The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-11-01
TWAS A FAIRY TALE
And Hon. S. J. Hilburn Nailed
II Good and Proper,

In the Ocala Evening Star OF Oct.
18th the following statement was
published under the heading Don't
Let us Do Likewise:"
II have learned from reliable au-
thority that the slump in real estate
values and rents that were feared by
| the business people of Palatka who
were opposed to prohibition is al
ready being felt in that city, and
with vengeance.
"A business man, with block of
property. which he would not have
taken $4,000 for before the election,
says that it is now on the market,
and he will take $4,000 for it. The
vacated saloons are placarded for
rent with no applicants. Trade is
dull and not near so many people
coming to town, and in n number of
cases clerks have been laid off, al
though the busy season is coming on.
1t is feared the conditions later on
will be very much worse Let US not
make the same mistake in Marion
county"
A copy of the statement was sent
to Hon. S. J. Hilburn of this city
with the request that he investigate
the statement. Mr. Hilburn did in
vestigate. and his reply was publish
ed in the Ocala Banner last week. 1t
is thorough review of conditions in
Palatka since Putnam county went
dry, and will afford little comfort to
the "wet" element in Marion county,
who sought, through misrepresent-
ing the conditions here, to influence
the coming election in Marion coun-
ty in the interests of the open saloon.
That part of Mr.. Hilburn's reply
bearing on the decrease in value of
Palatka's business property is as fol-
lows:
During our wet and dry campaign
here it was stated by those favoring
the wet side of the question, that
brick blocks would go for so per cent
of their value at that time. A veal
thy turpentine man, who had over
5000, 900 available, said that he would
take every one of them, and came
here after the county went dry aud
stated that if there was any real es-
tate in this city to be sold at re-
duction, he would take it. and he
really desired to purchase property
and | was looking out for him and
was unable to get a piece of real es-
tate in this city at a reduction. |
have made this proposition which |
will back up: L will pay cash for
any piece of real estate in this city
that has brick buildings on it, the
full amount that the present owner
paid for it, provided he purchased it
at any time during the last ten years.
| say this because | am willing to
put what money have into property
in this city, under this proposition,
and l have clients who will do like
wise.
II am unable to learn of any case
where clerk or employe has been
laid off or has lost his position on ac-
count of the county having gone dry,
except saloon clerks and persons EN-
plOyed in saloons. OF course they
would be laid off from that business
where it was absolutely discontinued,
but they are getting other positions,
and the saloon men, in some cases
that | have heard of, are arranging
for new fields of employment in this
city.
IF any more false statements are
made in your county to deceive and
your people in regard to Put |
nam county, kindly notify me, and l
shall be pleased to give you the facts
as they exist here and to demonstrate
the falsity of their representations
Very truly yours,
S. j. HILBURN.