The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-04-21
* OCALA *
The Banner City of the
Banner County of the
Banner State.


Is the county seat OF Marion county
The name is modification OF the ear.
~ Indian application, "Ocaly," mean
Ing fair country" or land of rlen-
ty."
Ocala is 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
Argest and richest truck farms to be
'ound in the state, together with the
most valuable deposits of phosphate,
kaolin, ochre, lime and brick clay.
HeaIthfulness-Ocala is commended
by the best medical authorities as a
fesot 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
AA~0S OOOA VI SAC pAAC HOOuS SA-
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
rabies 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
SO 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
two banks-The Munroe & Cham
bliss Bank, capitalfi $4,000, and the
Commercial Bank, capital, $4,000.
TeIephone-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 siz-
e. memberships.
EducationaI-Oca1a 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 its
light plant and operates the same
pl ofitably, the streets being well light !
ed at practically no cost to the mu-
nicipality. The plant represents an
investment of $4,000, and the income
is $20,7S0 per annum, while the op-
Grating expenses are $10.176, leaving
a net revenue to the city Of $10,6Ni, to |
be applied to the sinking fund to H. !
quidate the outstanding electric light
bonds, and apply on the current run
ming expenses of the city.
The pnuinmnnf consists Of On r9iioc |
of feed wire, two 100 K. W. A. c.
Westinghouse dynamos, and one so
High A. c. arc dynamo both being di-
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 cents for power. |
TIE plant has sufficient capacity to
care for 200 additional patrons.
Fire Department-Ocala has IN eff |
6cient fire department that viii COM
pare favorably with any city OF like |
size in the country. The fire station.
which is of brick, and centrally locat- |
eo, cost 5000. There are three paid |
m@n 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, 5000 feet of |
hose and other miscellaneous equip
ment, which represents an outlay of |
$S310. A large fire bell is mounted in |
the station tower which is sounded |
as 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 81 per |
loco feet. and that of fuel gas is |
$50 per 1000 feet. The gas is made |
Of crude OIL
Hotels and Boarding Houses-Oclaa |
has three principal hotels, the Ocala |