The Punta Gorda herald., 1919-05-01
Concluded From Page 81

lneFe 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
well 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
other 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 a 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 mayor, marshal, five alder
men, clerk, collector and assessor,
and a 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
investment 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.
Prostration from heat never oc-
ours. Climate is ideal the year
round.
A concrete bridge to cost $3.50,
600 is in the process of construc-
ton to cross the bay connecting
Punta Gorda with Charlotte Har-
Dor which will give more direct
route to Bradentown, Manatee and
Tampa, shortening the distance to
the last named city by fifty miles.
A good mari road is now being
built along this route.
A railroad wharf of several hun
dred feet accommodates the various
fish companies who have ware
houses built at the end Of it for
handling the big fishing business
that is carried on through this
port. A municipal dock over half
a mile in length extends out to the
channel of the bay where boats
with draught of 12 feet may
dock. This wharf serves as an ideal
place for fishing tourists to catch
the many kinds of fish for which
Charlotte Harbor Bay is famous.
Great catches are made daily with
hook and line of the sporty king
fish, sea trout, snappers, sheep
head, mackerel, the immence jew
fish weighing up to 400 pounds
and last, but not least, the king of
all game fish, the mammoth silver
TARPON. On this municipal
wharf are located the tanks of two
oil companies and a fine bathing
pavilion with comfortable seats.
Florida does not have the long
twilights of the northern states
and for this reason has from two
to six hours less of daylight before
6 in the morning and six at night,
thereby lessening the number of
hours for the storing of the sun s
rays which materially lowers the
night temperature making them
comfortable for sleep all through
the summer season.
!. Water Supply Flowing arte- I
sian wells may be obtained at {
l. q ,