The Punta Gorda herald., 1919-05-23

tomobile, wagon and boat shops
ice factory, two garages, bottling
works, cigar factories, newspaper
and job printing Office, bakery,
restaurants, town hall; flourish
ing lodges of Masons, Woodmen
of the World, Red Men /. 0. o. F.,
Eastern Star, Woodmen's Circle,
and Women's Benefit Association
of the Maccabees; four physi-
clans, one dentist, a number OF
real estate men, etc.
Boat Lines-Boat lines make
regular trips down to the Gulf
with stopping points at Useppa,
Pineland, Captiva, st. James, San
ibel Island, PuntA Rassa, Naples,
Marco, Caxambas and Chokolos-
kee.
Fishing-The chief industry is
fishing, in which several wholesale
firms are engaged. Capitol invest
ed in the business is estimated at
over $100,000.00 and large ship
ments of fish on ice are made al
most daily during the seasons. The
bulk of the fish shipped are mullet,
but many pompano, Spanish mack
erel, bass, trout, sheep head, snap
per and other fine fish are ship
ped. The oyster business is small,
but increasing.
Industries-Next to fishing, the
cultivation OF fancy pineapples
and citrus fruit engage most at
tention as the profits of this in
dustry often reach $500 an acre.
it requires about $4,000 to prop
erly prepare and plant an acre in
pineapples, but after this, 5000 a
year would cover the cost OF cul-
tivation. The plants bear in twelve
months to eighteen months after
planting, and continue to bear an
nually thereafter without replant-
ing for five or six years.
There are numerous groves sur
rounding ~Punta Gorda and many
cars of oranges, grapefruit, tang
crimes, mandarines, lemons and
lines are shipped every year.
There are several packing houses
here.
Truck farming is an industry
yet in its infancy and offering
good returns on intelligent and
we'll directed efforts. Profitable
and easy crops to raise are sweet
potatoes, Irish potatoes, rice,
peanuts and sugar cane, which
pay $3.50 to $500 per acre.
Avocadoes, mangoes, guavas and
,ther tropical fruits do well here.
Opportunities are offered for cat
tie and stockraising.
Prices of town lots and of lands
out Of town vary so greatly that
it is impracticable to give quota
tions here, but almost any one who
does not expect to find in new
and sparsely settled country like
this, the improvements and con-
veniences of Ohio and Massachu-
setts, 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, marshal, five alder
men, clerk, collector and assessor,
and treasurer.
Highways The chief streets
are paved with asphalt and miles
Of public roads leading into town
are hardsurfaced. A system of i'm
proved highways in a special
bonded road and bridge district of
which Punta Gorda is the center
has been constructed at cost of
100000. Recently constructed ce-
ment sidewalks form a network
over the town. A system of water
works and sewerage represents an
by the town Of 100000,
which adds much to health and
convenience.
Climate The location is one Of
the healthiest to be found any
where. A man can work outdoors
any and every day in the year,
from heat never oc-
ours. Climate is ideal the year
round.
A concrete bridge to cost $3.50, |