The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-06-09
* OCALA X
The Banner City of the
Banner'County of the
Banner State.


The name is a modification OF the ear
~ Indian application, "Ocaly," mean
ip- ''fair country" OF land of r2en-
ty."
Ocala i the market town and ship
ping point for one of the richest agri-
cultural, horticultural and mineral dis
tricts OF the south.
Here may be found else some Of the
largest and richest truck farms to be
found ii the state, together with the
most valuable deposits of phosphate,
kaoIin, ochre, lime and brick clay.
HeaIthfuness-Ocal is commended
by the best medical authorities as
reset for all sufferers from all pull
'nonary complaints, rheumatism, govt,
nervous prostration, etc. The city
with it's high altitude upon the back
bone of the peninsula receives the re
freshing breezes OF both the gulr and
the ocean, which, laden with the res
nous odor of the pine wood, en-
nance the salubrity of a naturally
mild, equable and healthful climate.
The city is free from the visitation of
yellow fever or kindred plaques, and
pulmonary diseases, sunstrokes and
r..bies are unknown. The summers
are delightful, and many prefer to
stay here than in the north.
Temperature, (Winter)-The mean
temperature of Ocala in winter is so
to SO degrees Fahrenheit. Summer
The summer temperature ranges from
rs to 81 degrees, rarely going above
&c degrees. Rainy Season-From
about the middle of July until the lat
ter part of September there are usual
ly daily showers of brief duration,
which tend to cool the atmosphere.
Winter 2esort-Ocala is famous as
winter resort for those who wish to
escape the wintry blasts of the north.
Being inland, there are no harsh cold
winds, the climate being pleasant and
balmy. It's Defenders. Januarys and
Februarys are similar to the month
Of June in the middle west. The
Ocala House and Montezuma Hotel
are the principal hotels of the city.
Banking FaciIities-Ocala boasts of
three banks-the Munroe & Cham
bliss Bank, capital $4,000; the Com
mercial Bank, capital $4,000, and the
Ocala National Bank, capital $4,000.
lephone-The Ocala Telephone
Company was organized in 1894 with a
capital stock of $4,000. The stock
of the company is owned by local res
idents, and Mr.. George r. Mexican is
the principal. stakeholder and mana
ger. The system reaches over 100
points in Marion and adjacent coun-
tics, and has over 800 local subscrib-
ers.
Churches-Ocala has several good
churches, the following denominations
being represented: Baptist. Episcopal,
Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic,
Jewish and Christian. All occupy edi-
fees of their own, and have good Si7-
e memberships.
EducationaI-OcaIa has an excel
lent high school and primary school.
A new primary school has just been
completed on South Third street The
corps of teachers is excellent. and the
enrolment numbers over 500.
Electric Light-The city owns it's
light plant and operates the same
pl ofitably, the streets being well light
NU ct IA aNbASd4Ay III COoL ~ tliC D1u-
nicipality. The plant represents an
investment Of $4,000, and the income
Is S20,7S0 per annum, while the OPP
Grating expenses are $10,176, leaving
net revenue to the city of $10,6li, to
be applied to the sinking fund to Ii
quidate the outstanding electric light
bonds, and apply on the current run
ming expenses of the city.
Tho oottinmont roncfcfc IF Y,NiIa-
of feed wire, two 100 K w. A. G..
Westinghouse dynamos, and one So
High A. G.. arc dynamo both being d.
rectly connected with two las horse
power Harrisburg engines. Wood is
the fuel used. There are about 300
patrons to the plant, and the charges
are 10 cents per killowatt for mean
descent lights and s cents for power.
TIE plant has sufficient capacity to
care for 200 additional patrons
Fire Department-Ocala has IN ef-
ficient fire department that vii, COM
pare favorably with any city OF like
size in the country The fire station,
which is of brick. and centrally locat-
co, cost $1,000. There are three paid
men on the force and an auxiliary
force If seventeen men who are paid
only when they assist at fires. The
telephone is used as an alarm system.
AS a result of the good work of the
department, no fire of any conse-
quence has occurred in the city for
several years.
The equipment consists Of four
horses. chemical engine, two hose
trucks, hook and ladder. 1000 feet of
hose and other miscellaneous equip
ment, which represents an outlay of
$8310. A large fire boil is mounted in
thu station tower which Is sounded
rs an alarm in case of fire, and again
when the fire is out.
Gas-The Citizens Gas, Heat. Light
and Power Company was organized
some fourteen years ago for the pur-
pose of furnishing gas for heat. power
and illumination. The Citizens Gas
Company, as it is now known. owns
three and one-half miles of mains.
Tie price for illumination is So per
1000 feet. and that of fuel gas is
$3.50 per 1000 feet. The gas is made
Of crude oil.
Hotels and Boarding Houses-Oclaa
has three principal hotels. the Ocala