The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-10-01

the foundation work has been CON-
pleted, and the work on the remand
or will be pushed to completion at an
early day.
U. S. Postoffice-One or the surest
Indications OF a Guys growth and de-
is the status and growth
80 its postofice receipts. Ocala's
postof1ce, for the past five years,
shows an increase in receipts of
about II per cent. per annum. This
reflects steady, permanent growth,
minus any bum" features. Below is
appended a statement Of receipts for
the past five years:
19O4-s13 593.5S.
1905-$14,1 1851.
1906-$16,4 5S.27.
1907-$17,946.1S.
190S-$19,S35.7S.
Geo. c. Crom, postmaster; B. F.
Borden, assistant postmaster; Thorn
as G. Thompson, clerk; T. NJ. Moore,
clerk; A. P. Gilmore, clerk; Benz. r.
Bitch, clerk; Otto G. Lohrig, clerk.
Carriers, Chas. H. Stewart, Horace
Harold, Jas. S. LaRoche, Harry L.
Booher, sub.
Lobby always open. Money order,
register and stamp windows open
from 8 a. m, to p. m. General de-
livery window open from s a. m, to
p. m. Stamp, money order and reg
istry business transacted at general
delivery window from p. m, until
p. m.
Paved Streets-Tbere are over six
miles Of paved streets which cost the
city $500. The main square or pla-
"a is paved with vitrified brick. Good
roads lead out from the city in every
direction, affording many pleasing
drives.
Cement Walks-During the past
year several miles Of cement walks
have been laid on the main business
and residence streets. and the good
work still continues; and it will not
be long before this class of walks
will supercede all others.
Public Library-of the few cities
within the state that maintain public
libraries this city is one. 1t was start
ed eighteen years ago, and has been
in constant operation since. The new
location is on N. Main street, on the
second floor of the Clyatt building,
and is open during the afternoon from
4 to 6. The librarian is Miss Louise
E. Gamsby. Membership is $3.50 per
year, which fee permits the patrons
to borrow the current magazines with
each book taken out. Non-members
are required to pay 2 cents per day
for the privilege OF drawing books.
Water Works-The Ocala Water
Company was organized in 1888 with
a capital stock of 100000, owned
principally by eastern capitalists. The
water is obtained from an artesian
well bored to a depth of 1920 feet,
rendering the source of contamination
absolutely free from surface impuri-
ties. The capacity is 100000 gallons
per day. The water is hard, but heal
thy and palatable, the sulphur being
removed before being turned into the
mains. There are nine miles of
mains and ninety-five fire hydrants.
Transportation-Ma county and
Ocala have two systems of railroads,
the Atlantic Coast Line and the Sea-
board Air Line. Both roads traverse
the county north and south, and the
4. G. L. runs also east and west.
In addition to these rail facilities,
boat lines operate from the Ottawa
ha river, which runs north and south
through the county, connecting at
Palatka for Jacksonville and ocean
points, and also lines operating in the
Withlacoochee river, which skirts the
edge of the county.
Points of Interest-Silver Springs,
a resort five miles north of the city
on the line of the Seaboard Air Line,
is one of the most famous and popu-
lar resorts in the state. The Springs
may be reached by driving out, as the
roads to il are fine. At the Springs
is the terminus of the Howard and
Hart lines Of steamers which run to
Palatka This is considered one of
the most beautiful trips on the con-
tinent. The Oklawaha river, into
which the Springs empty, has an indi-
all its own. Its banks are
strewn with a constantly changing
panorama of scenery entirely differ
ent from anything else in this coun-
try. At the Springs a sight awaits
the visitor that it is seldom ones
privilege to behold. The tiny boat
that takes you out on the Springs has
a glass bottom, through the bottom of
the Springs can be plainly seen at a
depth of so feet. Fish on the bottom
are as plain as if they were in a tin
pail. A penny thrown into the
Springs can be seen as readily as if
held in your hand. There is some
thing about the chemical composition
of the water that serves to give it a
power. 1t is nine miles
to the Oklawaha river, and the water
is as clear as crystal the entire dis
tance. A student of nature can secure
food for rumination on this trip that
will last for a long time.
Blue Springs is another resort Of a
similar nature, twenty miles south of
Ocala, and is reached by rail or car
rage. Many pleasure parties find
their way to these Springs at all sea-
sons of the year.
HomOsassa-on-the-G is another of
the popular resorts reached from
Ocala, being two hours distant by
train, ana located on the Gulf of
Mexico, furnishing the best fishing
and hunting to be found in this Sec
ton of the state.