The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1906-05-04

nelOuss To lHe people OF the county
this statement like others that they
are continually making shows their
Ignorance Of the facts or their desire
to intentionally misrepresent; the facts
are, the court house now used by the
people Of De Soto county. did not cost
the county one cent neither did the
four-acre block, on which the building
stands, they were both paid for 10y
the citizens Of Arcadia. and donated
10 the county; this is one Of the reas.
ons for the sake Of taxation for
several years being from 13 and one
half to ~ and threc-fourthS mills
When De Soto county was created.
there was not one school building in
the entire county, owned 10y the
county; there was scarcely q respect.
able school building in the county
Fort Ogden, probably had the best
building in the county it was rough
box building, containing one room:
and erected at the expense Of her
liberal citizens; Wauchula children
attended School imam old log building
OF the west side of the branch west of
the town, near the old Primitive Bap-
fist church, until Il new log building
was erected on the east side Of the |
branch for their use: about three |
fourths Of the ifty.three schools of
the county are now in buildings either |
paid for i'm full or partly paid for AMI |
owned by the county. Is it any |
wonder that the rate of taxation was |
low during these years? No court |
house to pay for, no school buildings |
TO pay for Three years after De
Soto county was created. there were
hut "A schools in the county with one
teacher to each school; for quite
while the salaries paid the teachers.
were $1,000 to $1,000 per month"; there
were bur two $1,000 teachers in the
county.
The Punta Gorda Wauchula ana
Arcadia schools have one-half as many
teachers now as there were in the
entire county then; our teachers now
receive from $1,000 to $4,000 per
month as against $1,000 to $1,000 then:
now we nave five to eight month
terms; then We had three and -four
month terms. No counr house to
build: H. school buildings to pay for;
hut handful Of teachers to pay, ,
ut very small salary; of course, the
-ate OF taxation was low
When DeSoto county was created, .
and for quite while afterwards there ,
was not public bridge in the county, {
Peace river was crossed by ferries I
at so much per cross; the smaller ]
streams were forded or swan, every
stream in the county of Importance is
now spanned by a frst.class steel !
bridge, and the smaller and less i'm !
portant streams have good wooden !
structures; Peace River is spanned at l
tour points by these steel bridges. Il
'eople can trave, yer the county now '
, ithOut having to swim or pay toll {
to the ferryman. No court house to
bu ID; no school buildings to pay for; Y
but a handful Of teachers to pay, at q
a " small salary; no bridges to /
build or pay for; why certainly the
AK rate was low. o
When De Soto county was created, b
md for several years after, the public /
Dads OF the county were worked un.
Ter the following law: 4
''The supervisors of the several Il
Dads shall summon, in writing or @
'erson, all persons liable TO road duty p
githln his road district, giving at
east three days notice previous TO any Il
Dad working; If in writing, may he st
Eft at the proper place Of residence of
he person TO be summoned 10 meet l.
I such time and place as he may st
ppoint, and with such tools rs he G
nay direct" C
"All able-bodied males over the age g
. eighteen and under the age of forty sc
We, residents OF any county in this %
venty days, shall be liable and