The Punta Gorda herald. [volume], April 07, 1922, Image 1

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

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1 '
Site Smtfa (foirfut tmib
Punta Gorda
Is the county seat of
Charlotte county. Popu
lation of town. ir20 cen
sus, 1,29 5. Increase for
10 years 28 percent.
The Herald
Is the oldest newspaper
published on the lower
southwest coast and the
only one in Charlotte
county.
Panto Gorda, in Tropical Southwest Florida, is Advantageouslj Located on Charlotte Harbor, One of the Largest Land-Locked Bays on the Golf of Mexico, and is a Town with a Bright Future, Commercial!) and Agriculturally
Volume XXXIV Number 14 PUNTA GORDA, CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FLORIDA, APRIL 7th, 1928 Five Cents a Copy; $2.00 a Vear
COUNTY COMMISSION
HELD 2-DAY SESSION;
MEETS AGAIN 15TH
WiH ii,i eive ltils tm engineering on
the T.i mi ami Trail at Meeting
on the l."th
The
finished
cane on
planting
Citj
The county commissioners met in
regular monthly session, Monday
morning, all the members being pres
ent. After the reading of the min
utes of previous meetings and ap
proval of the same, the clerk read
a letter from the state tax equalizer
lo Assessor Hagan saying in effect
(hat, as this is a new county, he
would not direct any change in the
assessments, but he felt that he could
trust t the fairness and good sense
of the assessor and the commissioners
10 make an equitable assessment.
The bill of Judge Brown for $3 5.00
tnr c. rvifi.io qc .it,.--..... in i I,.. bhU I
n. ti.T -i - iu i iit- nuiu calls lor
against the C. H. & N. Railway Com-1 which tl
pany, was aeierred tor further con-iter
sideration. Itllt
widow s pension claim of Mrs.
Mary B. Fitzgerald, widow of a Con
federate soldier, was approved.
The clerk read a letter from the
state comptroller in reference to the
taxable property in this county of the
Western Union Telegraph Company,
from which letter it was found that
some necessary details were omitted:
whereupon, the clerk was directed to
reiurn .( to tne comptroller witli a
request to supply the omissions.
A communication from the clerk'sMP"""""
office m Arcadia in reference to the
payment of interest on the $9,000. on
of bonds of the Punta Gorda drain
age district, brought on much talk,
which developed the fact that the
matter of payment of principal of
the bond.- had been carelessly handl
ed, only $ l ,000.00 of the original
principal having been paid, although
a tax was levied lor a sinking fund
wherewith to retire the bonds at the
rate el J1.iiiio.imi a year. George
McLaoe, who was present, slated thai
lie had in i n paying this tax for seven
years; and, it followed that, if all
the property holders of the district
had been paying the tax, there should :
reruass only two or throe thousand
dollar of the principal yet to be
paid, (i appeared that only enough
money to pay the Interest on the
bonds had been collected. The Ar
cadia communication suggested that
this IhodO account be transferred to
a Puata Gorda bank.
(Continued on serond page)
Alexander and Mr. Gatewood each
made a few remarks, Mr. Gatewood
nominating Mr. Stoll for representa
tive. The meeting was closed by Mr.
Stall, who thanked Mr. Gatewood and
others for the suggestion that he run
for the legislature, but he did not
say that he would become a candi
date. Altogether it was a very enjoyable
day, and if another picnic is held at
Berraont in the near future as is
planned, there will no doubt be a
miicn larger crowa it snllicient no
tice is given. Much of the road be
tween Punta Gorda and nermont is
in good condition and all of it may
be traveled without difficulty at the
present lime, although it is necessary
to keep off the grade for perhaps
half the distance and some deep sand
and rough places will be encountered.
ASSESSED VALUE TOWN PROPERTY, ON
A PARTIAL ACTUAL VALUE BASIS, IS
$770,374.00; ASSESSORS FINISH WORK
Valuation Board Concludes Work a nd Report is Accepted by the City
Commission. Assessment Plan Places Pari of Burden on
Unimproved Property.
Florida City Cane Syrup Co.
planting 160 acres to sugar
Monday, giving them a total
of 50n acres," says the Dade
Manner. "This year's schedule
the clearing of 1.000 acres,
ey hope to plant next wln-
The Banner goes on to tell of
plans of the big company which
is proposing to make syrup on a large
scale in that section. "Air. Slough
estimated that next season's yield will
be 125,000 gallons." adds the Ban
nor.. "The three-roll mill they have
been using is too small, and they will
install an eleven-roll mill and enlarge
the plant generally during the coming
summer." '1 is a big con cor 'i ;.;iJ ii
is planning lor big things.
The city valuation board, compos
ed of John Hawaii, C. 1.. Fries and
W. M. Whit ten have completed their
work of making a complete new as
sessment of city property and their
report was accepted by the city com
mission at their meeting Monday
night.
The total value of real estate is
$4.r)",714 and the value of improve
ments is $164,110, making a total
of $61 7,824, from which must be
deducted as free from taxation pub
lic property, such as churches and
schools, worth $22.4.riO, leaving
1595,374 of taxable real estate val
ues. Personal property is estimated
lo be worth $175,000, which when
added to the realty values makes
the total taxable values $770,374
In making their assessments the
valuation board stalled at the inter
section of Marian avenue and Taylor
street, making this the center of val
ues, and placing a value of $fn a
front loot on the land at litis point,
gradually decreased the value per
front foot as the property is remov
ed from this center, until the value
per front loot scabs down to less
than $1 in the outskirts of the town.
This plan places the same value on
all property in relation to its loca
tion and prevents any discrimination
in the fixing of values. The values
of improvements is arrived at separ
ately from the value of realty, the
valuation board taking the estimate
of the owner as to actual value, un
less it was evident the owner was at
tempting to evade, and then the
board placed what it believed to be a
lair value on the Improvements. It
is claimed thai the method of asses
ment adopted by the board is as fair
a method as it is possible to devise
and precludes the possibility of fa
voritism in making assessments on
real estate. Another feature of this
method thai will probably be pleas
ing to owners Of improved property
is (hat it shifts a portion of the bur
den from the improved property to
I ho vacant lots and tracts of hind
that are held by speculators.
it is believed that under the new
assessment it will be possible to re
duce the millage from 25 to 20, and
I if this is the case some owners of
' improved property will find that they
will have to pay less taxes than bc
j fore, although the assessed value of
their property may be greater ,and
owners of vacant property may have
1 to pay more. For instance, a certain
j unimproved tract of land was asses
sed at $600 for the last tax period,
when the millage was 25, and paid
! $15. Under the new assessment this
same property is valued at $2,000,
and' if the millage is reduced to 20
mills, this same unimproved property
will pay $40. An improved piece of
property was formerly assessed at
$40,0u0 and paid $1,000. The new
assessment is $42,900 and if the mill
age is reduced to 20 mills, notwith
standing the fact that the assess
ment is $8,900 more, the properly
will pay $S5S. or $142 less than un
der tile old assessment.
Perusal of the new assessment roll
and study of the method adopted
seems lo indicate that the valuation
board sought to equalize taxes so
thai owners of Improved property, or
those who contemplate making im
provements will not be penalized tor
iheir enterprise, by placing a just
portion of the burden on vacant lots
ami tracts o( land, which, in many
cases, are being held by speculators
for what are considered high prices,
or not offering them lor sale at any
price.
Realty assessments are about one
third of the actual market value,
while i he assessment on personal
properly is about one-fourth actual
value.
"Hey, C mon in!" Says Skinay; "The Water s Fine!'
MANY ATTENDED PICNIC
AT DERMONT SATURDAY
Hopttafelc People oi Homestead Set-tf-eiit
Hosts to Candidates
and Isitoi s
K considerable number of people
from Cleveland, Charlotte Harbor
and Punta Gorda enjoyed a fine picnic
dinner at Bermont last Saturday; (lie
good people of thai place having sent
out Ik announcement thai the flrsl
picnic and political tally would be
held there.
There was a large numbi r ot can
didates present, and altogether there
were between I5n and 200 people
I torn various sections who enjoyed
thi splendid picnic dinner thai had
been prepared by the ladies ol Ber
mont. There was roast pork, chick
en, two or three kinds of other meat.-,
boiled eggs, cold slaw, stuffed pep
pers, pickles, two Or three kinds of
sandwiches, baked beans potato sal
ad, coffee, cake, and well, all of the
good things can't be recalled bin
there w;.s an abundance for every
bodyand everybody seemed to be
unusually hungry, too. Following
the dinner, everybody went out under
the fre..s in the shade, and here each
candidate explained why the voters
would make a great mistake if they
didn't put him in office. Edward H.
Stoll was the master of ceremonies
and introduced the candidates.
County Judge Trabue. who wants
to continue to hold office, was first
speaker and he was ollowed by one of
his opponents. Mr. Batnhill. Then
II. Y. Walden. who is tunning for
county superintendent addressed Ihe
crowd, stating that if elected he
would accept a salary of $1,000 a
year. He was followed by Superin
tendent W. E. Bell, who explained the
requirements of the law regarding
the superintendent's office, calling at
tention to the fact that the salary is
set by law. Sheriff Lipscomb was
next on the program and he was
followed by Chas. A. McLane, who is
a candidate for tax collector. The
foregoing were the only candidates
who spoke, but Mr. Carrier, Miss Ada
Ml M TAKK EXAMINATION
HlloKi; BEING PROMOTED
Hummer School Work Won't Help
I'nlesH Credits Given Are Actu
al! Earned,
Hereafter students who fail to ad
vance out of their grade to the next
(must be given an examination before
the opening of the next term of
I school if they claim they are entitled'
(to promotion by reason of work done
I during the summer, a resolution
passed by lb'' county Hoard of Pub
lic Instruction at the request of the
'trustees of the Punta Gorda, Special !
Tax School District making it the
duty of the various principals to give!
I these examinations.
! Following is the resolution passed
by tile board at its regular monthly
i "Resolved that an entrance exam
ination be required at the beginning
of the term of the schools of Char-1
lotite count) lor those students who
I do not complete the term or who fail
in the final examination, and that no
I credit be allowed for work done dur
ing the summer in any private school
I in I he county ."
Mr. stoll a Candidate
This issue of the Herald contains,
i the formal announcement af Edward
A. Stoll. of Bermont, as a candidate;
for representative. Mr. stoll is a
young man of energy and intelligence!
and understands the needs of this
section and the staV. served with
'honor in the world war, is highly.
i regarded by the people of his own
neighborhood, and no doubt will re
ceive a substantial vote in the com
ing primary.
TAMPA BOARD ROMPS ON
STATE ROAD DEPARTMENT
Claim All Hone) Is Going to Itoad
One; Asl thai Meeting lie Held
in Tampa Soon
CHIEF OF POLICE ADAMS
VICTIM OF Al io ACCIDENT
TO BE PRESENTED MONDAY ! w - , s
Truck; Wrist Broke, Mead Cm
and Thigh Bruised
'THE LITTLE CLODHOPPER'
LIGHTS AND WATER
DISCUSSED BY THE
CITY COMMISSION
Manager Has Lot of Information as
to Cos) of Plants ;uid Cost of
Producing Current
The water and light situation was
discussed at considerable length at
the semi-monthly meeting of the city
commission Monday, but no action
was taken.
Manager Price was present and re
ported that he had gathered a great
deal of information concerning the
initial cost of water and light plants
and the cost of running them since
the last meeting of the commission,
and while he had not had time time
lo assemble the information in shape
to present to the commission for con
sideration he felt much encouraged
by the information he had obtained
and would have it In shape to pre
sent at the nexi mooting. He said
that he believed that a plant ade
quate tor the needs of the lown for
many years to come could be install
ed in duplicate for about $35,000,
although the cost might be greater
than this or less, his estimate being
based upon the cost of the latest type
of high-grade equipment. The cost
of producing current would range
from three cents to four cents a kilo
watt, and while he did not so State,
it is believed thai if it can be pro
duced for this amount consumers
would, by Installing their own plant,
get a considerably lower rate than al
present perhaps 12c a kilowatt for
lights and perhaps eight cents for
power.
The Quality of water that is being
supplied was also discussed al length,
and I be commissioners were of one
accord thai the town should have
better water and that if it were sup
plied fho water department could be
made self-sustaining and of great
convenience to the people, everyone
at present being compelled to main
lain cisterns or tanks or carry their
water tot household use from shal
low wells. Ii was suggested that
the town's shallow wells, which sup
ply a good quality Of water, might
be put in use by cutting them off two
01' I lin e leet below the surface so
thai the water would run into a large
reservoir, from which it could be
pumped io the tank While there
are some difficulties iu the way of
doing this, the idea seemed to meet
with general favor.
SAYS BRYAN CANNOT BE
BE CERTIFIED AS SENATOR
Chairman Raney Says Florida Coast i-
union Forbids Giving Certificate
of Flection
Seniors ie Working Haul and
I ten I Treat is Promised Those
bo Attend the Play
Ira Adams,
narrow escape
poll
Tie board of governors of the
Tampa Hoard of Trade Wednesday
appointed a committee to get in touch
"Bar-worms," or "bud worms." of
corn may be prevented largely by
dusting lead arsenate thru a perforat
ed tin can into the corn buds. Do
this in time to kill the first genera
tion and there will not be much of a
second generation. Mix the lead ar
senate with equal parts of air-slaked
lime.
with the governor of Florida, the
chairman and members of the slate
tiiad department, oilier counties in
South Florida and make every effort
io require the slate road department
to carrj OU) its unfulfilled promise
lo hold a meeting iu Tampa in the
near future,
W. W. Clark of the stale road de
partment, C. T. Friend, chairman of
the Hillsborough county commission
ers, .J. J. Hendrick, Jr., and Perry
O, Wall attended Ihe meeting. A
letter was read from the San ford
Chamber of Commerce stating that
mere state and federal aid money Is
spent on state road No. 1, than all
others in the stale COmtjfhed, al
though that is a local road anil of no
interest to most of the state, and
when the department is through with
It, there will be no money left for
the other roads. The letter suggest
ed that if the south Florida mem
ber of the department is unable to
get action, he be asked to resign.
Mr chirk the member in question,
said it was the first he had heard
of this complaint against him and
said he is ready to resign If asked.
He said Sanford is on road No.
He stated that they have the facts
about right on road No. 1. He urged
lhat the business men in his district
back him up at meetings on the state
road department.
Mr. Hendrick said that no mooting
of the state road department has been
held in South Florida since 1918 and
South Florida has to send delegates
al great expense to Tallahassee and
(Continued on last page.)
The senior class of the I'unfa Gor
jda high school will present their
play. "The Little Clodhopper," at tin
school auditorium Monday night,
April 10th, and those who have seen
I the rehearsals say thai it is an at
traction that will prove a real trial
j to those who like this kind of amiise-
mont.
I "The Little Clodhopper" is a cat
chy and active comedy with it climax
I at the end of each act designed lo
' make one laugh, and the audience
must sympathize with the
from the pool house It is
of humor and pathos whir
an evening full ol men
pleasure.
from serious, if not
fatal injury, about N o'clock, Monday
night, when George McLane's car ran
against him, knocked him down and
bruised him considerably. It appears
that the chief was on the side of
Taylor streel opposite his residence,
talking with Ii. C. Letzrtng, whose
car, headed south, was parked there.
Both were behind the car, and Mc
Lane who was driving north, could
noi see i hem. Letzring go' in bis
I W. .1 Bryan cannot legallj be a
candidate tor the C. S. senate from
, Florida and cannot lie nominated, ac
cording to George P, Raney, chair
man of the state Democratic Execu
tive committee, who quotes Article
state constitution as fol-
16 of
lows :
"Th
tin
M inor and every state of
ficer are herebj prohibited from giv
ing certificates ol election or other
credentials to any person as having
been elected to the house of repre
sentatives of the United Stales con
gress, or the United States senate,
and was starting off. when Adams win, has not been Bvi
little stray
b blending
Ii promises
Iment and
According to reports from Colum
bia county, the efforts made recently
lo enlist the attention Of fanners in
the dairy business are proving suc
cessful. Ii is said that several dairy-1 ui'kl
men from the .North and Hast have
become interested in the matter of
dairying in Florida, and have bought
farms and propose entering the Held.
Many farmers who have heretofore
given little oi' no attention to dairy
ing are beginning to realize the Im
portance of this adjunct to the regu
lar activities carried on. and have se
cured at least a few cows and are
proceeding to try out the project ot
having dairy products lor sale as well
as for home use.
(in
sti pped from behind it and right in
front of tile McLane cat, within three
feel ol it. He caught and held
on to Ihe front of the cat; but.
before il could be slopped, he was
thrown down and dragged about
twenty teet. His b it wrist was brok
en, bis forehead received tin ugly
bruise, and he was bruised also on
his right arm and both legs, its well
as on his body. McLane, who was
going at moderate speed, stopped as
possible, and rushed to
Adams' assistance, bill the latter, not
realising his injuries, walked with
out aid to the Cochran drug store,
when- he was given attention, and
then went home and summoned a
doctor. His condition has since been
fast improving and be will soon bo
able to resume his official duties, lie
says that be alone and not McLane
Is to blame for the accident.
a vt
a citi-
and ten years a oiti
I States ;i nd a quail
ou Accredited School
Superintendent of Public Instruc
tion Hell has received word from the
According to the Monthly Business accrediting board at Tallahassee that
Review, a statistical journal publish- the Punta Gorda high school was se
ed by the Federal Reserve Bank at credited as a standard senior high
Atlanta, Orlando led every city in the school al the meeting of the board
South, in point of increased building last week. The county has two ac
operation, for the month of January credited grammar schools in addition
and was second only io Atlanta in l to the Punta Gorda school those at
building operations. Charlotte Harbor and Murdoch.
sen of the stati
! zen of the Unit
lied voter."
It is not even claimed that Mr.
j Bryan has been a citizen Of Ihe state
! ol Florida for live years
As Mr. Bryan has not been a resi
dent of Florida for five years, and is
I not even a qualified voter, it would
I seem that this pari of the constitu
tion would put him out ot the run-
i nlng.
I In case some persons hold thai the
constitution Of the United States,
; which says the congress shall be the
j sole judge of the eligibility of its own
members, be held to apply in this
case, Mr. Raney reminds them lhat
the merits in the race between Mr.
Bryan and the Republican candidate,
should Mr Bryan be nominated,
would be decided by a Republican
I congress, which no doubt would de
lerde in favor ot the Republican can
I didate.
Senator Traintnell recently made
I Ihe statement that Bryan's candidacy
was an effort of the Republicans to
split the Democratic party In Florida.
Prospects are very favorable for a
new railroad t rum ureenw ooo io
Marianna. Approximately all of the
finance needed has been subscribed.