The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-04-23

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Florida Press Association on the alb
surd laws that have stood on our |
statute books about the rights OF per- |
son and no one should be deprived OF
the same, or rights Of property by due
process OF law that have numbered
those books for more than a century
and a plea for good roads, a pleasant
time at the reception given the pencil
pushers by Columbia College and
good nights sleep we, with a dozen
others, took advantage OF the hospita-
BILE invitation of the White Springs
board of trade to take glimpse OF
those wonderful medicinal springs
that have done so much during the
past twenty years in relieving and
curing tens of thousands of subjects
of a dozen maladies.
1t was not our first visit to those
famous waters. The other one dated
nearly 20 years prior, when the sur
roundings to the picturesque and ro-
mantle spot were quite different from
what they are today. Then they stood
as nature designed them; now they
largely are what man has made them.
Then White Springs was mere ham
let with a hotel, the Paxton House
building). The old one on the brow of
bluff was burned many years ago and
a larger and more commodioUs struc-
ture erected farther up the bluff, but
is still under the management of Mr..
and Mrs. Paxton, two most estimable
people whom to know is to love and
that is what all their patrons do.
There were a few boarding houses
several stores and the only Institution
that commanded respect was the SKIP
worth Normal, started right on the
bluff and across the way from the
Paxton House. by the enthusiasm OF
Dr. Skipworth, in which he got the
people interested and had built up
quite an institution. 1t did good
work for years, but the old building
has been readjusted to family use and
is now the commodious and pleasant
home of Mrs. Jackson, who rot only
owns the springs. but large tract of
virgin forest and the town site as
well.
This recalls the fact that in that
year Suwanee county was torn in
twain by an exciting wet or dry cleo
ton. The tide of excitement was roll
ing high and the contest had reached
the boiling point and the overflow
conferred in a big meeting at Live Oak,
which we attended. This meeting was
estimated to have drawn 5000 people,
well divided in color and which was
addressed by Judge White and Major
Russell Of blessed school memory for
the drys, who were opposed with all
the zeal and fury of a merchan and
saloonkeeper by the name OF Pots
damer, who for a little man could talk
louder. faster and more veHemently
Il
presented striking picture, short
and stocky of statue, hatless, coatless,
his short sleeves rolled up above his
elbows, his hair disheveled, his
, tongue wagging with the fury of a
gale, here, there and everywhere in
the crowd stemming the tide of pro-
hibition with zeal and valor worthy
of a better cause-a picture that shall
dwell in memory's hall until the end.
But this is depressing. White
Springs in those days was famous
only it's fame for healing the ills OF
the flesh was local. Since then it is
connected with the outside world by a
railroad, the G. s & F. Publicity has
been the watchword. Printers ink
has taken a hand in setting forth the
virtues and wonderful cures of its
marvellous waters and the result is
today many hundreds come and go
where only one fingered a quarter OF
century ago.
The town has grown from a hamle,
to well regulated and slightly city OF
1900 people, with many pleasant and
handsome homes, cement sidewalks
attractive stores we'll patronized, with
a number of we'll kept hotels and q
dozen or two boarding houses. many
of them quite pretentious
The springs, which burst out of the
bowels of the earth and along the
west bank of the famous Suwannee
river, flowing at the rate of 32,400 gal.
Ions a minute. The water of the
springs gushes from a big rift in the
rocks forming a cavity twenty fee
deep and nearly 100 feet in circunlfer-
nence and gush forth with such force
as to easily carry the body of a per.
son on them.
The water is good for rheumatism
dyspepsia. govt. nervous kidney trou
BILE and tens of thousands seeks it:
curative properties annually. It's cures
in many instances have been marvel
Gus; hopeless cases have found relic!
and cure.
When We first saw the springs it:
overflow was nearly on q lavel witt
the surface of the river at is norma
height. When the waters of the river
rose they overlooked the springs unit
they receded to the normal. The wa
tiers of the springs could no be USED
for bathing or drinking, so tie owner
at an expense of $4,000 enclosed tn.
springs with a concrete wall fort,
feet high with flood gates the rivel
side so that when the river rose thos.
gates could be closed and the river
water kept out and the uses of the
spring water in no way be ilterfereC
with.
The interior of this concrete en-.
closure is lined with CALLER IS which
the patrons use social hall ant
here meet daily to discuss heir ills
the virtues of the springs AM the do
ings Of the outside world. a pump OF
the first gallery supplies the visitor:
with al 1.-The water they can drink OF
carry away, for at all hours Of the day
a water brigade is moving on tn.
springs and returning with filed bot
ties and jugs of water. Everyone
drinks water The more you drink the
more you can consume and 80 mug:
holding a half-pint is deemed a mod
crate supply for a day.
You pay 10 cents to enter the en-
closure Youo can stay all day if yor
desire and drink all the water yo.
crave Baths in the springs including
bathing suit cost you 25 cents ant
80 cents for a hot bath. The water.
fthe springs are bottled and are