The Punta Gorda herald. [volume], October 07, 1920, Image 1

About The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958

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3V f uttta doriba fmtiii
IMPROVEMENTS
Punta Gorda is an up to
date town, having more
improvements than many
much larger
POPULATION
I'unta Gorda's population
increased 28 percent dur
ing 10 years. Population
1920. 1.295 '
Punta Gorda, In Tropical Southwest Florida, is Advantageously Located Ml Charlotte Harbor, One of the largest Lanil-Locketl Bays on the liwlf of .Mexico, and is a Town with a Bright Future, Commercially and Agriculturally
. , 1 .
Aolume XXXI I Number 39.
PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA, THURSDAY, OCTOBKK 7th, I SO.
FIyo CenU a Copy; $2.00 a Year.
FLORIDA'S DEATH
RATE IS VERY LOW,
STATISTICS PROVE
Makes Splendid Showing in Compari
son in Spite of Many Very On
f avorable Circumstance.
According to mortally statistics, re
cently issued by the federal govern
ment, only seven states out of thirty
one can boast of lower death rates
than Florida, the Florida figures be
ang 15.7 per 1,000 population, con-1 operations and delayed the house
sidered remarkably low. 'building that is going or.
The.higest rate 24.3 per 1,000
is recorded against Maryland, while
Washington state, with its 10.6, tops
the list as having the lowest death
rate.
Health authorities here say this
puts Florida strlckly in a health re-'
sort class, and the figures are con-j
sidered phenominal in view of the a suit Which was filed in the cir
many handicaps under which Florida cuit court last week is intended to
labors. In this connection, it is ge nnai judgement on the long-moot-pointed
out that annually, particular-, eli question ot who owns or has right
ly with the advent of cold weather, 'to possession of land on the shore of
thousands of elderly people In poor i.ake Okeechobee, formerly part of
health Hock to the state to escape the. the lake bed and now exposed as soil
rigors of Northern winters. I by the recession of the lake waters.
The negro population of Florida, The question is sometimes referred to
which amounts to about forty per las one ol riparian rights,
cent, is another factor which enters Attorneys Chillingworth, oi West
in the handicap, r.s does the many Palm Beach, join with Glenn Terr;!!,
non-resident invalids found at sea- j of Tallahassee, who is attorney for
shore resorts, as well as inland towns the trustees of the Internal Improve-
both summer and winter.
These and numerous other condi
tions tend to heighten the death rate.
Regardless of all these drawbacks
Florida is continuing to hold its own
as a healthy place in which to live.
In a comparative report for 1919,
compiled by the Florida bureau of
vital statistics, in which figures from
-six Southern states are brought to
. .r..Hv PWM. makes ,
i T-jij .h.tV. vi4it. KpMI,kv Dr- Merrill bought from the Paho
.splendld showing, Honda, Kentucky, I
North Carolina, South Carolina and Rally Company two lots at Paho
Virginia are included in the report. and was g.ven to understand that
With a rate of 11.2 deaths per thous-ihe "le to him carried riparian
and population Florida holds the low- rights, that is. gave him possession
est record of these six states while and control ot an additional strip ol
Virginia and South Carolina both "and of width equal to his lots ex
how a. rate of 14. I tending from his lots to the lake.
11 ' ' ... , I This strip is between high water and
It may be stated with Pide )' ( low waler mark. Perry Davis, a
Florida people that the states tuber-; employe of Dr. Merrill,
culosis death rate , falls much tower ,and D
. . Omit hvvn utatA Frnin
man any uu. ' -
which figures could be obtained.
North Carolina, noted Tor Its favor
able conditions for tubercular pa
tients, has a death rate of 120.5 per
thousand in 1010 but Florida's rate
Of 94.4 issi decided improvement over
this. This may be consideied hardly
a fair comparison owing to the pa
tients who are sent to North Carolina
from other states, but a glance at
the official figures from other of the
Southern states will show Florida's
standing. Kentucky 162.1; South
Carolina, 107.9; Loulsana, 131.2;
Virginia 149.0.
with a r0 1 p" thound:
I.. .u! .' , mui
r ioriua, ui.-u na.-. m- vvs, . j t-
r a , idl ii nirvthor.i isir
lever uk1"" iui w.,.. w .
u ..:...... hih .hio state;
v .wT" t n, n . r r daVlta
shnws the lowest number ot ueatnsi
5 f-r-nrrliriL' to nonulation. Only 5.4 i
niq
deaths per thousand occurred in
recorded
while Kentucky has 14.6
-.igainst her. The whooping couajh
death rate is lowest with the excep- i
t,on of South Carolina which falls be-j
I
j
HOME FOLK
If the Fnnner ever Tucked his Pants i
in his Boots, said "Gosh all Hemlock!"
and Worried about the Mortgage, that
was when Hector was a Pup. Now he
Is a Live Business Man who drives to
Town In his Sports Mixlel Speedboy,
amputates a few Liberty Bond coupons
juid Pays for this Paper Two Years
lu Advance.
low Florida's rate of 4.8 only by a
small fraction.
North Carolina holds the best rec
ord for a low pneumonia rate with
a death rate of 62.2 but Florida
conws a close second with a rate of
68.0 per thousand.
The above mentioned diseases are
some of the most important ncs in
cluded in the special questionnaires
sent out by the state board of health,
on which figures could be authenti
cally compiled. They are the best
proof of the health conditions in the
state which according to health au
thorities, continue to be exceptionally
good.
Rainy weather during the first part
of this week put a stop to trucking
squabble OVER squatting
Dispute OTT Ownership of I
,1111(1 to
be Settled in Court.
ment Fund, in an action against C.
M. Merrill, of West Palm Beach,
and present the questions Involved in
(this suit as sufficiently typical of
those involved in many other cases
to make it a test case and thus de
termine the rights of the I. I. Hoard
and of many claimants. A suit
brought by Dr. Merrill and heard in
jthe circuit court recently brought the
question i a muie aeuie issue.
Dr. Merrill, and the doctor success
fully maintained an action in eject
ment against Davis. In the recent
;case nothing more than possession
was involved and the jury held that
. (Continued on taut pnge)
FUN DA M K NT AUS IN HISTORY.
DUcaaMd at Tuesday Meeting of
Citizenship Claw.
A lecture on "Some Fundamentals
in American History" by Prof. James
A. James of Northwestern University
wras read by the class leader.
Crman history from the kindergar-
ten through the university. In
.., ni,..ir,
- ftmr
"re doing much the
same. I asked
Of professors that I met at the
. .. .
Uni-
vesity ot Berlin, at the Sorbonne,
lEdiaburg and elsewhere: What do
iyu have in American history? and
they said we haven t any. une oi
the professors in the Sorbonne said:
You have no history. These
very protessors really Ttnow
today that we have an American
'history. You will find in your
reading of American history the one
outstanding point is the idea of union
I Mr. Webster said I do not rep
I resent Boston, I represent the United
I States. we have had repre
'sentives from Great Britain here who
'said: "Your Declaration of Independ
ence and the principles evolved are
now ours. All of the '
underlying principles of the League
of Nations are American. These
nrincinales have been accepted by the
nations of the world and no nation
accepted them more willing than
Great Britain."
In specking of the Monroe doc-
trine, Prot. James reieriea i
wonderful speaches made by Mr.
Root when sent by President Roose
velt to the capitals of South America.
" 'We neither claim nor desire any
right or privilege or power that we
.i r .- ....... ,i. in everv Ameri-
I l i . it , li,'.. ,int-, rn ln-
can repuonc. iic " '
crease in prosperity but our
conception of the true way to do this
is not to pull down others and build
on their ruins but help all others to
a common prosperity.' I
submit that tj you as tbe American
doctrine 1 think the principles
we have been talking cnout nae
COme throng'- into the League of
Nations."
The articles of the League of Na
tions covenant, to article 11, were
read and discussed. Further study
of the league will be carried on at
the next meeting which will be on
October 12th at 3:30 in the Tourist
C'.ub room. Open to all.
Work on New
Hotel to Begin as Soon
as Material is Secured
The above architect's drawing giv
es an accurate idea of the appearance
of the new Seminole Hotel, which is
to be erected at the corner of Marian
avenue and Taylor street on the lot
from which the old Seminole has
just been moved.
Work on this handsome building
will be started Just as soon as the
floor plans and specifications are fin
ally approved, and it is expected that
this will be done within the next two
weeks at the outside. Work on the
foundation will be started just as
soon as material can be placed upon
the ground. The foundation will be
given about two weeks to "set up,"
but in the meantime other material
will be placed upon the ground so
that as soon as the foundation is
"set up" the work can be proceeded
with at once.
The estimated cost of the building
is $50,000. It will be of first class
construction throughout, and while
the matter has not been fully decided
upon. It Is likely that red faced-brick
will he used.
Mayor Calls Meeting
to Nominate Officials
To Citizens of Punta Gorda:
At the coming town election,
to be held Tuesday, November
23rd, there is to be elected al
most a full set of town officials
in addition to five members of
a charter board which Is to
amend the town's charter to
provide for the commission or
commission-manager form of
municipal government to re
place the present coui:cilmanic
form.
Th? town's best Interests de
mand that due consideration be
given the matter of who is to
serve on tl.is charter board as
well as All other official posi
tions. In the past very little
consideration has beon given to
the matter of selecting men for
town officials, and their selec
DEMOCRATS NEED
MONEY; EVERYONE
IS ASKED TO HELP
Lo.al People Have Subscribed $130.
Oll to Date It You Intend to
Give, Do So nl Once.
Dp to noon yesterday a total of
?1"4 had been subscribed by local
citizens to the Democratic National
Campaign Committee fund. Only one
woman voter has subscribed.
Following is the list of contributors
to date:
Albert W. Gilchrist $100.00
F. M. Cooper 10.00
R. K. Seward
5.00
Punta Gorda Pub. Co
W. E. Mobley
5.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
5.00
5.00
Mrs. W. E. Mobley .
Paul K. Garrett
Towles Douglas
Dr. B. B. Blount . . .
W. M. Whitten
The Herald has been authorized to
solicit and receive funds for the
National Campaign Committee in this
district. Bring or mail your sub
srription to the Herald. It will be
forwarded to headquarters promptly.
A system of Farm Cost Accounting
to the title of a reissue of Farmers
Bulletin No. 572, by the U. B. De
prrtment of Agriculture, Washington,
D. C. It should be In the hands of
every farmer.
Seminole
t The lower floor will be occupied by
the Fidelity Trust Company, the
.Western Union Telegraph Company,
I the lobby, writing room and dining
room, and there will be a small ofllce
opening upon Taylor street in the
rear of the banking room.
The bank will occupy a room 2 5x
j 50 feet lacing on Marian avenue and
Taylor street. The telegraph oftiee
will occupy a room between the bank
and lobby, and will have entrances
I front the street and hotel lobby.
The lobby and writing room will be
25x40 feet and the dining room 3 Ox
4 0. The kitchen will be in a detach
ed building in the rear.
There will be 4 0 guest rooms in
the hotel, each one with a connecting
bath with toilet, lavatory, hot and
cold running water and steam heat.
A part of the second floor will be
occupied by ladies' parlor.
Altogether the new Seminole will
be one of the handsomest and up-to-date
hotels in South Florida and will
be far ahead of anything the majori
ty of other towns of similar size can
bo:ist of.
tion lias been accomplished in a
rather haphazard manner.
The selection of our officials
is an important matter. The
best Interests of our '.own will
be served by discussion and
careful consideration of matters
affecting us and the participa
tion of a greater number of
people in the selec'ion of the
men who are to aerve in official
capacities.
Therefore, I ask that all cit
izens and voter:; of the town
meet Ir. the lower pertfon of
tie Masonic hall on Tuesday,
October 26th. 1920, for the
purpose of nominating candi
dates for all established official
positions and membership in
the charter board.
J. N. SIKES, Mayor.
j
WILL DISCUSS THE
COMMISSION PLAN
OF RUNNING TOWN
Citizens Who Want to Know More
of Plan Should Attend Meeting
of Club Friday Nighi
A small crowd was present at the
iast meeting of the Commercial Club
due probably, to the non-receipt of
notices informing members of the
meeting and that the commission
manager form of municipal govern
ment would be the chief topic of dis
cussion. However, the meeting was
an interesting one, the commission
manager plan being discussed with
the result that those present went
away with a clearer understanding of
just what the plan is and what it
may be expected to do in putting the
town on a business basis If adopted.
A number of people having expres
sed regret that they were not inform
ed in time to attend the meeting, and
as there appears to" be a general in
terest in the proposaf to change Pun
ta Gorda's present form of govern
ment into the commission-manager
plan, an effort is being made to in
form as manymembets and citizens
as possible that a general discussion
of the commission-manager plan will
be the main feature of the club
meeting tomorrow (Friday) night.
Realizing the importance of a more
general interest in the selection of
tewn officials and members of the
charter board than has been taken
by people of the town in the past,
Mayor Sikes has called a mass meet
ing for the purpose of making nom
inations to be held on Tuesday, Oc
tober 20th. It is hoped that all citi
zens of the town who can will attend
this meeting and actively participate
in the selection of candidates for the
various town offices and members of
the charier board.
South America wound up the fiscal
year of 1020 with a trade balance of
$370,000,000 against the United
States. Figures made public by the
Department of Commerce r.how that
experts from the United States aggre
gated 1490,944,179 while imports
from Sout America totalled $860,
044,300. sheriff active last month
Fourteen "Liquor Cases" Handlist
During September.
Following Is the report of Sheriff
J. I,. Dbhong of the activities of his
office during the month of September.
It shows that the sheriff's ofllce
: handled a total of 64 cases during
the month, 14 of which were "liquor
canes:"
i Liquor cases 14
Violating auto license law 6
lOrar.u larceny 4
Drunkenness . . . . 9
Assault wPh intent to murder ... 3
Aggravated assault 3
Wile desertion and non-support .. 2
j Issuing worthless checks 1
Carrying rifle without bond 1
I Killing quail 1
I Rape 1
j Profane and indecent language . . 2
Receiving stolen property 2
I Murder 1
Drunkenness, second offense .... 1
assault ..nd battery 2
Fornication 2
Concealed weapons 2
Kmbezzlemert 2
Larceny 1
Forgery 1
Delinquent children 3
Total I 6
Plead guilty 31
Found guilty 1
Found not guilty 2
Bound over county court 14
Hound over circuit court 16
64
Fines and COItl SdllflStSd In cas!i
,,,,,, 11014.88
Fine and costs notes! dti hand
$1944.25
Convicts on roads today 11
ADVERTISING FOR lilDS.
Commissioner V bitten is (Jetting
Ready to open Roiwl.
"How is the short-route road to
Fort Myers coming along?" is a
question often asked which Indicates
the general interest taken In this pro
ject by the people of Punta Gorda.
As stated in previous issues of the
Herald, this route, or at least DeSoto'
county's part of it, has been surveyed
and staked. The survey was approv
ed by the Board of County Commis
sioners of DeSoto county at their last
meeting and Commissioner Whitten
is advertising for bids for the clear
ing and grading of the DeSoto county
end of the road In this weeks issue
of the Herald.
The advertisement lor bids states
that the commissioners "Will receive
sealed proposals at their offices in the
court house at Arcadia up to two
o'clock, p. m., of Monday, the first day
of November, 1920, for clearing and
grubbing the right-of-way of a road,
known as the Tamlami trail, from
Clark's mill in DeSoto county to the
north line of Lee county, and also
for grading the roadway of said Tam
lami trail within said limits."
The right-of-way will be cleared to
a width of 66 feet. The roadway is
to be 20 feet in width and will be
graded to a minimum depth of one
foot, and where the road goes through
ponds or sinks it will be graded to
correspond with the grade approach
ing the pond or sink.
Commissioner Whitten is anxious
to start actual work on the rtad and
work will be begun just as soon as
possible after the contract is let.
Owing to the high prices of InrV
wctuen in some of the western coun
ties aie having hat-making parties.
Out in Pasco County, Washington, a
' group meeting of 90 women made
(26 new and 66 made-over hats at a
Icost of $1.57 each. The value of the
old material was $237, the amount
spent lor new stuff was $170, the
money saved was some $600.
Will Entertain Social Circle.
The O. E. S. Social Circle will meet
in the club rooms next Wednesday
'afternoon from three to live o'clock
Mrs. J. N. Sikes and Mrs. B, O.
Coram will be hostesses.
MANATEE TO DOND
TO IMPROVE THEIR
PART OF THE TRAIL?
Manatee Folk Plnnnin gto Put South
ern End of. Tamlami. Trail, in
(rood Condition Soon.
A petition is being circulated ask
jing the county commissioners to call
(an election for the purpose of allow
ing the voters In the affected district.
! to deride whether or not they wish to
create a new special road and bridge
district embracing all the territory
in Manatee county lying south of the
township line dividing townships 35
land 36, says the Sarasota Times.
In the event the new district is
I formed It is proposed to bond for a
sufficient amount to put the Tamiami
Trail and the Manatee county part of
I the cross state highway in passable
j condition, pending the appropriation
I of funds by the state highway com
mission to complete the work, as the
Tamlami Trail has been designated
as a state road and the cross state
highway as a state aid road.
So far as sentiment on the question
has been ascertained a large majority
of the voters are in favor of the pro-
Iject and it is expected that when the
'election is called it will carry by a
large majority.
Considerable territory will be taken
into the new district that has never
been bonded for roads, that is the
: territory lying east of the present
Sarasota-Venice Special Road and
Bridge district and north of the
Knglewood district.
This eastern part of the county is
at present cut off from Sarasota by
very bad roads and it is almost Im
perative that something be done to
remedy this situation, while tho ex
treme southern end of the Manatee
county portion of tho Tamiapil Trail
Is In a very poor condition as well as
the rond between Venice and the
EngUwood titwtrict.
It Is the plan ot the present devel-
' hnnutnt in nrnvlAo tiMl.l. With which
" 1 " f 1 " ' "
to remedy these defects, as stated
above, with the expectation that the
str.te highway commission will later
complete the work with State funds.
, wi
An unusual peal has appeared in
California. It Is called the "puhc
ture vine." At every joint Is pro
dtictfd i number of burs, usually five,
which separate as soon as they ma
ture. Each bur possesses two or
more sharp spines about the size of
carpet tacks, so disposed t.hat how
ever the bur may fall, one spine will
always point upward. Few automo
bile tires are proof against its barbs:
no bicycle tire Is immune to injury;
anil horses and live stock have suf
fered serious Injury as a result of
contact with it. The pest is already
widely distributed over the State.
According to figures compiled by
the French association of silk mer
chants, Japan lead in silk production
in 1919, China was next, the Levant,
third, Italy fourth and France a bad
fifth. The total yield for the world
was estimated at 27,300,000 kilos
(of 2.20 pounds).
liegistratlon books close Saturday.
Men and women who wish to vote for
president next month, must register
at once, else they can't vote.
MICKIE SAYSj
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