The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-10-03
ANNUAL IN WHICH ocALA PEOPLE ARE
MENTIONED
APPROACHING
FAIR

Time is creeping along. October
is here, and November will soon be
upon us. 1t is the month of Thanks
giving and rejoicing. We are re-
minded by those in authority that we
should remember the blessings that
have been ours. No nation of people
were ever more signally blessed the
past season. This section has espe-
cial cause for rejoicing. It's crops
have been more than usually boun-
tiful, and the prices obtained have
been phenomenal.
This reminds us that the harvest
ing of fine crops ought to make it
possible for us to outstrip all pre-
vious efforts in the quantity and ex-
celIence of the exhibits to be made az
our approaching annual fair
Our field and vegetable crops were
not only unusual. but our falls crops
promise also an unusually fine yield.
The fair, therefore. ought TO be more
OF revelation this year than ever
before. The local and state press
have given it many complimentary
notices, and if it be true that there is
pulling" and a compelling" power
in printers ink then its success
ought to be assured.
It must be borne in mind that this
is home institution, conducted by
local promoters, and made possible
By local capital and enterprise. 1t is
oleanly conducted, and is for the pur-
pose of making known the resources
and possibilities of the county along
AGRICULTURAL and industrial lines. 1t
tolerates no fakirs nor the exploita-
ton of any individual enterprise, ex-
cept as a legitimate exhibition of the
products Of the same will make it SO.
No gambling devices to trick the I'M
wary need be feared.
Those who attend it can feel assur-
ed that their pockets will not be fitch
ed nor their tastes offended. On the
contrary, they can rest satisfied that
they will receive wholesome and
profitable instruction, and the most
delightful entertainment.
While these fairs heretofore have
been a revelation as to our agriculu-
tural productions they have also been
a revelation showing the poverty of
our factory-made stuffs. 1t has just
been the reverse in some OF the other
southern states.
In North Carolina, for instance, the
factory exhibits are the chief attrac-
tons. and a revelation to the visitor.
Nearly every little town in North
Carolina has its factory of one thing
or another High Point is the rival
of Grand Rapids in the manufacture
of furniture. 1t is an inland town.
Durham has the largest hosiery fac
tory in the world. 1t is another in
land town. There are thread fac
lUTlSS. paper ldCIOlICSs tdAhCl AOo3 AoS
tories for the manufacture of tobacco
into cigarettes, cigars and chewing
plus.
Here we have twelve hundred miles
Of sea coast; we can build railroads
cheaper than any other state; we can
connect our rivers and lakes cheaply
with canals; the Camps have shown
that we can generate electricity with
water power; we have dense ham,
mocks of hardwood trees; we have
thousands of cattle; then why is it
that we do not have tanneries and
factories like other southern states?
We are slumbering and sleeping.
Our prodigality in agricultural and
horticultural products and poverty in
the products from machine shops and
factories should wake us up.