The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1903-07-03
he Weekly T16Ese-iz. Reoo-:
0CeLA.
The Thriving Capital Of Marion
county-The Center Of Great
and Prosperous Section.

county, i one OF TIE Oe-l Quilt auN
best located towns in Florida. a fine
county courthouse occupies the center
ola large square, which is surrounded
On al sides by solidly built, sub=tan-
dial brick business blocks which con-
tinue some distance in all directions
upon the four streets surrounding the
square. a fair estimate would give
the town sbOut 80 stores, many Of
which compare favorsbly with the
large stores OF much larger cities.
The present population Of Ocaia l.
about 500, which, with the many
surrounding farmers and truckgrow-
err. supply profitable trade to its mer-
chants. The city has fully xix miles
OF hard, rock-paved streets, and many
OF the residences are very fine. The
school system l. al excellent one, the
average enrolment being about so
pupils. AItesian water Of fine quality
il furnished 10y a good waterwOrks
system. Six hne churches are well
attended and supported. There are
good city hall and srmOry buildings,
q good military company, good fire
department, q good public library,
free delivery Of mails, an active Board
OF Trade with sixty-tIO members,
two good daily papers, two strong
banks. with another, which will be q
national bank, preparing to open.
The Atlantic Coast Lire and the
Seaboard Air Line railroads are both
hauling large quantities Of vegetables
and wstermelons grown Cd the sur
rounding farms, which are among the
best in the state, and from
twenty TO ninety carloads Of
produce per day are now be-
ing shipped from this point.
Ocsls has eight good maunfactur-
ing plants in operation, and ali seem
10 be doing profitable business. The
Ocala Foundry & Machine Works Is
doing q fine business, and under the
able management of Mr.. b. :. Ander-
son, will soon be materially enlarged
20 accommodate the fast increasing
business.
Ocala IL one Of the best markets in
the state for horses and mules. The
writer does not remember having
seen as generally fine stock for q long
time a. at this place. At the large
stables Of Messrs. Crosby & Hall may
be found everything in horse or mule
flesh, frOln the 800 high-stepper DOWN
60 the patient turpentine mule.
Speaking Of turpentine reminds me
that Marion county is one of the
largest turpentine producing cOunIie;
in the state, something like Sl,5O0,C0(
being invested in turpentine opera.
tions there. Add TO that 81 ,O00, OO(
invested iD phosphate mines, 81 90
60 in lumber productions, another
100000 in truckgrowIng and gener.
al farming, 81 600, 0O1 in stock raising
very large investments in cotton
growing, and you find a county O
wealth and Importance second tC
none ia the state.
Ocsls has several lumber plants
among which the mill Of Mr.. c. /
Grace is prominent. While Mr.
Grace j. supplying all the produce o
both saw and planning mills, he i,
reaching directly for the orders o
surrounding turpentine, lumber anC
phosphate men, and makes a specially
OF supplying material for camps, com
misssries, etc.
a new industry, first factory Of il
kind in the world, will soon be il
operation here. The Seymour Cross
tie Hewer and Veneer Mill Compan,
are having new machinery built, anc
will soon have factory in active op
GRAFTON, Mr.. Seymour has lately sol,
10 SIR. r. :. Hall half interest in hi
invention at very handsome figure
and there is now ample capital L
back this new and very importan
invention, which is destined to re
vo!utiOnize the manufacture OF botl
crOssties and veneer.
Capitalists, investors, settlers, me