New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-10-17
Poor Florida.

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southerly Of our states was named cen
turies ago by its discoverer, is indeed q
very unfortunate one when we consider
that side by side with its beauties Of
tropical nature, its balmy climate ard
fertile orange-felds, pestilence has erec-
ted its throne. from which .sYellow
Jack" has for the last months dealt
death and destruction to hundreds of
Florida's citizens, to many inyalids, who
came south to seek health and comfort.
But short period ago California and
Florida were bitter rivals, both offering
1attering inducements to the tourist
and colonist, and both lauding their adj
vantages to the skies, till an irresistible
tide of emigration set in from the east
and north to the populate west and
south. Immense land booms were inaug-
urated, glowing posters all over the land
announced in glaring figures Florida's
balmy cline and California's golden
fruit. Many a well-to-do resident of
the east sold his all, transported his
family and belongings to the land of
promise, and with what result?
California's land boom subsidized fas-
ter than it started, and on account of
reduced railroad fares, crowded that
state not only with eager and creditable
citizens, but also, which was unavoid-
able, with the scum of eastern society,
till now the tramp and advent.lrer him
der the enjoyment of social advantages
otherwise to be enjoyed in the Gland of
gold" Speculation too, has caused an
excited status of commercial affairs.
and the reaction which has set in after
the boom was on, proves detrimental to
general interests.
And how about land speculation in
Florida?
Some time ago illustrated circulars
relative to acquisition of land in that
state at minimum cost were crowd
ing the mails, and many were the vic
Tins of the scheming real-estate firm,
which under the name of the est. An
dreW's Bay Land and Railroad Com.
pany'' conducted the sale of hundreds
of acres of practically worthless land.
How this scheme was worked is related
in the following, reported by an inyesti-
eating party.
,,The outcome Of the scheme worked
a few years ago by the est. Andrews $
Bay Land and Railroad Company Of
Cincinnati, throws considerable side
light on some more recent projects for
settings Florida lands. The scheme
was a plausible one, as the situation
possessed many attractions in itself.
But with its fine beaches, good fishing
and other advantages, st. Andrews S
Bay is one of the most inaccessible
places in Florida. It is reached on the
water side only by small schooners, and
on the land side by a toilsome journey
through sixty miles of light sand. The
Cincinnati company obtained some Of
the land in large tracts for about q dol
lar an acre, and secured others at nomi-
nal prices from private parties by for
led representations of what they were
about to do. They divided the lands
into lots, twenty-five by eighty feet, or
twenty four to the acre. These they Of
fered to give away upon payment Of
one dollar and twenty Eve cents for map,
plans, and fee for recording the deed.
This netted about a dollar lot, OF
twenty-four dollars per acre, for which
the company paid one dollar. Then
they wrote to each Of their dupes offer,
! ing to sell for three dollars the lot ada.
centto the one already purchased. They
advertised excursion tickets from Gin
cinnati to st. Andrews Bay at ten dol
lars for the round trip to all purchasers