The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-04-01
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.

For the purpose of supplying informa
ton such as is desired by ulnY people G
other sections who are interested in lhii
locality the following facts are given:
Punta Gorda is on the Charlotte Har.
Dor Division of the Atlantic Coast Line
r. r., 295 miles so>sth of Jacksonville, 81
miles east of south from Tampa on the
south side of Charlotte Harbor, 25 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 CEN
sus was taken, and the number of peo-
| pie 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 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
oil tam,
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, bottlng 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; |
i've lawyers four physicians, one dentist. |
4 number of real estate men,. etc. etc.
The chief industry is fishing, in which |
Xix wholesale firms with 300 or more men |
ire engaged Capital invested in the
BUSINESS Is estimated at Sl5UtUUU, ana
arge shipments of fish on ice are made
Utmost daily during fishing seasons
rhe bulk Of the fish shipped are rmuilet,
ut many pompano. Spanish mackerel,
Ass trout sheep-head. snapper and 9TH
r fine food fish are shipped. The oyster
BUSINESS Is small
Next to fishing. the cultivation Of fan
y pineapples engages most attention, as
he profits Of this industry often reach
500 an acre. 1t requires about $500 to
roperly prepare and plant an acre in
ineapples, but after this, 5000 a year
yould cover the cost Of cultivation. The
lants bear in twelve to eighteen months
fter planting and continue to bear an
ually thereafter without replanting for
we or six years.
Truck farming is an industry yet in
Is infancy and offering good returns
n intelligent and well directed efforts.
Ill kinds of vegetables yield good crops.
'rofitable and easy crops to raise are
weet potatoes, irish potatoes and sugar