davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30
OF FEDERAL LAWS.
Department Agriculture Reports Six
Thousand

During the last fiscal year 6,O08
violations of statutes intrusted to the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture for enforcement were reported
by the Solicitors Office; 4,446 of
them to the Attorney General, and
1862 to the Director General of
Railroads, pursuant to an agreement.
The latter covered violations of the
animal quarantine laws and the 28-
hour law, occurring during the time
the Government held control of the
railroads.
The number of cases considered in
the various classes of violations, with
the fines collected. were: 2S-hour
law, 3,123, s109,85O; Food and
Drugs Act, 1883. 1850; laws for
protection of national forests, 597,
$74,379,30; igratory Bird Treaty Act,
296, $2,230 Animal Quarantine acts,
ia, $4,000; Insecticide Act, 1874
criminal, $2.342,20 seizures; Lacey
Act, 26, $1.917; Meat Inspection, 26.
$1,306; Bird Reservation Trespass
law, 6. 1915.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30

had "a very narrow escape, from a
terrible death, just before noon to-
day, and it is something of a miracle
that she did escape. AS it was, she
was only slightly bruised about her
knees, and this although the wheels
of a big automobile passed over her.
She was riding her bicycle on Olym-
pia avenue and had just turned into
Taylor street going south, when a
large auto driven by Mr. Bennett, a
young man from Boca Grande and
coming up from King street, also
turned into Taylor street behind Miss
Frances. How it happened, no one
can clearly explain, but the auto ran
into the child, knocked her down,
smashed her bicycle, ran over her,
dragged her and her wheel some ten
feet ane then stopped right over her.
During this time, she was screaming
loudly, and a large crowd almost in
stantly gathered at the scene. Sena-
tor Cooper was the first to reach the
little girl, and he took her out from
under the car and carried her to her
mothers rooms in the Corbett resi-
dence near by. A doctor was quick
ly summoned, and he made a careful
examination, but found no injuries
save the bruises mentioned All who
witnessed the accident are agreed
that the child had an almost miracu-
lous escape from death. Since the
accident, she is as lively and winsome
as ever. And she does :. ot blame Mr..
Bonnett, the driver of the car which
came so near killing her. He showed
the keenest anxiety about her, offer
ing to do all that he could for her,
including payment for the damage to
her bicycle Upon the whole, it was
one of those unavoidable accidents
for which none of those involved are
to blame.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30
OCULAR DEMONSTRATION GIVEN
To Western Skeptics of Florida Fish
Stories

1t appears that, in various sections
of the Middle Western States, includ-
ing Kentucky. but few people be-
lieve the fish stories coming from
Florida. In those regions, a fish
weighing as much as two pounds is
regarded as something of a monster;
and when those benighted people are
told that fish weighing seventy-five
to five hundred pounds are often
caught in Florida waters, they be-
lieve the stories as only evidence that
the fish liars Of this state are the
ablest in the world. 1t is this ridicu-
lous ,incredulity which has long been
a source of distress to Colonel d. C.
Johnson of Clinton, Indiana, who.
for years past, has been spending his
winters in Punta Gorda, where he
has caught many fish weighing as
much as. one hundred pounds and ov-
er, and, on relating the fact to his
friends in Indiana, has been laughed
at as Munchausen, whereby his rep
utation for truth and veracity has
been greatly impaired This has
moved him to appeal to his friends
visiting this locality to come to the
rescue of his damaged reputation by
furnishing evidence to sustain the
truth of the stories which he has been
telling to his scoffing friends in In
diana and elsewhere.
Accordingly, when DR.. Warwick
of Ashland, Kentucky, who spent last
winter here, caught, last spring, a
jewish weighing AIS pounds, he set
about furnishing ocular evidence of
the truth of Colonel Johnson's fish
stories. 1t was impracticable to ship
the whole fish to any point in the
land of the infidels; and so DR.. War
nick cut off the head of the fish and
hung it up in a tree for ants to- strip
the flesh from it. This process had
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30

An attractive folder has just been
issued by Hotel Punta Gorda. The
artistic development of the folder is
appealing. while the scope of it's in
tent is pleasing to the entire COM
munity and state. 1t has long since
become recognized that even the
most selfishly inclined person can
not advertise his business without
Advertising his com munity Y,
and it has now become the habit of
the liyest advertisers to play up their
community strongly in their appeals
for personal business. The Hotel
Punta Gorda is adopting this spirit,
is helping its community and build
ing up itself, dual accomplishment
which will be found to be worth
the attention of all advertisers. -
Tampa Tribune.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30
At Hotel Punta Gorda.

Although our big tourist hotel has
not yet been formally opened, it is
entertaining a goodly number of
guests. Amongst others are Mr.. and
Mrs. w. S. Perry of Milford, Pa, and
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Boyce of
Chicago. A pleasant family spend
ing the holidays at the hotel consists
of Mr.. and Mrs. T. H. Fitchett. T.. s.
Fitchett and Misses Anna and Marga-
ret Fitchett, all from Baltimore Md.
Another family of note engaging ac-
commodations for the winter is CON-
posed of Mrs. William Schaill; her
son, Master Sherwood Schaill and his
nurse, of Cartegena, Columbia, South
America, and Mrs. Schaill's mother,
Mrs. Sherwood Briggs, of jamestown,
New York. All the hotel help has
not yet arrived; but, with what help
he has, Manager Payne is taking ex-
cellent care of his guests.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30
CARNIVAL SEEMS 0. K.
Aggregation Here This Week is
Above Average.

The Otis l.. Smith shows, which
are exhibiting here this week under
auspices of the Commercial Club, is
one of the largest carnival organiza-
tions that ever came to Punta Gorda
and upon the whole seems to be con-
siderably above the average of such
Iaggregations.
There are thirty or forty conces-
sions of various kinds, ferris wheel,
merry y-go-round, minstrel show, dog
show, snake show, pony show, girl
show, ETC.. and each one is said to be
good. The concessions are the usual
kind-candy wheels, dolls, lunch
stands. All of the games seem to be
as fair as might be expected of such
devices and no complaint of unfair
dealing, gambling or robbery has
been heard.
The Commercial Club is guaran-
teed $500 by the management, this
amount being enough to cover all
ordinary expenses and perhaps leave
a surplus. So far this week the pat
ronage has been fair and indications
are that the clubs percentage will
run considerably over the guarantee,
the club receiving SIS for each con-
cession and Is per cent of receipts
from all the shows and riding de-
vices where tickets are sold. Door,
men representing the club are kept
on all doors to take tickets, and so
far their count of tickets and that
of the show managers have tailed,
indicating that there is no attempt
on the, part of the show people to
put over" anything Il
Apparently TIE carnival is furnish
ing the tourists and townspeople well
come amusement, the grounds being
crowded with both children and
grownups each night to late hour.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30
SOIL ANALYSES
Will Show Fertilizers Needed to Pro-
duce Certain Crops

Do you ever wish to have your soil
analyzed for the purpose of learning
what fertilizers it needs to produce
certain crops? DR.. r. w. Ruprecht,
in charge of the chemical laborator-
les at the Florida Experiment stat
ion, says that farmers frequently
send in for analysis samples of .,oii.
ary.
1t is only in rare cases that soil
analysis will show the fertilizer
needs of the soil. No one has yet de-
vised method by which can be de
termined the available amount of
plant food in the soil. Until such a
method is devised. soil analysis is
of little value because it merely
shows the total amount of plant food
present.
If those desiring information in re-
gard to fertilization would give other
necessary data, a more intelligent an
swer could be given. In writing for
advise answer the following Ques-
tions.
l. What crops have you raised for
the last two or three years? What
was the yield? What was the appear
ance of the crops as to health, size,
color. etc.?
2. What kind and how much fer
tilizer has been applied to the soil?
3. Were there any abnormal con-
dftions, such as drought, wet wealth
er, cold, which may have Influenced
the growth of the crop?
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30
TO FIGHT HIGH Rates
Growers Will Try to Get Reduction
of Prohibitive Freights.

More than 400 citrus growers met
IN Orlando Tuesday to discuss WAYS
and means of combating the present
nigh cost of picking, packing and
shipping citrus fruit. which is pro-
nounced as prohibitive in view of the
present market. The burden of the
complaint was against the railroads,
which have established rates on cit
rus shipments two-thirds higher than
those prevailing in 1917.
The meeting favored immediate ac-
tion with regard to railroads, and a
committee was appointed to appear
before the Florida Railroad Commits
sion to urge relief. The committee
appointed by S, ]. Sligh, chairman of
the meeting, consisted of S. o. Chase,
OF Sanford, chairman, and G. r. Will
liams, Jacksonville; E. D. Dow, Mr..
Aull, c. E. Stewart and Mr.. Thomas,
of Tampa.
To cut costs of picking and pack
ing, is was decided to adopt uni
form scale of wages for pickers. Ac-
cordingly the convention adopted a
maximum rate of $3.50 per day, to
be paid pickers, and a maximum rate
of rs cents per hour for ordinary
farm labor.
The proposed discontinuance of pa
per wrappings on citrus fruit will be
decided at later meeting, to be
called after the growers have had
opportunity to express their desires
on the matter.
Local officials of the Florida Cit
rus Exchange said Wednesday they
felt certain the matter could be ad-
justed with the railroads at the con-
ference Tuesday, and that lower rates
were almost certain to ensue. The
railroads are faced with the dielem-
ma of either lowering the rates, or
forcing the growers to suspend ship
ments, They are expected to accept
the former alternative.
General business &c id t i o S
throughout the country are said to
have caused a weakening in the cit
rus market, so that consumers did
not willingly absorb the increased
prices due to excessive railroad rates.
The high rates were paid for by the
shippers, with the result that in many
cases shipments of citrus fruits net
ted the grower not one penny of
profit.
1t has been shown that rates on
boxes of oranges from Caiiornia to
New York are very little higher than
from Florida to New York, in spite
of the fact that California is approx
mately three times further from
the New York markets.
In view of these facts, nothing
short of substantial reductions in
rates when the commission meets
Thursday will satisfy the committee
representing the growers.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30

There is daily loss to shippers
and manufacturers. conservatively
estimated at $500, 900, due to poor
packing and TO expensive and i'm
properly designed containers for all
classes of domestic and foreign ship
ments. During the year 1919, class
1 railroads alone expended $1O3,-
O7S,S62 for lost and damaged freight
and in July of the same year the
western inspection bureau in IL
cities refused or repaired 43,73S
packages. The U. S. Forest Prod
ucts Industrial Research Laboratory
at Madison. Wis, has 220 engineers
and wood specialists, and is giving
courses in the making of containers.
If interested write to the director for
information. The Madison labora-
tory is the best equipped concern in
the world
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30
Do Your Part and
Help DeSOtO VIM.

The people of DeSoto are
called upon to lend their aid in
making the county famous,
which can be done and which
should be done, this being pos
sible through the success of the
efforts that are to be made to
win the grand prize-and all
other worthwhile prizes-to
be offered at the South Florida
Fair to be held at Tampa early
in@ February, the dates being
February 3 to 10. inclusive.
Maj. ]. M. Tillman, county
agent, expects, as he has right
to expect, that each citizen will
do his full duty toward making
DeSoto county's exhibit the
winner. AS he has said in his
notes which appear in another
column in this issue of The De-
Soto County News, THE county
commissioners have. done their
part in making this (the fair
exhibiD a success by making
an appropriation" And get
this: mo one person, nor half
a dozen for that matter, can
get up an, exhibit that will be
representative exhibit of De-
Soto county. A poor exhibit
does not advertise any one,
while good exhibit will ad-
vertise the entire county"
And it should be remembered
that DeSoto county, and every
community in it, wants the ad-
vertising that will result from
q creditable exhibit at the fair.
Major Tillman urges that
every community be represent
ed with products and with lite
rature telling about their ad-
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30

not been finished at the time when
Or. Warwick left on his return home.
and he had to leave the completion
of the job until his father, Colonel
Taylor Warwick, of PEBBLES, Ohio,
could come here this season, prepare
and ship the evidence. The father
arrived few weeks ago; and as soon
as he could finish settling himself
for the winter, he lookekd up the
fish's head, found it in fine condi-
tion for shipment, and, last week,
sent it by express to DR.. Warwick at
Ashland, Kentucy, where it lis now
on exhibition at the doctors phar-
macy in the city named. Before
shipping it. Colonel Warwick meas
ured the head and found that the
spread of the gills was 26 inches
1t follows that no Ashland skeptic
at least can now dispute the truth
of the stories about the size of Pun
ia Gorda fish.
,Skeptics in other states are noti-
hed that, If they cannot or will not
come here and see for themselves,
we have plenty of fish that are as
big as an ordinary man and as easily
caught; and. if they will pay the
express charges, we win ship them as
many fish as they want to convince
them that nowhere else in the world
are there so many ichthyological
giants as are to be found and caught
at Punta Gorda.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30

Vantages, as numerous ques-
tions are always asked about
every place in the county, the
fair exhibit being regarded as
an index to the county. Ac-
cordingly, he asks that each s
board of trade, commercial
club, or similar organization
take the matter in hand and Sc
lect the exhibits to be sent to
the fair. A day will be set
aside for each town, when spec
ial representatives will be on
hand to see that all questions
are answered and the advertis-'
Ing feature properly taken care
of. He stresses the point that
1t is eyeryone's duty to save
the best products for the ex-
hibit and that a one-man affair
can not be success, a state
ment which no one will attempt
to refute. and he urges that
each one who plans to furnish
anything for the county exhibit
notify the office. of the county
agent of his own board of trade
or commercial club as. to what
he will have.
Summed up, the whole thing
is a question of success, which
can be attained by cooperation
and by prompt and proper ac-
tion on the part of those who
have the products to make the
exhibit a success matter of
pride in the community and in
the county.
DeSoto county can win,
should win, and will win If the
people do their full part.-De-
Soto County News.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30
From 1000 to 1000 tons of tom,

From 1000 to 1000 tons of toma-
to seeds go to waste each year in
the big pulping plants east of the
Mississippi River. Investigations
by the United States Department of
Agriculture indicate that they can be
profitably recovered and converted
into an edible oil and press cake
or meal for the stock feed, with a
gross return of more than $4,000
and a net of about $4,000. Plants
would operate two months year on
tomato seeds and might be used for
grape and pumpkin seeds in addition
reducing the overhead.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30
LOCAL CASES IN COURT
Local TransgressOrs Cases Received
by Circuit Court.

number of cases. originating in
Punta Gorda have been tried and dis
posed of by the circuit court during
the last two weeks, as we'll as a large
number originating in other parts of
the county.
Henry Underhill. who was charged
with stealing gun from the Cooper
Hardware Company, was placed on
trial but no verdict was rendered, the
result being a mistrial Ni%s
James Gray, colored, charged with
the murder of Willis Andrews, color
ed, entered a plea of guilty of murder
In the second degree. He was SEN
fenced to two years in the State pris- z
on. 1t will be remembered that the
young Andrews was killed during
fracas that occurred at a dance at one
Of the colored peoples halls several
months ago. ~
Charles Bodhord, young white
man, who was charged with forging
the name Of his employer, j. G.. Coop
er, to checks and obtaining the mon
ey. was tried, found guilty and SEN
fenced to spend two years in the PEN
itentiary.
Pete Jackson, colored, was found
guilty of breaking into and robbing
the store of Miss Dona Walker sever
al months ago. Jackson said that he
was so years of age, 20 of which had
been spent in Jail for stealing. Sem
tence in this case was suspended
pending the judges consideration.
Ebert Coker, of Gardner, who was
charged with rape, was tried last
week behind closed doors He was
found guilty, the jury recommending
the courts mercy. Coker was allow
ed to give bond in the sum of 5000
FOR his appearance later to have SEN
tence passed upon him.
Son Simpson, colored, charged
with the murder of John West, an
aged white man of Avon Park, was
convicted. the jury returning verd-
let of murder in the first degree, but
with Recommendation for mercy,
which will have the effect of saving
his life. The murder of West was
one of the most brutal in the history
ofs the county. 1t is believed that
others were implicated In the deed
and that by staying the death SEN
tence Simpson may be induced to give
evidence against those charged with
completely .t
Gilbert Langford, white, who was
charged with the murder of Joe Sum-
meralls last March, was tried and ac-
quilted. the evidence not being re-
garded as sufficient upon which to
base conviction. The jury was out
for five hours considering this case.
Other convictions were: c.. Polum-
bus, Greek. aggravated assault; l..
Underhill. moonshining, plead guilty
and sentenced to two years; Frank
Williams, colored, larceny, sentenced
to five years; William Small, colored,
grand larceny, sentenced to serve two
years; L. M. Connell, forgery, SEN
fenced to two years; Leon Howe.
manufacturing liquor, sentenced to
one year; J. d. Coe, grand larceny,
sentenced to two years; George Dew
ey, colored. grand larceny, sentenced
to two years; John Henry. colored.
grand larceny, sentenced to two
years; Carlton Davis, colored, assault
and attempt to murder, sentenced to
ten years; Jesse Barwick, grand lar
,eny, sentenced to Ave years.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30
Elected Post Commander.

At a recent meeting of Raleigh
Whidden Post, Veterans of Foreign
Wars, of Jacksonville, b. B. Blount,
well known Punta Gorda boy, was
elected post commander The post
of which Mr.. Blount was elected
commander chose as its name that of
a local boy, Raleigh Whidden, who
died few months ago as result of
injuries received in the late war.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30

Diseases of Southern Pecans" is
the title of Farmers Bulletin No.
1929, just issued by the U. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture, Washington, D.
c. 1t is illustrated in form to en-
able growers to recognize the dis
eases discussed. 1t should be in the
hands of all who grow the worlds
best nut, one that attains its best
condition in Florida.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30

Department Circular No. 143, just
issued by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, Washington, D..
c.. contains lists of owners of pure
bred and grade Ayrshire, Guernsey.
Holstein and Jersey cows treated for
tuberculosis under the accredited
herd plan in the various states.
Hundreds of names of owners of
Jersey cows are listed in Florida.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30

Management of Growing Chicks"
is, the title of Farmers Bulletin No.
1111, is of special value to all en-
gagged in raising chickens 1t is sent
free by the U. S. Department of Agri-
cul sure, Washington, D. C.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30

Do not wait till it is time to plant
your spring crops to break your land.
Now is the time. If possible, sub
soil when you break. You will find
that your crops can stand droughts
better.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30

A heavy rain fell Monday night.
flooding the woods and making them
uncomfortable for hunters.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30
"CHILDREN'S DAY"
At the South Florida Fair viii be
Friday, February 4th

Friday, February 4th, has been
designated as "Children's Day" at the
South Florida Fair, and all children
-Floridians and visitors-who are
in the city on that day will be enter
tanned without expense by directors
of the Fair Association. A special
program will be put on in honor of
the little ones including thrilling air
plane stunts, auto polo. Roman char
lot races, running races and ten other
free acts in front of the big grand
stand. In case the weather should
he bad on that day, the children
will be entertained during the fol-
lowing week.
President Obregon OF Mexico, has
definitely decided that his country
shall be represented at the fair, and
during the week the erection of an
. N+ssonal building to house the
Spt exhibit was begun.
~" will be one of the
hing of the fair period,
Assatures being pre-
xGS re republic which
~ r. lr the past ten
~. space TAX
- tating the
=.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-12-30

Punta Gorda is an up to
oate town, having more
improvements than many
much larger
St. Paul tidende. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1902-1928, 1920-07-09

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