The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-11
STORY OF A FLORIDA SETTLER
SrIRTED WITH 80 CENTS; HAS A
PAYING PLANTATION NOW.
Hard Work and Shrewd Sense, That Won
out on the Pinellas Peninsula-The
Danger OF Frost-Big Incomes From
PIneapples and Grape Fruit Trees.

Plneapples and Grape Fruit Trees.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla, Sept. lo.-This is
the story Of Florida settler who came to
Florida ten years ago. and after a series OF
ma and downs, with more downs than
ups. in northern Florida, drifted to central
Florida and the western coast and settled
eventually on Pinellas Peninsula. Hamil-
ton Disston OF Philadelphia was then alive
and was making things move away down
In this southern part Of the United States.
Doubtless they would have continued to
move faster than they have recently II the
Philadelphia capitalist had remained above
the ground to help push them along.
The settler landed on the shore Of Pinellas
Peninsula with exactly IS cents in hard
earned currency Of the United States in his
clothes, Nothing daunted he pushed into
the interior, then mostly pine woods, with
scattering orange groves here and there,
which, much to his delight, appeared to
have escaped the ravages Of frost.
For be 1t known the settler had owned a
big grove up north OF Orlando and had
been frozen out slick and clean, the trees,
then full Of fruit becoming frozen solid
down 10 the ground. Such was the effect
of hard freeze in the eos. He had
given the remains Of the grove away and
struck out for himself, seeking sandy plains
and pastures new, where the moth and rust
Of frost would not endanger the we'll being
Of orange groves.
He found work in a day or two at 81 so
day, and from that very moment he began
70 save money. He worked in groves
around here and camped out with friend
In shack for two or three years until he
had saved several hundred of toll earned
dollars.
About this time Hamilton Disston adver-
tised for bids for digging ditch to drain
q good sized pond on the peninsula. The
eettler very quietly purchased forty acres
near the proposed ditch, but at that time
well under water.
He succeeded in making arrangements
with Disston's agent, whereby he was to
receive for digging the ditch forty acres,
which he was privileged to select from any
of the land owned by Disston. When the
ditch was dug and finished and inspected
and pronounced in every way satisfactory,
7and finally accepted by Disston's agent +,
the settler and ditch digger was asked where
be wanted to locate his forty acres.
Right here said the settler, ION this
side OF the ditch
So when everything was concluded he
owned eighty acres Of good land, with the
ditch running between the two forty-acre
tracts.
Hamilton Disston came along one day
and inspected the ditch. He told the
settler he considered the work we'll done.
and while looking over the land asked the
question:
who owns that forty acres over there?"
Il do said the settler.
And the forty on this side OF the ditch?"
Il do said the settler.
Disston unused for a moment. He looked
things over pretty thoroughly, and then
with a twinkle in his eye, eaid:
We'll, my friend, that's all right, but
there is one thing I cannot quite make out.
Where do l come in?" 49,
The settler was a pluoky and a hard
working sort Of individual, and kept at
work, doing whole lot Of things with his
own hands. There was lot OF clearing to
be done, but not much palmetto gribbing
The land turned out 80 rich that only q
third OF the usual quantity Of fertilizer was
needed
After while. when the land began to
come In market and prove valuable, the
settler sold of the forty acres on the OPP
posite side Of the ditch. and finally part
OF the remaining forty. Disston came
along again and looked the improvements
over He ga W the bargain the settler had
for the second time:
Where do come in?"
The settler told him that it was too much
for him, and Disston went on his way,
studying over the problem, and he con-
tinued to study over it until the day OF
his death.
All the settler had to do was to fence
In his property, and when the land was
dry and in readiness to work he set out
his orange and grape fruit trees. He
worked with will and kept at it early
and late.
When the trees were just beginning to
bear and were big enough to amount to
something, one very pleasant night in
winter down came frost out Of the north
west and, prestol he found when he got
up in the morning that he had gained
another experience with Jack Frost and
had a second lot Of frozen trees on his
hands
He had faith, however, in the posi-
bilities Of the place, and went to work
for the third time. I was out there the
other day and looked over his cosey little
plantation, and here is what found. He
does not want to sell, and 30 am free to
state things as they are.
He has a neat little frame house. In
front is a green lawn of Bermuda and St. |
Lucie grass, with any quantity OF rose
bushes and great date palms.
on to the right and left are hundreds |
Of orange and grape fruit trees and tan
gerines. His Washington navels are, when |
In season, very fine. He grows the best
qualities, as he says it does not cost any
more to grow fancy fruit than poor fruit,
and he believes in having the best.
He has his own nursery, raises and buds |
his own trees and, with the assistance of /
one man now and then, makes out to keep
everything in apple pie order. Besides the
house, he has recently erected neat stable
and packing house.
On the western side OF his plantation
ne has a pinery. 1t consists OF exactly
one acre of land, and it is all well shielded.
His pines are mostly the smooth Cayenne
variety, and some Of them have been known
TO bring down the scales at eight and ten