The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1897-06-25
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We have been travelling abo1t lately
boxing for those signs o. promised
prosperity and think xe have gotten
reasonably fair gllmp@e~ of them For
the encouragement u our readers we
viii tell them what We sav and where.
We saw that Aiadin's lamp had
been transferred % -. Augustine and
along the east coast and had worked a
transformation there - wonderful a.
anywhere described in the field Of nc-
tion. We san hotels ia size and ar
chiteetual design aud finish a. msjes-
tic and beautiful a. any 81 the Moor
ish castles We read about IN Spanish
history. Bat they are all closed. They
give out 10 signs % activity. They
are - dead % prosperity 10 appear
anee ~ the sn0kelesz ehimneys 81 the
Ohio factories.
And We we're told that when open
and 10 fuI blast the prosperity that
flows from them i not far reaching.
II will not do o. hank On. II Il u0-
substantial and infinitesmaL Thee
hotels bring all their help With them
They bring their furniture and all
their belongings. The erockeryware
and silver-the groceries and prOvis-
ions-the wines and liquors, are all
purchased in markets many miles
away. We are giving It to you straight
the merchants q Florida, the men
who deal in furniture, blankets, tow
cling and linen, -four, butter and lard !:
the farmers. those who grow sugar
cane and breadstuff<, nor our vegst-
able growers, cannot depend on our
big hotels for sOft aud easy snaps The
signs OF prosperity that they indicate
are deceiving. We are told by local
merchants that they had rather have
the trade Of the little Ocean View ho-
Tel and Mrs. CrlddOcks boarding
house at 20. Augustine than the local
trade Of the Ponce de Leon or Alcazar.
In the hotel line, a. ia other affairs,
the little things are not to be despised
They are what We must nurture and
depend on. A il j. in 81. Augustine
aud along the east coast 80 it T. ia Tam
pa, -. Petersburg and Punta Gorda
From the pictures these places present
We learn the lesson that the prosperity
81 our state can not depend upon YES
tibule trains nor big hotels.
But back Of the Ocala House IS a
sign that promises prosperity that We
believe will be substantial and lasting.
10 j. Allan Rodgers tobacco patch.
And the sweat and labor that he aud
bis little sons are putting on it, is what
Is going TO bring prosperity to Florida
This alone will do it, aud this alone has
doneit. And from OeaIa t" Fit. Myers we
saw these signs Of promised prosperity.
All along the route we saw white men,
and, In some instances, white women,
In the fields at work, and with these
signs everywhere visible we quickly
reached the verdict that the prosperity
Of Florida is assured. .
Green patches Of tobacco and rice
aud melons, waving fields Of corn,
sheltered acres Of pineapples and the
restoration Of orange groves, is the
story Of the Florida farmer. Fairly
good prices were obtained from the
melon shipments; good prices are ex-
pected from the tobacco crop now
being raised rich returns are promis-
ed from the successful experiments Of
pineapple culture under shelter, and
the thousands of acres Of orange groves
tina, are being restored are being graft
ed with selected stock Of fruit that
will give Florida superiority in this
line that will make her oranges hold
the markets against the competition
Of the world.
We do not underate the great value
Mr. Plant aud Mr.. Fiagler are to Flor
ida, but back Of these men, are the eff
forts Of the great body of the people
on the lines We have named and the
efforts Of all together are destined to
make Florida the most desirable aud
picturesque spot for pleasure aud easy
living anywhere to be found Oh the
American continent.
Yes, prosperity Is to be found in
Florida behind the pillow aud at the
end Of hoe handle.