must not one infer that Mr.. TAFT
made a singularly bad cboicein his landy
incurred your correspondent.
"He was assisted, l understand, in
choosing It by Mr.. Hugh COrley. Besides
| the reports about the land published by
Laurie and others are, am informed, not
reliable. This Laurie was disappointed.
| He is a weak. lamo invalid and went out
hoping 10 start a store or to manage the
| companY,s store, but arriving be found the