Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1915-03-27
Frank E. Knox
Has Big Luck In
Florida Lot Sale
In Land OF The SeminOles
Former GrantUOOder Is
Highly Successful

Frank E. Knox, former Grantwood
pioneer real estate operator, who
knew the eastern stages of the de-
velopment of the Palisades in the days
OF its swaddling clothes infancy, has
made another pioneer success.
This time Mr.. Knox hied himself
to the big woods of Florida, where
once the Seminole Indians made the
melkin ring, but where now the
civilizlng influences of the tenderfoot
white has set its seal in that sub
tropical cline. Mr.. Knox sailed
away from this section last fall and
settled at Bradentown, South Florida
There he became Vice-president of
the Myakka Fruit Farms Company,
and on March Is gave a big excur-
sion to town lot sale at Myakka.
1t was huge success, according to the
Evening journal at Bradentown. A
thousand people went to the sale, and
over 100 lots went off like hot cakes,
there being over $4,000 in cash taken
in on the spot-clincher money to
bind the transactions. The local
papers reporter gave vivid descrip-
ton of the great event, and some of
the reporters rhapsodies follow:
With a record of 100 lots sold,
about $4,000 of which was represent
ed by cash payments, the Myakka
Fruit-Farms Company yesterday con-
cluded one of the most successful
town lot sales in recent years in
Manatee County.
The gratifying achievement was in
region which one year ago was
wholly undeveloped, preceding the
construction of the East & West
Coast Railroad, and whose town lots
were sold in new and untried COM
munity, excepting for the somewhat
crude development of the pioneers,
who have tested the quality of the
soil and environment and found it
good.
A few more than 600 persons joined
the heralded excursion which started
from Manatee at 9 o'clock comprising
citizens of Bradentown, Manatee Pal
metto and Ellenton, with delegation
from St. Petersburg.
The flat cars were equipped with
pine plank benches spiked to cross
ties and were much in demand as more
desirable for a day of pleasure than
were the coaches.
The train from Arcadia carried 400
pilgrims to the pretty rendezvous on
the shores of the Myakka. These met
the delegation from Bradentown and
Manatee about 1920 o'clock. There
was on the ground to meet the WISH
tors about 100 tourist campers and
200 of the pioneers and their families,
the "Crackers" who blazed the way
into the wilderness and who have
throughout the years lived in the en-
joyment of the land which has been so
generous in it's response to modest
effort.
Many of the settlers came with OK
wagons, while the younger generation
on their cow ponies gave wild west
setting to the animated scene. There
were pony races galore, and the de-
lightfully refreshing odor of roast ra-
zorback and sweet potatoes mingled
with the fragrance of the piney woods
and orange groves, which were plant
ed in this delightsome land in the days
when the nearest market was at Man
aztec, days journey through almost
trackless woods.
Luncheon was served in the open.
There was music by the Bradentown
band at a stand constructed for the
occasion and as permanent addition
to the new towns equipment by the
Myakka Company.
OF the highest priced lots, one pair
sold for $500 each; two sold for $500
90 oh. apd ono nair for S250 each The
lowest priced were $65, and prices
generally ranged from this to 5000.
About 800 ladies attended the sale
and by their presence added to the
holiday appearance of the excursion.
Vice-President Knox of the COM
pany, who has been in charge of i'm
provements at the new town, was in
charge of the arrangements and the
sale.
An impressive feature of the sale,
Mr.. Knox said, was the number Of
those who paid cash in full for their
purchases.