The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-05-12
FORT MCCOY ITEMS



farm just out of town. and he should
have fine crop, as the ground has
not been used for number of years,
and as the old town site of Fort Nc
Coy, years ago, was an old cotton
plantation, and we are informed by
an old-timer that it was good one.
he should have a nice crop this fall.
The picnic at Eureka recently was
well attended. Everyone who had
rigs" used them, and those who did
not have them the company took out
in their automobiles. There were
several carriages hired from the hv-
cry stables. Everyone was given a
ride I'D the Oklawaha river in the
company's launch, which was much
enjoyed, and all pronounced the seem
cry along the river very beautiful.
Although we had quite shower late
in the afternoon everyone said they
had a good time, and about dusk hied
themselves home, tired, but well
pleased with the days outing.
Mr.. Otis Scarborough bought the Sill
yer City hotel property from Mr.. Bald
win ten days ago, and sold it yester-
day to a party from West Virginia at
an advance of $500. Talk about quick
profits, but that surely is making
money quickly This will give our
readers some idea as to real estate in
Silver City. There have been several
other transfers recently in the bust
ness district and at handsome profits.
We have people coming out from
Ocala and buying, too. This shows
what people think of our rapidly
growing little city. Come and pay
us a visit and see us grow.
On April 18th the nrst consignment
of new steel rails arrived at Fort Nc
Coy for the extension of the Ocala
Northern railroad. There were nine
carloads in this shipment, and at this
writing thirty-five cars, all told, have
arrived, and the balance to complete
the road to Palatka will arrive in a
few days. Mr.. e. p. Rentz, president
and owner of the road, tells us that
ne has contracted to have the road
completed to Palatka in ninety days.
He already has two new Baldwin To-
comotives and is having several new
coaches built, with electric lights and
all the latest improvements. AS soon
as the road is completed he will in
stall freight service in addition to
the two daily passenger trains each
way.
Mr.. E. M. Ward, who has been with
us since last August, has decided to
locate in section 1-12-23, near Orange
Springs. After going all over the
tract he has decided that he likes the
Orange Springs territory the best.
Mr.. A. B. Moore, the contractor, in
forms us that he has been asked to
figure on a building to be used for an
opera house. He would not impart
the names of the promoters, but said
that it looked like tn econtract would
be let shortly.
On April 26th the writer, while on
a trip to st. Augustine, stopped at
Captain Crockett's farm, about two
miles east of Palatka. The captain
was digging potatoes with a potato
digger, which required four mules to
pull it. The machine left the potatoes
on the top of the ground, and it was
a beautiful sight to see. He had a
large force of negroes gathering and
packing them in barrels for shipment.
The captain volunteered the informa-
ton that he had sixty acres, and that
they would average rs barrels to the
acre, and that he was getting from
$500 to $500 per barrel at the depot
for them. There were. at least fifteen
cars loaded and ready for shipment,
and there were at least fifty carloads
at Hastings, besides about $50 barrels
which went by boat daily. This will
give our readers some idea of what
the potato business means financially
in the state of Florida. We were in
formed that the crop was about half
marketed. We have thousands of
acres of land equally as good as that
at Hastings for this purpose, and it
will in all probability be only short
time until you will be reading about
the wonderful shipments of this crop
In the Burbank Ocala and Florida-Pa.
latka tracts.
Mr.. Jorgensen brought in some po
tatoes from his farm recently and
sold them in town for $3.50 per bush
ell.
Our new drug store is open for bus
mess and has a nice stock. DR.. Chap
man, who is connected with the store
has rented the Jones bungalow on the
north side of the lake, where he will
be found when not in his office at his
store. We are glad to have the doc