The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1919-09-04

acres of land that should qualify
for the finest of sugar cane.
There are thousands of acres of
this and many thousands more
that have for years had the run Of
enormous herds of cattle, and that
might appeal to some as a stock
raising proposition. Field crops
of all kinds, grasses for feeds, and
rich vegetable and citrus lands
still await the plow and the set
tier. There is climatic protec-
ton that forms great asset, and a
transportation problem that is
already solved, both by land and
water
Of course, there are schools and
churches, and business houses OF
the large and dependable kind.
There is a newspaper, The Punta
Gorda Herald, that vii surprise
you for the size of the district it
represents. A subscription viii
tell you many things about the
place that | cannot possibly touch
with my limited space,
There is boat line running be-
tween Punta Gorda and Fort
Myers that touches at Pine Island,
Boca Grande, and Useppa Island.
This is trip that few people can
realize the beauty Of until it is
tried. Across the waters a short
distance are the celebrated salt
springs, where the most delight
full bathing can be indulged in.
These springs are said to be the :
only things Of their kind in the
world and the novelty of bathing
in a salt spring should appeal to
the visitor. The home and
grounds of Mrs. Marian A. Nc
Adow, have long been not only
the show place Of Punta Gorda,
but the entire state. There is
skill shown in the laying out OF
all the ornamentals, some with
names only to be mastered by
students of the dead languages,
but which are decidedly alive from
a beautifc standpoint. You
should see Mrs. Meadow and look
over her beautiful place if you are
ever in the vicinity, for she is. one
of Florida's very first line horti-
culturists.
The main highways, after eros
sing the DeSoto County line, lead
ing to Punta Gorda are hard-sur-
faced and usually in tip top con-
dition. There are any number of
creeks which form natural out
lets for drainage and much of the
acreage can be put into condition
for cultivation at small expense.
This should place some very
cheap lands at the disposal of
would-be settlers. =
The population of Punta Gorda
proper was in 1915, about 1,700;
this of course, has increased con-
siderably in this day of grace.
The population of the town, Of
course, doesn't begin to express
the settlement Of the district.
There is nifty town just to the
east-Cleveland--and it has a
nice collection Of business and re-
sidence buildings. 1t is also on
the "creek," and entertains lots
OF winter residents.
| have not attempted to put the
resources and production of Pun
ia Gorda into fgures-rather, 1
have attempted to show the re-
suits of such figures. | may or
may not have excited your curl
osity to the extent of inducing
you to pay it visit. Che back
country should attract if you
would farm or raise livestock, and
want to get your start where the
expense of doing so would give
reasonable chance for success.
About all the things | have men
toned in the growing and produc-
ing line are still in the state of
beginning, but nevertheless are
demonstrations of such stability
of chara ctpr as to mark them SIc-