The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-02-04
A FEW FACTS CONDENSED
PERTAINING TO PUNTA eoRDA AND
VICINITY
Information for the Homeseeker, the In
weston and Those In Search of
Health, Recreation, Etc.

For the purpose of supplying informa-
lion such as is desired by many people Ct
other sections who are interested in This
locality the following facts are given:
Punta Gorda is on the Charlotte Har-
Dor Division Of the Atlantic Coast Line
r. R., 295 miles south of Jacksonville, 50
miles east of south from Tampa on the
south side of Charlotte Harbor, Is miles
from its mouth, Boca Grande. Its popu-
lation by the Federal census of 1910 was
slightly in excess of 1900. but this number
has been considerably increased by peo-
pie who have located here since the GEN.
sus was taken, ands the number of peo-
ole in the town now is variously estimat-
ed at from / 800 to 1000. OF this popula-
ton about 300 are black people.
There are Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal
and Presbyterian churches with regular
services for white people, and Methodist
and Baptist churches for negroes. A
pubic school for white children, embrace
ing grammar and high school depart
ments, employs eleven teachers and has
an enrolment of several hundred pupils.
A private finishing school is also MAIN
tanned. The negroes have a good public
school with two teachers and an enroll
ment of about forty pupils.
The taxation for city. county and state
purposes is not considered excessive. and
considering that property heretofore has
been assessed at about one-third its real
value there has been little occasion for
dissatisfaction from this source
The town contains two substantial
banks, an excellent telephone system
with connections all over the neighboring
counties; post office. telegraph ana eT-
press Offices several private boarding
houses, four hotels; plenty of grocery.
dry goods, drug and other stores to sup
ply all the demands of the trade; ma
chine wagon and boat shops; ice fac
tory. bottling works, three cigar factor
les, a livery stable, newspaper and job
printing office, bakery, restaurants, a
town hall; fourishing lodges of Masons.
Woodmen of the World and Red Men;
plant for making concrete building blocks;
FIVE lawyers, four physicians. one dentist.
a number of real estate men, etc, etc.
The chief industry is fishing in which
six wholesale firms with 300 or more men
are engaged. Capital invested in the
business is estimated at $150,090. and
large shipments of fish on ice are made
almost daily during fishing seasons,
The bulk of the fish shipped are mullet.
| but many pompano, Spanish mackerei,
bass, trout, sheep-head, snapper and 9TH
er fine food fish are shipped. The oyster
business is small
Next to fishing the cultivation OF fam
cy pineapples engages most attention. as
the profits of this industry often reach
$500 an acre. 1t requires about $1,000 to
properly prepare and plant an acre in
pineapples, but after this, 5000 year
would cover the cost of cultivation. Tho
plants bear in twelve to eighteen months
after planting and continue to bear an
nualy thereafter without replanting for
five or six years
Truck farming is an industry yet in
its infancy and offering good returns
on intelligent and well directed efforts.
All kinds of vegetables yield good crops.
Profitable and easy crops to raise are
sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes and sugar
cane, which pay $3.50 to 5000 per acre.
Oranges, grapefruit, lemons and Hnss
are successfully grown; so are some 9TH
err fruits of lesser note.
Prices of town lots and Of lands out of
town vary so greatly that it is imprac-
ticable to give quotations here; but al
most any one who does not expect to
find in a new and sparsely settled coun-
try like this, the improvements and con-
yeniences of Ohio and Massachusetts,,
| can find here something to suit him in
price and character, whether he wishes
! improved or unimproved property.
The town government consists of a
mayor, marshall, five aldermen. clerk, col
lector and assessor and a treasurer The
streets are hard-surfaced and so are
miles of public roads leading into town;
and the people of the town and surround
ing territory have recently voted in favor
Of the creation of a special road and
bridge district and the issuance Of $780,
10000 of bonds for the construction and
Improvement of highways. The town
has voted S6O, 100000 in bonds for sewer
age and water works.
The location is one of the healthiest
to be found anywhere. as is shown by
vital statistics kept by the local health
officer
A man can work out or doors here aTR
and every day in the year. Prostrations
from heat never occur. The climate here
is ideal the year round
| Flowing artesian wells may be obtained
here at varying depths, and a number of
| them are now in use in ana about town,
some for irrigation and others for supply
ing drinking water, etc. The water from
| these artesian wells contains mineral
properties and is said to possess medic
cinal value, some citizens claiming to
have been cured Of various ailments by
drinking 1t freely. The town owns two
| Of these wells, a small one which supplies
a public drinking fountain and large
one that supplies fire protection through
a main laid for the purpose.
Our people are from various states and
countries and are very liberal and toler-
ant in their views and opinions. They
are hospitable to respectable strangers.
generous to their neighbors, to the poor
and needy, progressive and enterprising
to the extent of their means. law-abiding
and united for the common welfare OF
their community. No kinder, better peo-
pie are to be found anywhere.
There are but few dwellings or cottag-
es for rent. but those that are renting
bring from $1,000 up per month.
Opportunities for amusement and rec
reation are varied and abundant. the
finest fishing in the world is offereU,