The Washington herald., 1909-07-25


found that political division known as
De Soto County.
Only a few years ago De Soto County
was known. In greater part. for stock
raising and hunting AT that time its
resources were undeveloped and lay like
hidden treasures. Its resources. lately
developed by immigrants and capital, are
results OF recent investments It holds
unlimited quantities OF phosphate. which
invite the capitalist to invest at time
when he might reap dividends 1t offers
10 the lumber manufacturer forests Of
yellow pine and considerable quantities
Of cypress. oak. gum, hickory, and other
woc6s. II offers to the farmer agricul-
tural lands and seasons that will pro-
duce almost any product known. II offers
TO the hOrtlculturist a home in the ban
ner orange producing county In the
State. Il offers 20 the tourist ample ho-
tel facilities with modern equipments and
forests Of game and lakes and rivers and
bays with fish OF all kinds. 1t offers to the
mechanic, TO the labOTer, TO the investor
and TO the promoter an opportunity TO
share in the resources of well-developed
Enterprises
The population OF the country is con-
fined mostly TO what is known as the
Peace River Valley Peace River runs
across the county from north 10 south
and empties in Charlotte Harbor Bay.
AT the mouth Of this bay Is Boca Grande
the only land-locked harbor port in the
State. At this time there is being con-
structed the Charlotte Harbor and North
ern Railroad from BOca Grande 10 Ar
cadla, near the center OF the county
then northwesterly across the country to
Plant City This will open up a new area
Of trucking. farming. and fruit growing
lands that have heretofore been consid-
ered too far from transportation TO be
valuable Along the Peace River VAL
ley runs the Atlantic Coast Line Rail-
road. the only common carrier in the
county until the recent construction Of
the road mentioned.
While only a small area is populated.
De Soto County has over sixty schools.
three Of which are high schools. with an
efficient corps OF teachers Every cOmmu-
nifty in the county has a public school.
with good buildings and a good system
Of text books. Churches and religious
societies are in easy reach Of every
community in the county.
No section of Florida IS favored with
better climatic conditions.
In 1895 De Soto County shipped $4,000
boxes OF fruit The shipments OF fruit
have annually increased since that time
until they amount TO more than 10000
boxes. and more than 100000 crates of veg
etables and pineapples are shipped to
foreign markets. These vegetables are
shipped at a time when they gre not
grown in any other part OF the United
States except the southern portion Of
Florida, and for this reason they bring
a large return. This crop consists of
beans eEgplants, cucumbers tomatoes.
lettuce. and celery. Five hundred dollars
has been made from an acre OF early
watcrmelons. Two crops Of Irish potatoes
have been made from the same tract of
land in one year.
Our fame abroad is for the cultiva-
ton OF citrus fruits, and in this De
Soto County takes special pride. We
have quantities Of uncultivated lands
that Will raise an orange or grape
fruit grove bearing 1000 boxes to the
acre. and they sell on the tree at prices
according TO The output for the year
and the distance from transportation.
stOcIS-ruisiDg FIOurishes.
One OF the largest industries in the
county and the only one engaged in in a
primitive way, is stock raising. For
many years South Florida has furnished
Key West and Cuba with the greaer
part Of the cattle consumed. and from
this production De Soto County has a
lions share Statistics show that during
the year 1905. 123l5 head Of cattle were
shipped from this county. In the south
part Of the county. east Of the Peace
River Valley. lie many thousands OF acres
OF prairie and marsh lands and il Is
upon this section Of the county that cat
tie are raised and fattened for the mar
ket. No expense IS incurred in fattening
this stock, as grass remains green the
year through. More natives have become
wealthy by the cattle industry than by
any other pursuit. Hogs do well and
are fattened for market in a similar man
ner. Sheep and goats are not extensively
raised. but do we'll
During the year 1905 6,s50715 pounds OF
fish were shipped from this county. AL
most every kind OF fish that swims may
be found in Charlotte Harbor Bay, in
Guiding the king fish and tarpon, the gam
est FISH that swims. We have a number
Of fresh water streams and rivers. all
Of which have good fishing for he who de-
sires 10 fish with the hook and line
lumber naval stores. phosphate, cattle
oranges. and vegetables, amount to more
than S2OO0.0O0
Some Factories Started.
SO far our only manufacturing enter
prices are lumber. naval stores. crates
and baskets, and ice. De Soto is a
young county, and for this reason its
enterprises along this line are limited
1t has the material for the manufacture
OF fertilizer. mattresses. brushes or all
kinds. from the palmetto; tannin, starch,
and many other things. and is now await
ing the incoming Of capital TO develop
these resources.
Al present we have only one phosphate
plant. but we have prospects for more.
At one time Il was thought that the only
mining of phosphate profitable is from
the river bed, as the plant referred to
now so operates, but late years have
proven that such Is not the case.
Phosphate mines are seen, In phos-
phate sections. on high lands Within
the last year it has been discovered that
We have an unlimited amount Of phos-
plate away from the rivers, and IL is
this that awaits the investor.
The phosphate OF Florida has the ad-
vantage over the rock Of other sections
of the country I'm the fact that it is
mixed with no other mineral.
Fine water Is found in De Soto County.
Good wells can be had at a depth OF
eighteen 10 thirty feet. Flowing wells
OF artesian water are also TO be had by
going still deeper. say, from 200 to 400
feet.
We have substantial improvements
good courthouse Jail, fine roads ana
bridges, good mail service. including
rural free delivery in some sections; tele-