The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-02-11
A FEW FACTS CONDENSED
PERTAINING TO PUNTA GoRDA AND
VICINITY
Information for the Homeseeker, the In
weston and Those In Search of
Health, Recreation, Etc.


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, rs miles
from it's 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 cen
sus was taken, and the number of peo-
Die in the town now is variously estimat-
ed at from 1900 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 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 third it's 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 and ex-
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, bottIng works, three cigar factor
les, a livery stable, newspaper and job
printing office, bakery. restaurants. a
town hall; flourishing 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 s15O,00O, and
large shipments of fish on ice are made
almost daily during fishing seasons.
The bulk of the fish shipped are mullet,
bit many pompano, Spanish mackerel,
pass, trout, sheep-head, snapper and 9TH
er fine food fish are shipped The oyster
business is small
Next to fishing, the cultivation of fan
cy pineapples engages most attention, as
the profits of this industry often reach
$500 an acre. 1t requires about $500 &c
properly prepare and plant an acre in
pineapples, but after this, 5000 a year
would cover the cost of cultivation. The
plants bear in twelve to eighteen month:
after planting and continue to bear an.
nually thereafter without repianting fol
five or six years.
Truck farming is an industry yet II
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 $500 per acre
Oranges, grapefruit, lemons and lines
are successfully grown; so are some 9th
er fruits of lesser note.
Prices of town lots and of lands out o
town vary so greatly that it is imprac
ticable to give quotations here; but al
most any one who does not expect t
find in a new and sparsely settled coun
try like this, the improvements and con
veniences of Ohio and Massachusetts
can find here something TO suit him II
price and character whether he wishe
improved or unimproved property.
The town government consists of
mayor, marshall, Ave aldermen clerk, col
lector and assessor and a treasurer rh
hor 1rfD
miles of public roads leading into town
and the people of the town and surround
ing territory have recently voted in fave
of the creation Of a special road ant
bridge district and the issuance OF $780,
600. 90 of bonds for the construction ant
improvement of highways. The tow
has voted sec, 10000 in bonds for sewer
age and water works.
The location Is one of the healthies
to be found anywhere, as is shown o!
vital statistics kept by the local healu
officer.
A man can work out or doors here an,
and every day in the year. Prostitution
from heat never occur. The climate her
is ideal the year round.
Flowing artesian wells may be obtaine'
| mere ~ NdIylilS utpbHb, "a
them are now in use in and about town
some for irrigation and others for supply
/ ing drinking water. etc. The water iron
these artesian wells contains mlnera
properties and is said to possess medic
cinal value, some citizens claiming Z
have been cured Of various ailments b.
drinking it freely. The town owns tw
of these wells. a small one which supple
public drinking fountain and larg
one that supplies fire protection through
a main laid for the purpose.
Our people are from various states an
countries aSi are very liberal and toler
ant in their views and opinions. The
are hospitable to respectable strangers
generous to their neighbors, to the poo
| and needy. progressive and enterprisin
to the extent of their means. law-abidin
and united for the common welfare Q
their community. No kinder, better PEG
7 pie are to be found anywhere.
There are but few dwellings or cottag
n 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. tn
finest fishing in the world is offereO.