Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-10-08
Seeing Florida From
a Money Standpoint
FLORIDA NO PLACE FOR POOR
MAN WITH LIMITED CAPITAL
SAY RETURNED REALTORS

polls journal one day last week. We
advise those people who have been
attacked by the Florida fever, unless
of the wealthy class to read what
these Minneapolis men say and then
decide TO stay wherever they may live.
There is plenty of opportunity in
Florida to make money if one has plen-
ty of money to start with, but the
boom section is mo place for the man
whose capital is limited" according to
two Minneapolis realtors, M. K Kjor-
laug and II. w. Williams of Confer
Brothers staff, who have just return
ed from 5000 mile motor trip thru
southern states and visit to Florida
They are marching through back
to Tampa, and they're marching back
broke, Mr.. Kjorlaug said last night.
Every day is like circus day in a
small town, thousands of persons mill
ing around, busy, apparently, but on
what one could say"
The two realtors made the trip for
the purpose of learning first hand the
facts about the Florida boom, and t
see for themselves" just what pros.
pect is for a person Of modest means
who is being aroused by stories of tire.
mendous profits made in Florida land
eve did not have an opportunity to
see the east coast activity" Mr. Kjor
laug said. but we spent some time on
the west coast. We came to the con-
clusion that the territory we visited
is big money and ready cash op
portunity, but there's no chance for
the man whose capital is limited and
whose principal asset is individual eff
fort-at least not in the large cities
Il don't mean that money is not be
ing made, but the situation has de-
veloped to the point where purchases
must be made on almost cash basis.
usually half cash, and prices are in
flated to the danger point.
Because Miami is filled up and the
railroads restricted to The transporta-
ton of food, the west coast is now re-
ceiVing attention as the center of spec
ulative opportunity. No building ma
terials were being shipped into Miami
when we were in Florida, and mechan.
les were obliged to pay more for a
place to sleep than they could earn
in the daytime.
This situation on the east coast has
diverted travel to Tampa, St Peters
burg, Clearwater and the surrounding
district One of the reasons for the
unprecedented rush into Florida no
duubt is the drouth which the south
ern states have suffered this year, the
most severe in many years.
Thousands of families have dispos.
ed of their possessions in Ohio, In
diana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Geor-
gia and are rushing into Florida. At
lanta lost 10000 people in six months
when we visited Tampa and other
cities, we found that suitable living
quarters absolutely were not to be had
at any price, and five room bungalows
we're renting from 5000 to $500
month, the same accommodations
which could have been bought last
May for $35 a month Tourist camps
are full at charges of 81 and $3.50
day for place to pitch tent. The
heat and the insects made life almost
unbearable for visitors from the north
"The cost of living was mounting
rapidly Eggs sold at 80 cents dozen
butter at 81 cents a pound, milk at SO
cents a quart, and oranges at 81
dozen Four miles out of Clearwater
we camped near a newcomer who had
paid $35 a front foot last May for a
piece of swampy ground. While we
were there, he was offered SO a
front foot, but he was holding out Tor
$500 when we left. We found property
selling at $500 to $500 front fool
five miles from the town. Tampa Bay,
which is very shallow, had been staked
out for mile and half, and lots under
water were being sold on the assur.
ance that sen wall would be built
and the area drained.
ION the way back we passed 80 Flor
ida bound tourist cars in 80 minutes,
and this was an average number. We
were told at the oil stations that there
are two cars coming back for every
five going to Florida. We saw many
actually walking out of Florida, many
ht gging at the roadside.
Merchants, oil stations, hotels and
refreshments stands are making Zig
money off the tourist trade. Laborers,
skilled and unskilled, cannot live on
the wages they receive in the cities
unR IS they have cars so that they can
get out 20 to 30 miles at night
Nowhere in the district through
which we travelled did we find paral
lei for the attractions of Minnesota
not place where so much value can
be purchased for the dollar in real
estate"
ED PURDY'S PHILoS
Men are oettino snnarter and sros r.