The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-04-14


are being made by the city of OcaIa,
its municipal government and by its
hustling board of trade, composed of
comparatively all of its best citizens,
to advertise Ocala have the double
purpose of presenting to the outside
world the advantages and attractions
of residence here, and also the cor
recting of many errors regarding our
state and city, which exist in many
minds by reason of ignorance and pre-
JUDGE.
There are many people who hold
grim ad gruesome ideas of our Sec
ton, but they are gradually growing
less in number as our city and state
become better known, and the time is
not far distant when such conceptions
of us will be rarely heard.
To those who have cast their lot
with us We can appeal for the truth
fulness of the statement that in no re-
spect are any of these ideas correct.
So far as Ocala is concerned, there is
here neither excessive heat, malaria
nor mosquitoes sufficient to be a Sc
rious annoyance; no venomous snakes
or alligators to endanger the life of
anyone, nor have we ever had an ep-
! idemic disease, nor is our soil of such
a character that it is hopeless to ex-
pect living from it, for many at this
time are making comfortable livings
and number are becoming rich from
the products therefrom Thus in all
respects are these injurious ideas I'M
founded.
We do not claim the entire EARTH
1t is not pretended that Ocala is the
very Garden of Eden, nor that it is
the neplus ultra of all the places in
the wide world. But we do say, and
say it confidently, supported by the
testimony of hundreds, yea, of thous-
ands, who are either living here now,
or who have lived here, or have spent
most delightful seasons with us, that
there is no place in any state or
country on the globe which, all things
being considered, offers so many in
ducements for a permanent or tenn
porary home as does Ocala. There is
no perfect human nature or human
life, or perfect climate, or soil. or. So
cial or political conditions to be
found anywhere. But Ocala comes as
near to the standard as could be hop
ed for in this imperfect world.
Taken in this reasonable and limit
ed sense, then, to all who are in good
faith and heartily cast their lot with
us and make this their permanent, as
well as temporary, homes, Ocala of
fers health, wealth and happiness.
The conditions are ripe for it here,
and if anyone fails to obtain this most
desirable trinity of blessings it will
be more than probable that the reason
or fault will be in such an one, rather
than in the place itself.
Today the eyes of all are turned to-
ward the Florida peninsular, which a
few years ago was vast wilderness,
but which today is a country of prog
ress, wealth, education and plenty. a
land of milk and honey" where the
soil is most fertile and productive,
where everything that grows flourish
es most luxuriantly, where the climate
is delightful, the winters being mild.
while the summers heat is tempered
by constant breezes from the ocean
and gulf What has been accomplish
ed in the past decade is only a har-
binger of the future
! Situated in the richest and most de-
sirable section of this peninsuIar is
Marion county, of which Ocala is the
county site. It's western line is with
IN fourteen miles of the gulf coast and
It's eastern line is within thirty miles
of the Atlantic coast.
There are few, if any, more impor-
tant matters in mans life than the
proper selection of a location for a
home or business. On this selection
frequently depends his prosperity,
health and pleasure for life. All Of
these conditions are necessary to
make either city or country life desir-
able. 1t has been thoroughly demon
strated that in Ocala and its surrounds
ing territory are found the character
istics that bring about these condi-
lions of life to the highest degree Of
perfection. If man desires prosper
ity, the conditions are here by which
he can secure it. II he desires health,
he has only to put himself under the
influence of the conditions that exist
here. If he desires innocent amuse-
ment, he will find it in our homes. on
our lakes, in our forests or wherever
his tastes may direct him.