The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-09-28
The Truth About Florida


Florida, with good claims foi
the oldest settlement in this coun
try, is one of the newest states In
point of development. Perhaps
it were more accurate to say has
been one of the newest, for the
past few years have worked
changes almost magic. To the
visitor there is an endless variety
to enjoy. The live oaks which
were young when Christ was born,
their branches pendent with hang
ing moss; palms by millions, lofty
pines, giant expresses, and all
manner of wonderful semi-tropi-
cal growth, blend their odor with
ocean breezes. Miles upon miles
have been cleared, and where re-
Gently existed an almost impene-
trable jungle have appeared rich
farms, producing two and three
crops per year.
Orchards of oranges and grape
fruit and plantations of pineap-
pie lend. charm and variety to the
summer day in winter months.
Land that has been gathering rich
deposits of dying vegetation for
tens of thousands of years, and
which rivals the fertility of the
Nile and Euphrates, has been
drained to grow early fruits and
vegetables which find q welcome
market in the snowbound North
Camphor and indigo, cocoanut
and pecan, find conditions favor
able to their growth. Hundreds
Of lakes and rivers are alive with
fish and ducks; in the woods are
game; thousand miles of shore
on ocean and gulf afford sea bath
ing in January; the winter climate
rivals that of the Mediterranean.
In most states the hunting season
begins as the tourist season ends.
but in Florida this is reversed and
the sportsman has both fresh and
salt water fishing all winter, with
abundance of ducks, geese, quail,
wild turkey, deer, and bear, with
in an hours ride from his hotel.
If he enjoys yachting and motor
boats, 1000 miles of inland shell
tered waters invite him every day
in the year.
Nearly half the population of the
United States are within 24-hour
journey by rail Of this lands of
sunshine. A million people living
where snow falls in winter could,
and in the near future will, enjoy
this vast pleasure ground each
year. The one thing which has
stood between this promised land
and many thousands of winter
visitors has been the absence of
good roads. There have been
stretches of good roads, but sep
arated by links which were any
thing but joy to motorists. Now
this is rapidly changing. County
after county has voted road bonds
by the million dollars, and the
state is being crossed in all direc-
tions by paved highways on which
the tourist can do his Zoo miles, or
more, in day, in comfort. The
states leading north and north
west are also providing state roads
which rival those in the North,
and the vast procession of cars
which passed into Florida the past
winter carried license signs of
every state in the Union.
These license signs, by the way,
serve as first aid to new ac-
quaintanceship, and the spirit of
comradery which pervades Flori-
da renders it very easy, especially
for visitors from the same state,
to make new friends 1t is no
sight to see several cars
from different parts of the same
state touring together, whose
owners have never met before.
Already over $12,000,000 has
been appropriated -one county
alone is spending $1,500,000, and
others million each-for paved
No other state affords
30 many miles of motor roadway
ocean, gulf, rivers and
axes. The automobile tourist lit
erally rolls along through avenues
If palms.-Popular Mechanics