The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-09-28

as Independent of direct and~SD
direct influence as l was able to
make 1t.
With others I endured the dis
comfort of over-crowded trains, long
waits in way stations, the SCOT and
dirt of travel and the distress Of
standing for hours in cinder-
blown vestibule for a chance at the
diner.
Cities "in the Raw"
travelled by rail, bus and motor
over the long, desolate stretches Of
pine and swamp land Of northern
and western Florida. What / saw
to break the monotopy of the fiat,
unlovely country in many long miles
were little hamlets called Cities"
where razorback hogs scratched
their backs on the porch of the
store. Sometimes out of the store a
drawing cracker" would shuttle TO
ask If you cared to make a little
investment" A sign over the place
might say, 1--WE deal in all kinds of
real estate, fish and general mchds."
AlOnB the IldlH LIdNSleu AulO
roads. however. there We're many
pleasant little towns, more prosper
Gus but still pioneer in appearance
and more wildly active in their re21'
estating. 49,
From this I plunged into the hys-
terical atmosphere of the boom
towns where land sells like peanuts A
at the circus and fortunes arr
made and lost over night, wher N
conscience is ones only guide ar
Andrew Volstead's name already FOL T
gotten.
From the gradually growing re ,
estate mania Of the west coas(
made my way down through v#ub%
south, across to frenzied Miami N@,#
up the east coast, crossing and HX
crossing the State at intervals.
Everywhere l was seeking Wh|
never found-the Florida of wv
advertisement. w
Painting the Lily"
The promoters had made the
mistake of painting the lily. The
sterling worth Of their country and
it's myriad natural advantages had
been submerged under a flood of
promises no one country on earth
can deliver.
Except in a few centers, solid de-
velopment was lacking and specula-
ton had taken the place of sane
buying for useful purposes.
Mine was the reaction OF thou
sands Of others who had braved the
dust Of the roads, endured the ter
rife heat and humidity of summer
and the drone and sting of the mos
quitoes which sweep in waves over a
great part Of the State.
l endeavored to study Florida crit.
ically, to see what underlies and JUS
titles the great boom, to determine
if possible whether it will last, what
dangers lie in store for the investor,
what opportunities there are to
make or to lose, what effect the ire
mendous price increase, the high
! living cost and the business and So
cial generalization caused by the
boom will have on Florida and her
neighbor States.
specifically to criticise the State lsaa
it's host of promoters, but to dis " q
err the truth and turn it to ACCOUNT, =
not only for the rest of the country,
but for the welfare of Florida, too.
For FlOrida's Good
The conclusions arrived at are the
result Of careful study over a con-
siderable period. They are agreed
with in the main by those leading
citizens of Florida, who have the
economic and political interests of
the State at heart and would like to
see solid, permanent development
displace frantic, 1nreasoning specu.
lation.
Epitomized, the main conclusions
reached are:
l. The boom has reached the peak
in some places and indications OF a
break are evident.
2. Fortunes have been made in
! Florida but opportunities for quick
returns for the individual investor
are limited and soon will reach the
vanishing point.
3. Florida faces a serious finan-
! cial condition due to curtailing OF
credits, unwaranted speculation, i'm
minent foreclose Of mortgages, and
tightening Of sales methods.
d. Swindlers, confidence men, FIRE.
sponsible promoters and the like are
in all sections Of the State, despite
recent attempts by legitimate deal,
ers to drive them out.
Sound Growth Retarded
5. Florida's hope Of permanent
prosperity, which will give value to
her real estate, lies not in her re-
sorts, but in developing the iniQffA
possibilities of her soil and feasrrN
industries.
6. This fundamentally sound and
necessary development is being re-
tarded by land speculation, high
prices, poor transportation, high
labor charges and other incidents of
the boom.
7, Florida citizens will be bur-
dened for years by high prices. high
taxes uncomfortable living condi-
tons and unfavorable opinion caused
by over-e exploitation and imitation.
8. Present living conditions In
most centers are worse than in the
congested camp towns during the
World War.
9. No man should go to Florida
unless he is we'll financed, able to
pay the high living costs. and
either considering some actual use
for the land he may buy or. II
specializing, willing to face the same
chances that he would in any other