The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-04-14
A VISIT TO LAKE WEiR-ITs RAP
10 DEVELOPMENT AND ITS
Future


the land over with lakes and rivers.
Whenever these lakes and rivers
are seen the poetry in ones nature is
aroused, and he bursts forth into mel
ody and song.
Some of the lakes that God has
mercifully scattered over the land are
SO large that they are called inland
seas, but it is the little ones that have
attracted the most attention from
travellers, sight-seers and men famous
in literature, and they have thrown a
beauty and a glamour around them
that have made their names familiar
in every home.
AS above observed, the lakes that
are the most famous are most dimin-
utive in size.
Who in all the world has not heard
of Lake Gennesaret? Yet, at its
greatest width it is only six and three
quarter miles, and it's beauty is mar
red by the river Jordan running
through it, and in it's natural features
there is little variety of beauty, but
every spot of it has a charm that
attracted the attention of the Master,
and because OF which it is held in af-
lection by the Christian world.
Lake Geneva is somewhat larger,
its breadth varying from eight or nine
miles to less than four miles. It's Pc
lucid waters are spoiled by the
RhOne, a muddy river .emptying into
it, and in the winter it is oftimes held
firmly within the grasp of the ice
king
Lake Killarney, made famous by
Scott and Burns, is composed really
of three lakes. and the largest of the
trio is only 212 miles long, and less
than one mile wide.
The celebrated Lake Como is not
more than one or two miles at its
greatest width, and its beauty is
marred by the waters of two rivers
emptying into it,
But Lake Weir. at our very doors, is
Ideals flawless There is nothing
TO mar its beauty. II encompasses
the beauties of all the others, minus
their disfigurements IL is almost cir
cular in form, and is about five miles
across it, or twenty-five miles around
IL. The banks are not precipitous. but
are elevated enough TO attract atten-
ton, the highest point being about
one hundred and twenty feet above
the level of the lake Some of the
bluffs are abrupt for height of TWEEN
ty or thirty feet 1t possesses a mild
and genial climate; in places, fertile
soil. a profusion of fruits and vegeta-
bles, and now handsome homes are
being dotted along its shores.
AS soon as it was discovered, this
lake instantly became noted for its
beauty. The very sight of it compels
admiration. Indeed. there is nothing
about it repellant It's waters are
clear. it's bottom is of white sand.
and it's shore line is visible from all
points. and always presents a pretty
picture. but when the skies and sun
rise and sunset are favorable the pic
ture is perfect. No poet or painter
would ask for one more idealistic or
enhancing.
In the olden times 1.-THE times that
were old when we were young) it is
said that the waters of the lake were
lower than they are now. the rich
planters from far and near passed
their summers there. some building
houses and some camping in tents
with all their belongings. The white
sandy beach rivaled that of the
ocean. and one could drive almost en-
tirely around the lake with a team,
and driving ON this beach with fine
turn-Outs was one of its principal at
fractions. The bathing was enjoyed
tue same thtAt DIS NOW, nut the DOdtluS
was confined to sailing or row boats
The war and its disastrous termi-
nation wrote fms to this summer life
without care on this beautiful lake,
and it remained neglected until some
time in the seventies, when it again
began to attract a large immigration
from the different states of our Union.
the immigrants going there princi-
pally to plant out orange groves,
whose efforts were crowned with
success far greater than was antici-
pated. The prosperous condition of
things continued until the visitation
of the great freeze. a decade of years
ago. which produced a desolation
from Lake Melrose. in Alachua coun-
ty, to the north bank of the Manatee
river, one or two groves alone escap-
ing in all this extensive scope of
country. and those were on the mar
gin of Lake Weir This incident