The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-14

Jacksonville, Fla. Nov 13-New Flori-
da colonies are sprlnging up Ike mush-
rooms. but It IS hoped that they will last
loneer. \ colony proposition. to be han
died correctly and for the best interest
OF the state as a whole takes an I'M
mense amount OF work as well as a large
outlay OF capital
Selling wild lands. remote from all
transportation facilities. and represent
ing these lands as being suitable for the
cultivation OF every known tropical and
semi-tropical fruit and vegetable, IS all
wrong and win hurt the State to large
extent when persons buying these lands
come 20 settle on them and endeavor 10
raise some Of the fruits and vegetables
that they have been led 10 believe viii
thrive and bring great returns.
To advertise Duval County lands as
being perfectly adapted FOR the cultivation
OF oranges. grapefruit. pineappies. &c. IS
bad policy, 20 say the least Every one
who has lived In this section OF Florida
for as much as fifteen years knows that
such advertisements are calculated TO DO
the whole state, as well as the county
of Duval. an Injustice II IS true that
as an orange producing section this
county has not been q Success and there
s. great danger OF Il never being Dis
astrou8 freezes have occurred time and
again during the past twenty years, and
while some orange trees escaped, the vast
majority Of groves were cut down 10 the
ground and i'm many instances the trees
were killed outright by the cold.
Sell on Their Merits.
Duval County lands are well suited TO
large enough variety of Other fruits, such
as peaches and pears and to large
enough variety Of vegetables. TO enable
the honest dealer 20 sell them on their
merits without attributing to them quail
flies they do not possess.
The various colony propositions that are
now before the public VIII no doubt result
IN many thousands Of people coming 10
Florida 10 settle in the near future
These people, as a rule. have not seen
the lands they have bought and are
relying almost absolutely upon the claims
made by tho colony promoters. II Is safe
10 say that a large majority OF these
colony promoters are honest, straight
forward men and would not knowingly
deceive OF make false statements. but
these companies have agents in many
cities who are not scrupulous. These
agents sell colony lands on commission.
and they are sometimes reckless in their
statements about the prodUctiyeness Of
the lands they have 20 sell They make
all kinds OF statements about what the
lands are best suited for. and, as a result.
B0r1e people are going 10 be terribly
disappointed.
Orders Soil Survey,
Tho United States Department Of Agri-
culture is about 70 have made a soil
survey Of Duval County and when this
survey IS made and the result IS published
then the public will have some official
and authentic data, but as Il usually takes
a year or two for anything OF this kind 10
reach the public, Il viii be Of no special
value TO people who are now buying land
So this and other counties Of the state.
The Real Estate Guide Of the Times
Union has as it's motto IAN exponent OF
correct investing" In living up 10 this
motto care VIII be taken 20 warn the
readers OF the Guide not TO DO misled by
glowing announcements concerning what
me soil OF Florida in various localities viii
produce. Investigate; get a copy OF a
newspaper published I'm the county in
which the land IS located. Write Ia
county and city officials. or 20 boards
OF trade. and ind out something definite
about the capabilities OF the soil and the
standing Of the companies. firms. or indi-
viduals placing the lands on the market
An investor cannot be too careful in in
vestirating the character and standing OF
the persons with whom he is dealing