The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-15

Cases of marlarial disease are rare, and
yeilow fever is unknown in the past history
OF the place. Four thousand visitors regis
tered at the hotels the past season. The
Punta Gorda," owned by the Florida
southern railway, has a frontage of 4S0
Feet, and IS so constructed that every room
faces the bay. The veranda promenade is
800 feet in length, and the whole establish
ment is elegantly furnished and equipped,
and inferior to no hosiery in Florida.
COUNTLESS FISH
swarm in the waters of the harbor. and
almost every house holder manages to de-
vote few minutes each day to supplying
his larder with this Wholesome and bra'n
producing food. The writer was present.
when a single hand net, cast from the
wharf, took in $50 choice fish in about an
hour, affording an abundant supply for a
halt-dozen families. The fishing interest is
rapidly growing in Importance, and is des-
tined to form an important element in the
revenues of the town.
THE SOUTHLAND HOTEL.
This is new and nicely furnished hotel,
under the management of I. NJ. Wler
and his eStimable wife, former residents of
Alabama. 1t is next in size to the Punta
Gorda, and keeps open the year round. No
guest will complain of the treatment he re-
ceiveS. The writer is indebted to Mr.. Wier
for many courtesies, not the least of which
was his enjoyable sail to Myakka river and
the ''Rookeries" To Mr.. John Trabue also
a relative of one of the owners of the town
ship, and genial and clever gentleman,
would return thanks for his numerous
attentions.
Punta Gorda can boast also live news
paper, the Beacon one half Of which is de-
voted to the town and the other to her
suburb across the bay, Charlotte harbor.
The editor and proprietor, Mr.. r. S.
Hanna, is gifted young lawyer, well
qualified for the work he has undertaken.
A PARTING WORD.
If Punta Gorda would hope to advance
pdri pGsSW with her sister towns of Florida
the few who own the site should reduce the
price of lots. Immigrants cannot afford to
pay exorbitant rates for a small homestead
without improvements, and then build and
embark in business, or clear up truck
farms. They will go elsewhere, where
they can do better. Moreover, more inter
est should be taken in the esta blisbment
and support of schools and churches.
Verbuns sep
Proceeding north again on the Florida
Southern railway which is in first class con-
dltion, the next stopping place of much con-
sequence is
fOhI OGDEN,
The town has not made much progress in
the past twelve months. Business was quiet
and the greatest activity observable was in
the vicinity of the depot Here Mr. j. J.
Vandever is erecting a large new store soon
to be occupied, and several other buildings
are going up. This is the residence of Mr..
Y. King, the largest cattle owner in the
state. He was absent, in attendance upon
the democratic convention at st. Angus
tue, but l enjoyed a pleasant
chat with his ''better half Mrs.
King. She informed me that the
health of the community was good, and
in the county. Within the past year her hus-
band has added largely to his cattle
herds by purchase, and they now
numbered $4,000 head, and required a
whole company of COWBOYS" thirty
strong, to look after them. Here | was
pleased to meet young frieud and lawyer,
E. Carlton. My stop at Fort Ogden was
brief, and ere long boarding the train again,
| found myself once more a guest at the
Arcadia house, in the pretty town of the
same name, which, under the management
of A. E. Poser and bis popular wife, is
very literally patronized.
From the intelligent mayor, Dr. Ed
Greene, who runs a neat drug store, /
gathered that the town is steadily improv-
ing and has bright prospects in the future.
Among the principal merchants may be
reckoned Whidden & Son, V. d. Carlton
and w. E. Daniel G. G. Pearce conducts
a good livery and sale stable, and sends
travellers to any point in the interior they
may wish to visit j. W. Beasley is the
efficient marshal. j. A. Williams feeds the
public with fat Florida beef. Arcadia
would not be herself without the presence
and enterprise of Postmaster 7. j. Hern-
don, who is also depot and express agent
and engaged in mercantile business with
Whidden & Son. The senior of this firm
and a state sena tor, was in attendance as a
delegate at the st. Augustine convention.
T. J. Pepper is the editor of the Arcdd
ian, weekly journal which battles man
fully for the best interests of the town. He
is Savannah boy and full of energy and
pluck.
l saw in one pile 200 fresh alligator skins
just brought in and sold to Whidden & Son
by Thomas Williams, Jr , all the outcome
of single three weeks hunt on Kissimmee
river and Dake Okeechobee. The same firm
handled in March, April, May and June of
last year, an average OF 1000 hides per
month. At this rate ere long the fate of
the saurians will be sealed.
Three Key West capitalists have recently
purchased 1870 acres of land inside of the
establishing an extensive cigar factory.
This will be a great accession to the place.
ARCADIA PHOSPHATE COMPANY.
About twelve months ago, the existence
IN the bed and along the banks of Peace
river of extensive phosphate deposits was
discovered. Only recently, however, have
any steps been taken to utilize this God
given boon to the South. At the head of the
company stands the potential name of G.
w. Scott of Atlanta, who is ably seconded
by T. Moorhead the indefatigable manager,
himself a metnber of the syndicate.
At the matutinal hour Of 5 o'clock in the
morning on bright summers day the
writer, in charge of Manager Morehead. a
most intelligent and cultivated gentleman,
and Editor Pepper, rode out over a rough
tramway worked by horse power to the
phosphate mines, distant one mile from the
depot As the river bank is approached the
scenery abruptly changes from open piny
woods to rolling hummock, covered with
magnificent forest trees interspersed with
bosky dels and romantic vine-clad recesses
Some stately oaks had their trunks and
larger limbs entirely covered with delicate
ferns, lichens, and beautiful air plant
which abouuds here. Indeed the whole
coup d. oeu, embracing the river cliffs ard
bright sheen OF water flowing over its
pebbly bottom, presented weird and lovely
appearance.
THE PHOSPHATE BEDS
lie in large deposits near the waters edge,
on the bottom of the stream, and in the
4 Iyef t1fra xtybt u