The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-02-20
MUCH PROGRESS
IN SOUTH MARION
Observed by Seaboard Official, Secre-
tary Rooney and Man from
the Star Office

One day this week Star reporter
accompanied Secretary J. D. Rooney
and General Industrial Agent ]. A
Pride, of the Seaboard Airline Rail-
way, in Mr.. Dobbs' car, on a trip
thru the southern part of the county.
Mr.. Pride came from his headquar-
ters in Norfolk, Va, on an invitation
from Mr.. Rooney, to look over the
observations of the territory in culti-
yation, the new settlers, the distance
of the different points from transpor-
tabion, etc, that he might give infor-
nation to his company. as something
good for the southern part of the
county is in contemplation by the
road.
The party went straight out south
on the Orange avenue hard road past
Captain Pyles farm, on out the newly
completed extension past Pedro and
Dallas, and it is very gratifying TO
see the broad fields and the many
small truck patches and farms all
ready for planting or with the seed
already in the ground. Especially
noticeable was the many acres in cul-
tivation for the first time.
There We're a number of fine fields
of oats, and the pretty green acres
made a most pleasing diversion to
the eye.
In the famous Proctor and Perry
settlements. where, from the names
on the rural boxes, there must be at
least a score of heads of families of
each of these we'll known names,
there were thousands of acres OF
fields in fine shape. planted or being
planted to spring crops. Informa-
ton secured shows that there are
5000 acres in this neighborhood in
a high state of cultivation, but 1t is
too far from transportation TO grow
anything but staple crops.
For more than a third of century
these families, or their heads, have
Thought of, respected for their eiti-
1zenship and their success as thrifty
farmers. Even in this old settled
section, hundreds OF acres have
been added to the titled area this
season ana will bring crops for the
first time.
From that section the car turned
almost straight east, and soon cross
ed the line of the private railroad of
the McGehee Lumber Company, soon
to be abandoned, it is feared. unless
some other interest takes over the
road to keep it up. This road, while
not a public carrier in the fullest
sense of the word. has been a great
factor in getting the crops of the peo-
pie of the Levon section out, and
transporting other supplies back to
them.
The party continued on east to the
Seaborad tracks and turned north to
the thrifty little city of Summerfeld
where they called on the local agent
of the Florida National Land Co..
who said his concern had a good
many people coming in and settling
on the better lands of the company
Most of these he stated had been
there looking and had now come to
stay and work their land. Both he,
Mr.. Nathan Mayo and Mr.. P. F. Col
lens, the latter editor of the Chron-
icle, said there were a good many
new people coming in, and nice in
creased acreage in crops for the sea-
son, with fine prospects, land in good
shape and the best season the sec
ton has ever known.
From this point the car continued
east, stopping at Mr.. 5. Lehman s,
the famous grape grower and wine
maker-a man who has made sue
cess of grape culture for more than
a quarter of century. Mr.. Pride
wanted to see the vineyards. talk
with Mr.. Lehman about trying some