The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-08-30
sREEzEs FROM THE BLUE RIDGE
Asheville. y. C., Aug. 23, 1912.

To the Ocala Banner
Of his city II may be said, as the
old Jew wrote Of Jerusalem. "Beauti-
ful for situation. the JOY of the earth )"
Tie clty Itself. 2OOO feet above sea
letei is literally surrounded by lofty
peaks. as were the mountains round
about Jerusalem"
One OF the prettiest (and most disa-
rreeablel little spots in the city is
its public square. This square is
somewhat longer than it is wide and
surrounded by tall. stately buildings
81 attractive architecture. 1t con-
ialns "A beautiful basin of sparkling
water a fountain, several prettily
kept grass plots. flowers, the Vance
monument. and. generally speaking,
more tired looking and uncomfortable
folks than can be found on the same
surface space anywhere The square
Is named Pack" Just how it came
rs D, 50 cAristened, we have not in
gaf,a. bu, infer from observation
that I Is due to the fact that at in
ierals OF fifteen minutes all the
street ears from all directions try to
pack in there in bunch, and then
are packed full of folks who have
stood packed around there on the hot
bricks awaiting the recurring car
pack Thus we have: A human
pack. plus car pack, minus shade,
plus discomfort, divided by a periodi-
cal scramble for seats, equal Pack
Square At this season of the year
the car service is miserably made
quate 10 its traffic demands, hence on
most main lines strap hangers" who,
ike the Dntchman's hen, are forever
"a-settn' a-standin up" form con-
siderable percentage of those who
patronize the service.
Health
Outside of the sickness which is
brought here. Asheville is probably
the healthiest city on the continent.
ln population. city and suburban, Of
$1,000. according to official statistics,
there has not occurred a case Of ty-
phoid fever in six months, and only
four deaths from tuberculosis in the
twelve months ending June 30th, 1912.
To the almost perfect natural drain
axe is added 80 miles of waste and
storm sewers. TO which, with few ex-
Ceptions, connections are compulsory
The streets are never swept but by
a peculiar system of water pressure
are literally washed once every TWEEN
ty-four hours The advantage of this
In eliminating dust nuisance and dan
ger is manifest In the maintenance
OF its very efficient health board, $25,-
GOO is provided for in each annual
budget OF civic expenses. Contagious
diseases are scrupulously guarded,
and while the city has the doubtful
honor of being spoken of as the
home of consumption, such is the
rigid care taken of those who come
here so afflicted. that the average Wis
itor is less likely to come in danger
Gus contact with the infection, than
he would be to remain at home.
The Board of Trade
The board of trade is composed of
a large number of representative
men, and is wide awake to the city's
needs and possibilities. This body
heartily co-operates with the city
council. board of health and board Of
education. We are informed that the
utmost harmony prevails among all
the departments of civic control and
direction, and that as a result numer-
GUS new enterprises, manufacturing
and educational, have come into be-
ing in recent years
The city owns 16 public school
buildings, valued at $15O,000 while
the various educational agencies rep
resent an investment of more than
half a million dollars, with total
school enrolment of nearly 5000. The
school year opens on the first Tues
day in September. The library build
ing is an inspiring structure, which
contains nearly 10000 volues There
is also maintained a Y NJ. c. A. read
ing room. Y. ". c. A. reading room,
and a similar room for colored youth.
But this bring us to the line of relig-
ious agencies, of which we must wait
10 speak in our next, and probably
closing letter of this series.
PersonIs
~ the Avonmore where your cor
respondent stops. we have 125 guests,
OF whom just now there are nine from
ocala Mrs Guy Toph. siste: and
two children. Mrs D. w. Tompkins
and daughter, Miss Irene. and the