The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-01-27
OCALA-PALATKA CELEBRATION

ern Railroad left the Seaboard pas
senger station at BIS with six coaches.
The engine was decorated for the oc-
casion and Palatka remnants streamed
from the rear of the chair car. There
was a fine, representative crowd on the
train which was swelled to a least
six hundred before the train reached
Palatka One of the old accommodation
coaches was coupled back OF the en-
CINE, and at Fort Mccoy, President
Rentz ordered it cut out, as il marred
the beauty Of the otherwise brand
new and handsome train.
President Rentz's own guests over
flowed the chair car and number of
them had to ride in the regular day
coaches xThe train proceeded to Pa
1atka without delay or mishap. Over
part of the road, where it has been
thoroughly surfaced, the train made
forty miles an hour. Over the portions
that have not been surfaced Superin-
tendent Hollinrake held the engineer
down to slow and safe speed. 1t
was a novelty for many of the passen-
gers, this riding over a new roadbed,
built and the end near Palatka with
in a few weeks, where virgin forest
stood less than six months ago. The
passengers watched the country along
the route with a great deal of interest
and keen delight.
The road is well built and when the
section gangs put on the finishing
touches a rapid through schedule can
be inaugurated The grade is well
made and there are no heavy grades
at any point, with only a few curves,
none of which are dangerous. Several
well made bridges span the creeks that
now through the country from Orange
Springs to Palatka. Many of the pas
sengers saw the famous old settlement
of Orange Springs for the first time
The springs themselves are not visible
from the railroad but there were signs
of buildings and activity on every hand
and this place will soon be a large
town.
Fort Mccoy is becoming quite a city
and with its present growth in another
year or two will have to be incorporat-
ed as it will have a thousand popu-
1ation before one realizes it,. Its loca
ton and advantages are so fine AND
many that it cannot be prevented from
taking upon itself city airs. The stores
recently burned are being replaced
by larger and better ones and hand
some residences and cottages are beine
built on every hand.
Burbank is growing and the people
seem prosperous. New houses and cot
tages are being built and many hand
some gardens are to be seen on al
sides. Despite the unprecedented rains
of the past two months very little wa
ter was standing along the road, anC
with simple system of drainage, i
can be easily handled at it's worst.
The excursion train returned to Deal;
IN the evening, bringing back thos
who did not remain over for the even
ing and night celebrations. Superin
tendent Hollinrake is justly proud o
the way he handled the first two thrI
trains on his new road, as many of hi
friends told him it was too soon t
risk train over the road, and that h
was sure to get it off the rails.
The Times Union correspondent tell
on another page of todays paper o
the reception of the crowd at the de
pot and their entertainment till aft
ernoon. Certain it is, that the Palat
ka Board of Trade and it's citizens di
not do things by halves, and the Ocal
people and the entire crowd of visitor
royal reception in the Gem City.
Most of the visitors stopped at tn
huge Putnam House, and the manage
told the Star man that he only ha
three vacant rooms out of the 80
in the house.
In the evening the committee CAV
the visitors a dance in the handsom
ball room. The orchestra supple
splendid music for the dance. Prett
Ocala and Palatka girls and handsom
young matrons with their partner
filled the large rooms and enjoyed tn
dance till after II o'clock
Shortly after 10 o'clock the spaciou
dining room with plates laid for 80
guests was opened and the guests {
the Palatka Board of Trade and bus
ness men filed in and took their seat
The menu was most appetizing on
well served and much enjoyed. Be
tween courses the POSTMASTER, Hon. I
A. Davis, mayor of Palatka, called O
the speakers.
Hon. ]. c. Calhoun of Palatka mad
the address of welcome and Presider
E. p. Rentz responded in few we
chosen words. Mr.. Rentz's heart We
so filled with the honors that had bee
heaped upon him all through the da
and evening that he could not, /
said, fittingly thank the people of Ps
latka.
Following Mr.. Rentz the followin
gentlemen made speeches, respondin
to toasts. as they were called upo1
Col Herbert l. Anderson of Jackson
Vile; Mr.. r. c. Muncaster, of Ocal
Hon. ]. G. Walton of Pa1atka: Hon.
]. Hilburn Of Palatka; Mr.. George H;
bin. Of Palatka: Mr. F. ]. O'Hara
Jacksonville; Editor Mckenzie of II
Palatka TimeS-Herald; j. B Mullane
of the New South Farm and Home CT
Jacksonville; j. NJ. Rose, Of the Geo
gia Southern & Florida Railroad;
r. Carroll of the Ocala Star, and VI
Chas. H Seig. president of the Ne
South Farm and Home Company. Son
fine talks were made and the evenir
had never a dull moment till the clo
of the speaking and banquet at
o'clock in the morning.
Several OF the speakers in referrir
to the great one-man work of NJ
Rentz, compared 1t to the work Of NJ
Henry NJ Flagler in building the owe
sea railroad to Key West which eve
had just been celebrated in Key Yves
They said that while Mr. Flagler
work was one of the greatest in Il
country and much praise was due hin
yet by comparison, it was not as grea
nor did 1t mean as much to him as Il
completion of this fifty miles OF TO;
through the wilderness meant to N
Rentz Mr.. Flagler was backed by h
own colossal fortune of millions al
the millions of the Standard Oil Cor
pany, and Mr.. Remit had built the TO;
L.