The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-05-31
OCALA THE CITY
OF OPPORTUNITY
CONTINUED from First Page)

canning factories are in successful
operation
The mineral products include
phosphate. lime and FuIler's earth
The original discovery Of phosphate
rock in Florida was made in Marion
county. and the first mine opened in
1859 al DunnellOn IS still producing
ia large quantities. These phosphate
mines are said TO yield the highest
grade rock mined in the United
+ States. The output is all exported.
/ Deep lime rock deposits, with
light overburden. are found in many
sections Of the county, and 10000
barrels Of lime are burned annually.
/ The county originally was com
/ pleteIy covered with yellow pine. cy-
press and hardwood timber, incIud-
ing oaks OF many varieties, ash, gum.
hickory. magnolia, bay. iron wood.
elm, maple and other kinds Of tim
Der. Lands on which the hardwooda
grow are called hammock, and are
the heavy. rich soils.
/ The market for staples is at home.
Cabbage, cantaloupes, melons. let
.tuce and other truck. and oranges.
+ go to every town on the Atlantic sea-
board. including the great tourist
hotels on the east coast of Florida,
and west to the Mississippi river,
and beyond. and also for export to
Canada and~Cuba 1t is only twenty
four hours to New York by express
and fifty TO sixty by freight. 1t is "a
hours to Cincinnati by express and
"a hours to Chicago,
Pure Water is Plentiful
Pure water is readily found by
bored or dug wells at from 20 to 100
feet. Orange Lake, by p miles. is
situated in the northern portion of
Z the county. and Lake Weir, by s
, miles, in the southern part, Lake
Weir, With its blue water and pure
: white sand, and bluffs OF orange
-. groves and pine forests, is the most
, beautiful lake in Florida. These
lakes are full of fsh-trout (black
} bassD, perch, Dream, etc.
The Oklawaha. one of the most
famous rivers in Florida, traverses
the county from north to south, and
the St. Johns forms a portion of the
eastern boundary, and the WithIa-
:, cOochee a considerable part of the
western boundary Silver Springs,
one of the greatest of natural curios-
, titles and beauties, big crystalline
] river bursting forth from a depth of
10 feet-is located within miles of
: OcaIa, the county seat. A multitude
of beautiful little clear water lakes
from one to 10 acres in size, full OF
= fish and free from swamps and
: marshes, dot the county.
Owing to the peculiar geological
! formation, which disposes of the
; surplus waters through drainage into
underground streams. there is little
waste and swamps.
High, Dry, Rich Soil
; 1t is high, dry, rich soil. Country
; climate, transportation facilities and
people make it ideal as a residence
section. The testimony of people
6, from the north is unanimously to the
effect that the summers are not more
uncomfortable than in New York and
j., New England, and are not so eX-
IRENE in emxrature changes. The
nights are ah>lys cool and the gen
ial warmth of the climate is not de-
bilitating.
Marion county is said to excel all
other counties in the state in the
matter of hard-surface roads. They
are built of clay and limestone,
both Of which are plentiful in every
part of the county.
The attractions Of Lake Weir and
Orange Lake are annually inviting
more and more winter residents,
, many of whom have built homes
Iabout these lakes. while comfortable
accommodations at hotels and board
Iing houses may be obtained at reas-
enable rates at all towns and villages
NEARBY.
Marion county has an excellent
school system, ranking third in the
state in the point Of aggregate at
tendance and apportionment Of state
school funds, being excelIed only by
Duval and Hillsborough. in which
counties Jacksonville and Tampa are
respectively located.
With the hard-surface roads, new
lands are made accessible, and the
farmer is assisted in a very material
manner in marketing his crops.
Thousands of dollars have been spent
to good advantage for good roads in
the county. which viii be extended
as fast as the county funds will per
nit. At present Marion county has
more than 800 miles Of improved
roads