The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1919-02-13
Punta GOrda, Florida

Gulf of Mexico. 1t is 275 miles
south Of Jacksonville, so miles east
of south from Tampa and is reach
ed via the Atlantic Coast Line
Railroad.
Population-Its population by
the State census of 1915 was
slightly in excess of 1,700, but this
number has been considerably in
creased by people who have locat-
ed here since the census was taken
and the number Of people in the
town now is variously estimated
at from 1,S0O to 1000. Of this pop
ulation about 800 are negroes.
Churches and Schools-There
are Methodist, Presbyterian, Epis-
copal and Baptist churches with
regular services for white people,
and several churches for negroes.
A public school for white child
ren, embracing grammar and high
school departments, employs elev-
en- teachers and has an enrolment
of several hundred pupils. The
negroes have good public school
with two teachers and an enroll
ment of over ninety pupils.
Taxes-The taxation for city,
county and state purposes is not
considered excessive and consid-
ering that property heretofore has
been asserted at about one-third
its real value, there has been little
occasion for dissatisfaction from
this source.
Notes.-The town contains two
substantial banks, an excellent
telephone system with connections
all over the neighboring counties
postoffice, telegraph and express
office; several private boarding
houses, four hotels; Hotel Punta
Gorda is one of the largest resort
hotels on the West Coast. 1t is
built so that every room faces the
bay and is located in beautiful
park containing over two acres
laid out with shell walks, and
great number of tropical palms,
bamboos, fruit and shade trees.
Plenty of grocery, drygoods, drug
and other stores to supply all de-
mands of the trade; machine, au-
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, Eastern
Star, Woodmen's Circle, and Wo-
mems Benefit Association of the
Maccabees; three physicians, one
dentist, 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, Cayambas and Chokolos-
kee. !,
Fishing-The chief industry is
fishing, in which several wholesale I
firms are engaged. Capitol invest
ed in the business is estimated at q
over $10O,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. !
Industries-Next to fishing, the d
cultivation of fancy pineapples u
engage most attention as the pro- o
fits of this industry often reach u
$500 an acre. 1t requires about II
$4,000 to properly prepare and y
plant an acre in pineapples, but n
after this, 5000 year would cover G
The cost of cultivation. The plants Il
bear in twelve months to eighteen
months after planting, and contin- 81
lie to bear annually thereafter "
replanting for five or six ii
years. tc
Truck farming is an industry Of
yet in its infancy and offering W