The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1914-04-09
A VISITOR IS OPINION
OF PUNTA G0RDA
Conclusions Drawn From Close
Observations During
Sojourn Here

To those who wish to know something
about this section, Twill give my opinion
/ arrived here with my family February
18th, and have remained here every since.
visiting many points of interest and the
surrounding country near here with tho
object of studying the country, learning
what 1t will produce and the cost Of
production, together with its climate. and
now am convinced that am pretty well
informed on those matters.
came here upon the advice Of my
son, who Notwithstanding he owns two
sections of land four miles east of Fort
Ogden and has nothing here, advised me
to come here. He knows the country
well. I will not discuss this place as
to its merits as a health resort. for
have spoken of that before. but will say
this, that / fully believe that it has no
superior in that respect in the United
States. When meet people here every
day, and from nearly all the states from
New Hamphire to Colorado, who have
spent every winter here for many years
UP to seventeen and say they will be
here next winter, / can reach but one
conclusion and that Is that there must
be something in this part of this state
that Is very beneficial to health, inter-
esting and fascinating. l have stopped
at several health resorts, but none has
done me so much good and pleased me
so much as this place.
| own no real estate here; am not a
land agent and so have no direct interest
in it's future 1 will buy If can from a
syndicate that will look after the proper
ty, as have passed the age for building
dwellings or opening UP farms.
! It is a pretty country. perfectly level
with a slope of about IL or Is feet to
the mile toward the harbor and the
streams, affording easy and cheap drain
age and do not believe that there is
an acre of land here or near here that
cannot be drained easily and cheaply.
SO that there need not be an acre of
waste land.
The climate surely is all that one can
desire, almost perpetual Sunshine Cen
tie breezes from salt water harbor by
day and from the land by night. Never
uncomfortable from the heat or cold day
or night. l did not change my winter
underwear to light wear until March
25th, and have not suffered from heat
or cold l am informed by old residents
| that the last has been the coolest winter
in many years. and yet we have had no
] Post here that injured q single plant.
| All kinds of southern fruits are hanging
In the trees, while the same trees are in
full bloom, and in addition all kinds of
vegetables in the market are growing
Not week day passes but what you can
~ train taking ont
large quantities of fruit, vegetables and
lumber. You can see farmers gather
ing all kinds of vegetables for the market
on one side Of a truck farm while on
the other side of the same patch you can
see him planting the seed for aonther
crop.
Four miles southeast of Punta Gorda is
an orange, grapefruit. tangerine grove
of twelve acres that win yield more
fruit this year than / have ever heard
claimed by any newspaper or any circu-
lar sent out by land companies or agents
in this state. This is owned by p. o
Hickman. Some single grapefruit trees
will yield more than a wagon load and
If should tell you what he expects and
claims, that he will get an acre this
year for, this fruit, you doubt my word
have seen many others around here
of the same productiveness. Mr.. Haslett
one mile east, brought in last week a
turnip that weighed Sh pounds and Mr..
Simmonds of the ice plant, a radish that
weighed 10A pounds. had both photo
graphed and the radish and turnip are on
exhibition at Clinton, Ind, where I sent
them. Why is it that some people can
have such valuable groves and raise such
vegetables?
also have seen many other groves and