The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-05-21


the foundation work has been con-
pleted, and the work on the remand
er will be pushed to completion at an
early day.
v. S. Psstoffice-One of the surest
Indications of a city's growth and de-
is the status and growth
- its postofice receipts. Ocala's
= ostof1ce. for the past five years,
shows an increase in receipts of
about II per cent per annum. This
reflects a steady, permanent growth,
minus any "bum" features. Below is
appended a statement of receipts for
the past five years:
19O4-$13,593.5S.
1905-$14,15 1851.
1906-$16,45S.27.
1907-$17 ,946.1S.
1908-$19,S35.7S
Geo. c .Crom, postmaster; %. r.
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 a. m, to
| s 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 WaIks-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
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
capital stock of 100000, owned
principally by eastern capitalists. The
water is obtained from an artesian
we'll 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-f1ve fire hydrants.
Transportation-Mar 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
A. c. L. runs also east and west.
In addition to these rail facilities,
4
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
southwestern edge of the county.
Points of Interest-Silver Springs
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 it 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-
| viduality all its own. Its banks are
strewn with 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
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
magnifying power. 1t is nine miles
to the Oklawaha river, and the water
is as clear as crystal the entire dis
lance. A student of nature can secure
food for ruminatiOn on this trip that
will last for long time.
Blue Springs is another resort of a
similar nature, twenty miles south of
Ocala, and is reached by rail or car
riage. Many pleasure parties find
their way to these Springs at all sea-
sons of the year
Homosassa-On-the-Gulf 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
Ha~.mm r IL