The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-04-14
THE GEM CITY
AND CONTIGUOUS TERRITORY

AND CONTIGUOUS TERRITORY
We spent a night in Palatka and
through the courteous kindness Of
Mayor III. A. Davis in his auto witness
ed the wonderful transformation that
has taken place in East Palatka along |
the new hard road built by Putnam
county into Hastings and Federal /
Point, some 10 miles distant. The ride |
was a revelation. Flat woods lands that |
were purchased some years ago for SO |
and IS an acre and converted into Irish |
potato farms are now worth 800 an
acre. We saw lands that several years |
ago were a virgin pine forest that are
now producing so barrels Of potatoes to
the acre for which the growers are
realizing 81 a barrel fast as they
can be dug and carted to the railroad,
FIVE or six miles distant. We saw one
farm of 100 acres where the crop was
being harvested. The growers are
working overtime to harvest their
crop. The picture is an-active and in
spring one.
On every hand along this new road
new homes have been completed or
are in course of erection and credita-
BILE ones New fields are being cleared
and made ready for next seasons crops
and draining bitches line the road and
compass the farms. This picture in
word demonstrates what hard roads
and transportation facilities are doing
for the development and upbuilding of
the country and demonstrates that the
Putnam county people did wise thing
in bonding their county for 100000 to
create the same.
= This road is connected at Palatka
with a substantial wagon bridge that
crosses the st. Johns river, nearly a
mile in length and cost $4,000. 1t is
money wisely expended for it brings
the people of East Palatka in close
touch with the shire town of the coun-
ty and will add thousands of dollars
OF trade to the merchants of Palatka.
Palatka is experiencing no boom
but has a sure and steady growth and
the public improvements in that pro-
gressive and growing city is highly
commendable. At the close of this
years work that attractive city-WiH
possess twenty miles of concrete side
walks and some seven miles Of vitri-
fed brick streets, all provided for
within the past three years. 1t is also
putting down an effective sewerage
system Their new court house, built
of cream brick, is an attractive two
story building, occupying the center OF
square which cost $4,000. The
grounds which already possess num-
Der Of fine shade trees, will be further
added to. improved and beautified. II
Is one of the most complete and con-
veRient county buildings in the state
and the citizens of Putnam can well
feel proud of the success attending the
faithful labors of it's officials in see
ing that the contract for it's erection
was honestly carried out.
The town hall is an ornament to the
town. 1t occupies half a block OF
ground. 1t Is slightly two-story
brick structure, containing the towr
offices, public library room and quar-
tiers for the city fire department. The
grounds through the efforts of the
Woman's Club have been transformed
into a park and beautified with cement
walks, shrubs, flowers, fountain and g
velvet lawn. which is maintained to the
pink Of perfection. 1t is restful place
for all to enjoy 1t is one of the bes
investments the city fathers have evel
made and much of the credit due its
creation results from the indefatiga bic
and jealous labors of Mayor Davis. who
is now serving his third term of of
flee and for ten years previous was
city alderman whose ambition in lif.
whose unselfish work has brought it!
reward in appreciation from the PEG
pie who now see how wisely and vel
he has wrought for the city.
new and commodious brick schoo
house will be the next public building
to claim the attention OF it's people anC
they will have it.
One of the great industrial institu
tions of Palatka is the Wilson Cypress
Company. who own thousands of acre
OF cypress lands, the timber on which
is converted into lumber in that cit,
and the mills capacity is 100000 feet
day. Its yards and mill occupies near
ly 100 acres of land, most of which
ground has been made by dumping tn
refuse and sawdust into the low land
along the picturesque banks of the ST
Johns river from which water schoon
ers load with lumber and transport
to northern markets In years gone b,
great quantities of odds and ends O
boards and scantling found it's wa,
into the wood pile or was used 70
fuel, but now that is all changed an,
1t has become a valuable BIZ produc
and is boxed and shipped north, wher
Ii Is converted into articles for orna
mentation or utility.
Adjoining the Wilson Cypress Cos
mill is large door. sash and blind fac
tory, which employs many laborers an
the output is also exported. The viii
son Cypress Co. with it's mill and log
ging camps employs fully 500 people
the proceeds OF their labor going int
every line OF commerce and business i
that city.
The Davis Cypress Tank Manufac
turing Company, of which Mayor Davi
Is the successful proprietor, is one o
the industrial institutions of the tow
and its product finds a ready sale al
over the state. it having supplied tn
Florida East Coast Railway with LOO
or its tanks already of the largest an
most costly kind and the demand 70
them Increases as the East Coast push
es Its rails out over the sea towar
Key West. So great is the reputatio
OF the tanks made by Mr. Davis tina
orders come from a number of South
ern states. The plant occupies a flu
city block and carries in stock a mill
ion feet OF boards. The bolts, nut.
screws and bands of iron to hold tn
tanks together represent stock o
hand valued at from SIP 900 to $4,000
which gives faint idea of the capita
required to carry on this industry al
to his reward, leaving a precious her
tage to his children of a well spen
life. was the founder of this business
He begun 25 years ago in a humble an
unassuming manner, but with his mot