The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-08-18
P. j. BEcKs
Real Estate and Insurance.

Modern Florida owes its pre-emi-
a.,ce more to the activities of live
,o,l estate men than to any other sin
i, factor This is broad statement,
Snt one which will bear analysis. No
State can hope to win leadership in
,nv line without a growing population
i able and aggressive landowners,
,,so ouali6ed to take hold of the ma
.eri,l forces of nature and harness
.t.r to the needs of civilization.
More settlers of this character have
come TO Florida Of late years through
,bs direct solicitation of real estate
dealers than through all other causes
combined Progressive communities
here and there, working under the
leadership of hustling boards OF trade,
undertake advertising campaigns from
tme to time, but the real estate oper-
,tor is in the field every working day
in the year, pulling for the commu-
nity in which he is interested. He
sells farms and homes, and brings set
ters into the State who come to stay.
One of the foremost real estate
men Of Palatka is Mr.. P. J. Becks, a
gentleman who was born here about
6lV years ago, and one who is pc
cuRarly fitted by training and en-
yironment to understand the needs OF
prospective settlers.
For twenty-five years prior to his
entrance into the real estate business,
Mr. Becks was one of Florida's best
known contractors and builders.
Many OF the finest residences in Pa
latka at the present time are exam
pies Of his practical skill. He also
constructed several of the up-to-date
downtown blocks, as we'll as Palatka' S
handsome city hall. In addition to
the work done here, Mr. Becks erect
ed buildings in distant parts OF the
State. The cities OF St. Petersburg,
Tampa, Lakeland and Barlow all
contain evidences of his handiwork.
The popular Oaks Hotel" of Bar
tow, which was constructed by him,
is source of pride to that commu
nifty. In 1901, following the big fire
in Jacksonville, Mr.. Becks received a
contract for twenty-five buildings, to
be put up at the same time. For sew
eral seasons he was located in Lake
City and built IA of the most attrac
tive stores and houses there Two
solid brick blocks in the business cen
ter of Live Oak, Suwannee county
we're also put up by him about this
time. The last building which Mr.
BeckS erected before entering the
htld which he at present occupies was
the handsome and substantial Adams
bank at Lake City.
1t is now five years since Mr.
Becks returned to Palatka and opened
Dis real estate and insurance office
here During that time he has been
directly instrumental in bringing into
fu'nam county many of the most de
Slrable immigrants that have come &c
this part OF the State. All kinds Of
property, from potato patches to no
telS have passed through his hands
and the result has been general salts
action to all concerned with the de,
tails
During the past spring Mr.. Beck:
'cok over the exclusive agency o
'ne new Vertrees-Hi tract, 10
Gated on the east side of the St. John,
rVeF' three miles from Palatka, a.
Tue pigeon flies, and little further
ny road This tract is A 400 acres ii
extent and is composed of the bes
''ay-bottom potato and general truck
"s land in the State-the same quail
ny OF soil that has made Hastings
,''n and famous. 1t is also in tn,
nsart OF what is known locally as tn,
moving well' district, where artesial
1t's OF tremendous capacity may b,
O''en at small expense. Splendid ia