Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-23
RETURNS MONEY
PAID To HIM IN
LAND DEAL
Scarlet Declines to Keep $4,000
Earnest Payment by DuvaI
County Commissioners.

JACKSONVILLE, Sept 22.-Ben
Scarlet. who sold 100 81 acres OF
land 10 the county commissioners last
week for S22Oo0, after purchasing the
property for S7.1o0, in a letter to r.
D. Drysdale, acting chairman Of the
board, has offered to return the $4,000
paid him as earnest money TO the
bargain and call the deal off and
thus end the scandal which plunged
the commissioners into hot water
In a communication Scarlet states
that he is unwilling for any Of the
commissioners 10 be criticised on &C
count Of any transaction with him.
He says further that he is on friend
~ terms with the real estate men
named to appraise the property and
because of the wide divergence Of
opinions relative to the value Of the
property he prefers to return the
earnest money.
Reputation to Maintain.
Mr.. Scarlet who has lived here for
% years. closes his letter with the
statement that if his reputation Of
square dealing has not been firmly
has worked in vain. He also express
es the hope that his action viii close
the incident
At a special meeting Of the board
this morning, called by r. y. Drys-
dale, the acting chairman, Commits
sioner Bowen. offered the following
resolution, which was seconded by
Commissioner Burbridge and unani-
mously passed;
'Whereas the county Of Duval is
in need of 100 acres or more Of land
for poor farm, hospital and pest
house purposes, and
Whereas 1t is proper and right
that all due publicity be given to all
persons having land to sell suitable
for the purposes Of the county; now,
therefore. be II
Resolutions Adopted.
Resolved. That the Board Of Coun-
ty Commissioners win be in session
on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs
day. September 20, "a and %, at .
a. m and that an owners are
requested To list their properties with
this board, stating price and terms,
number of acres offered and luCa-
ton"
Following the passage Of the reso-
luton Chairman DrySdaIc made a
statement, In which he declared that
reference to his part in the land deal,
published I'm a local paper, had been
unfair and denied that any considera =
ton relative TO the securing Of mules
in his district had Influenced his ac-
ton in voting for the purchase Of the
land in question for S22 900 lie also
said that il was not always wise for
the commissioners to be too public
when seeking to buy land. because
then you could never get IT."
THE people should first examine
the land and see what we bought be-
fore jumping on us" he said.
This talk OF land at $50 and SIC
an acre has nothing to II. Some prop
critics are sold at $50 900 one day and
bring 800, 200 the next"
Land Worth Half.
Members Of the board, real estate
experts and newspaper men visited
the land after the meeting and, aft
er a thorough investigation, the opin-
ion was general that the land was not
worth more than 500 an acre OF
about half the price at which the
board agreed to buy.
l. l.. MeEgs said he had 100 acres
on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
with a railroad spur running iIFto II
which he would sell for 500 an acre
and not charge any commission. OF
this property, fifteen acres is cleared
w. H Howell offered 800 or 400
acres adjoining the tract in Cuntro-
Versy for 500 an acre. This land runs
north to the Seaboard Air Line Rail
road and the National Highway. He
said he had other land a mile nearer
town at $50 an acre and some proper.
~ 70 ha M "a { ~