The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1909-03-26
ELEVEN DEEDS
ARE IN HAND
Committee to Secure Options for
Railway Site Report Progress.
FOUR MORE TO SECURE
-Four Owners Donate Their Holdings to
Great Cause While Seven Agree on
Terms - Outlook Bright Now.

After ten days of hard work the COM
mittee consisting of A. ID. Penney, A.
M. Sample, T. j. O'Brien, R. Whyte
and C. M. Horton, appointed at the
mass meeting held in the Improvement
club hall early last week, are able to
report progress towards the great un-
dertakng of making sure the establish
ment of permanent division headquar-
tiers and shops of the Florida East Coast
railroad in Fort Pierce.
In all, the committee is in possession
of deeds to eleven pieces of property,
three of which were donated by the
generous owners, and eight obtained at
reasonable figures. There are but four
owners of property who have not ac-
copied the committees offer, and one
of them, James E. Andrews, who is at
present in Jacksonville, has telegraphed
Mr.. Penney that he would do anything
to further the interests of Fort Pierce
and would make reasonable terms. As
the time is growing short, the commit
tee hopes to have all the figures in by
Saturday, in order that work may be
begun towards raising the necessary
money to complete the transactions.
Surveyors have been at work and
with the compilation of the measure
ments deeds are ready to be executed
for the lands owned by P. T. Cobb. Otis
R. Parker, A. M. Sample and F. M.
Tyler. These men have donated their
property outright, and by so doing
have shown their public spirit and in
terest in the future welfare of Fort
Pierce. The other pieces of property
for which the committee has already
obtained satisfactory very prices have
been turned over by the owners, sacri-
ficing pecuniary gain for the good OF
the community. A. B. LOwery sells two
acres of bearing pineapple land, worth
81 900 an acre, for 81, 200; W. E. Nc
Elroy of Pompano, has agreed to give
the portion of is land desired for 5000.
The others with whom satisfactory
terms have been reached are: w. K.
Lennard, $500; John G. May, $3.50; c.
F. Olmstead, two lots, $3.50: M. b.
Adams, one acre bearing pineapple
land, $425, and Miss Kate Summerlin,
corner lot, 5000. With the exception
of James E. Andrews, with whom it is
believed agreeable terms will be
reached as soon as he returns, there
are three owners whose terms are more
than the committee feel able to pay.
They are w. T. Jones, S. j. Owens and
Y. Lundy, but it is hoped, and believed,
that within day or two all the prop
erty will be in the hands of Mr.. Penney
and his associates, and Fort Pierce's
great opportunity will not let slip by.
In the case of Lundy, cOlOred man
who resides at Gomez, his price is con-
sidered exhorbitant. Three years ago
he purchased the lot now wanted for
Sl2O; he now asks $3.50.
In conversation with TRIBUNE man
Mr.. Penney said: $50 far we have met
with success. When all the people full
" realize what this means to our city,
[ think we will have less trouble. The
committee believes in fair and just
remuneration for the property, but not
in taking advantage of condition
which occurs to city but once in its
eXistance.
1t is understood that condemnation
proceedings will have to be brought in
one instance, and a jury. will decide
what the property is worth.
On all sides are heard words of en-
enlargement and hope, and promises
of generous subscriptions when the
amount of money needed is deffinitely
fixed Many promises have been made
to Mr.. Penney by parties who declare
they will contribute to the full extent
of their means.
The coming of the shops to this city
will mean the advancing of all property
values in the city, the lowering Of
prices in the stores and attracting TO
the city commercial interests which
will further the growth of the city and
make it the metropolis of the East
Coast.
A travelling man, speaking of the es-
tablishment of the shops in this city,
said: "You people do not realize as yet
what it means to you to have division
headquarters and shops here. Look at
nv city, st. Louis. Before the estab-
lishment of the shops of the Southern
Pacific railroad we were struggling
city, hardly able to hold our own, and
in fact going back, but Immediately
upon the opening of them, we took .
lump, and today are not far behind
Chicago as the metropolis of the West.
Don't let the chance slip. You won't
get it again"
As soon as the property matters a:e
settled satisfactory, the committee will
begin the raising of the money, and
then the future Of Fort Pierce as big
city is assured.
Later-James E. Andrews has returned
home and, as we go to press, agrees