Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (August 10, 1927)
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (August 10, 1927)
Alternative Title
Chase Correspondence (August 10, 1927)
Subject
Sanford (Fla.)
Chase, Sydney Octavius, 1860-1941
Bonds--Florida
Citrus--Florida
Citrus fruit industry--Florida
Description
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include an enclosed copy of a letter from Mr. Newton, J. Curtis Robinson's documents regarding the Prune growers clearing house in California, Newton's scheduled speech for a joint citrus growers and farmers meeting in Gainesville, Joshua's letter to Mr. Commander, the resignation of Forrest Lake as Commissioner and Mayor of Sanford, Sydney's scheduled interview with Chair of the County Commissioner L. L. Payne, strategies to bear some of the expenses of the brothers' road proposition.
Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965.
Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965.
Creator
Chase, Sydney Octavius
Source
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, August 10, 1927: box 173, folder 2.51, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Date Created
1927-08-10
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, August 10, 1927.
Is Part Of
Chase Collection (MS 14), box 173, folder 2.51, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Citrus Collection, Chase Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Is Referenced By
Folder referenced in Chase Collection finding guide, http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/spec/pkyonge/chase.htm.
Requires
Format
application/pdf
Extent
521 KB
Medium
3-page typewritten letter on Chase & Company letterhead
Language
eng
Type
Text
Coverage
Chase & Company Office, Sanford, Florida
Camden, Maine
Gainesville, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Civics/Government Teacher
Economics Teacher
Geography Teacher
Provenance
Entire Chase Collection is comprised of four separate accessions from various donors, including Cecilia Johnson, the granddaughter of Joshua Coffin Chase and the children of Randall Chase.
Rights Holder
The displayed collection item is housed at Special and Area Studies Collections at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Rights to this item belong to the said institution, and therefore inquiries about the item should be directed there. RICHES of Central Florida has obtained permission from Special and Area Studies Collections at the University of Florida to display this item for educational purposes only.
Contributing Project
Special and Area Studies Collections, University of Florida
Digital Collections (UFDC), University of Florida
Curator
Cepero, Laura
Digital Collection
Source Repository
University of Florida, Special and Area Studies Collections
External Reference
Warner, S.C. "Development of Marketing Citrus Fruits in Florida." Florida State Horticultural Society vol. 36 (1923): 198-200.
Hopkins, James T. Fifty Years of Citrus, the Florida Citrus Exchange: 1909-1959. Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida Press: 1960.
"Sydney Chase Sr. (1860-1941)." Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. Copyright 2012. http://floridacitrushalloffame.com/index.php/inductees/inductee-name/?ref_cID=89&bID=0&dd_asId=600.
"Joshua Coffin Chase (1858-1948)." Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. Copyright 2012. http://floridacitrushalloffame.com/index.php/inductees/inductee-name/?ref_cID=89&bID=0&dd_asId=960.
Transcript
CHASE & COMPANY
GROWERS' MARKETING AGENTS
PACKERS AND SHIPPERS
FLORIDA FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
SANFORD, FLORIDA
August 10, 1927.
Mr. J. C. Chase,
Camden, Maine.
Dear Josh:
I am enclosing copy of letter I received from Mr. Newton, with reference to some documents which he received from J. Curtis Robinson with reference to the Prune growers clearing house in California. Robinson turned these papers over to Newton, as suggested in my previous letter.
I have been unable to see Newton or Skelly. Pratt is due back about the 15th, and Newton is scheduled to leave on the 15th. Newton is scheduled to speak before a joint citrus growers and farmers meeting in Gainesville on the 12th. I believe Mayo is to be with him, and they will talk strong on the Clearing House proposition.
The letter which you drafted in response to Commander's letter, was written and sent out last week. I have not seen copy of the letter, or direct advices that it has actually gone to Commander but I think it has. I understand that a copy of the letter was sent to you.
Matters are more or less in a hectic condition in Sanford at the present time. Lake has resigned as Commissioner and Mayor. His place will be filled by special election on the 25th. Inasmuch as my plans for an outing have been interfered with, and still further interfered with by unexpected happenings, I have decided to leave tomorrow for Asheville and return here on the 25th, so address me at Asheville on receipt of this letter if you have not received contrary advices.
Mr. J. C. Chase. #2.
Weather continues warm and dry.
I am getting my dope together for an interview with L. L. Payne, Chairman of the County Commissioners, on my return from Asheville and prior to the next meeting of the County Commissioners. I am not going to make a written report until I can have a personal interview and relay the data I am getting together. Whatever changes he thinks should be made in reports submitting the proposition to the Commissioners I can make and endeavor to put in proper shape so as not to handicap them in doing what they want to do for us.
I am satisfied we will have to bear some of the expenses of this road proposition by reducing values of trees, and also possibly the cost of a portion of the fence. I want to use creosoted posts, as they should last twenty to thirty years. They cost fully double what a light-wood post would cost. I would prefer to absorb some of this additional cost rather than not have a good permanent fence; further more we may run our fence line outside of the right of way of the deed, with the understanding that we will set our fence back allowing full width of the right of way any time within ten years that the county requires it. My thought in this is that possibly some of our best bearing trees could be allowed to stand where they are, and within ten years we would get more out of the crop than we would by taking the value of the trees at the present time. If they force us to put the fence back before ten years they have to pay the full value. In other words we have to get some sort of a Cracker trading basis. They have prepared a deed, and have a map showing the proposed road. They have arranged matters so we can gather this year's crop from the trees which have to be moved, which will help the situation.
There are practically 238 trees tagged, which will have to be removed if the fence line is run on the highway right of way. I have sent Sydney down to Isleworth today to
Mr. J. C. Chase. #3.
make a check of the trees tagged, and to make a report to me on the number of trees, their variety, size, and condition (whether in good condition or scrubs which really have no value).
Your very truly,
S.O.C
1 1/4" [?] Isleworth Saturday [?] look fine.
SOC:HMR.
DISTRIBUTORS
Sunniland
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
GROWERS' MARKETING AGENTS
PACKERS AND SHIPPERS
FLORIDA FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
SANFORD, FLORIDA
August 10, 1927.
Mr. J. C. Chase,
Camden, Maine.
Dear Josh:
I am enclosing copy of letter I received from Mr. Newton, with reference to some documents which he received from J. Curtis Robinson with reference to the Prune growers clearing house in California. Robinson turned these papers over to Newton, as suggested in my previous letter.
I have been unable to see Newton or Skelly. Pratt is due back about the 15th, and Newton is scheduled to leave on the 15th. Newton is scheduled to speak before a joint citrus growers and farmers meeting in Gainesville on the 12th. I believe Mayo is to be with him, and they will talk strong on the Clearing House proposition.
The letter which you drafted in response to Commander's letter, was written and sent out last week. I have not seen copy of the letter, or direct advices that it has actually gone to Commander but I think it has. I understand that a copy of the letter was sent to you.
Matters are more or less in a hectic condition in Sanford at the present time. Lake has resigned as Commissioner and Mayor. His place will be filled by special election on the 25th. Inasmuch as my plans for an outing have been interfered with, and still further interfered with by unexpected happenings, I have decided to leave tomorrow for Asheville and return here on the 25th, so address me at Asheville on receipt of this letter if you have not received contrary advices.
Mr. J. C. Chase. #2.
Weather continues warm and dry.
I am getting my dope together for an interview with L. L. Payne, Chairman of the County Commissioners, on my return from Asheville and prior to the next meeting of the County Commissioners. I am not going to make a written report until I can have a personal interview and relay the data I am getting together. Whatever changes he thinks should be made in reports submitting the proposition to the Commissioners I can make and endeavor to put in proper shape so as not to handicap them in doing what they want to do for us.
I am satisfied we will have to bear some of the expenses of this road proposition by reducing values of trees, and also possibly the cost of a portion of the fence. I want to use creosoted posts, as they should last twenty to thirty years. They cost fully double what a light-wood post would cost. I would prefer to absorb some of this additional cost rather than not have a good permanent fence; further more we may run our fence line outside of the right of way of the deed, with the understanding that we will set our fence back allowing full width of the right of way any time within ten years that the county requires it. My thought in this is that possibly some of our best bearing trees could be allowed to stand where they are, and within ten years we would get more out of the crop than we would by taking the value of the trees at the present time. If they force us to put the fence back before ten years they have to pay the full value. In other words we have to get some sort of a Cracker trading basis. They have prepared a deed, and have a map showing the proposed road. They have arranged matters so we can gather this year's crop from the trees which have to be moved, which will help the situation.
There are practically 238 trees tagged, which will have to be removed if the fence line is run on the highway right of way. I have sent Sydney down to Isleworth today to
Mr. J. C. Chase. #3.
make a check of the trees tagged, and to make a report to me on the number of trees, their variety, size, and condition (whether in good condition or scrubs which really have no value).
Your very truly,
S.O.C
1 1/4" [?] Isleworth Saturday [?] look fine.
SOC:HMR.
DISTRIBUTORS
Sunniland
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Document Item Type Metadata
Original Format
3-page typewritten letter on Chase & Company letterhead
Collection
Citation
Chase, Sydney Octavius, “Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (August 10, 1927),” RICHES, accessed December 22, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/2538.