The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-05-29
oCALA HOLDS HER OWN

Making allowance for the abnormal
conditions of the last nine months or
so brought about by the war IN Eu-
rope, Ocala is more prosperous to-
dav than she has ever been. The city
has grown steadily and healthily, and,
though not all that it's citizens would
like to have it, is today a more at
tractive and better place to live In
than ever before. Following are
some facts gathered at random:
Ocala will compare favorably with
any city of its size.
In addition to the public utilities 1t
now enjoys, new electric light ana
water system, and modern sewer
age system are projected.
A union station has been ordered.
That Ocala is spreading in area is
quite evident from the fact that there
are some half dozen or more suburban
and residential section developments
under way, and the limits of the city
now extend to Silver Springs.
The Postal Telegraph Company has
recently entered this territory and
has opened modern office IN Ocala
WITH call box and messenger boy ser
vice.
The street lighting system of the
city has recently been much improv-
ed.
New passenger and freight boats
have been placed in service on the
river.
Many of the merchants are obtain
ing freight by water, thus saving 5O
per cent in tariff.
Ocala's stores were never more at
tractive nor carried better stocks
than at present.
The Ocala Telephone Company, In
addition to a marked increase ia the
number of phones, and following a
remodeling of its system and plant
recently. making it one of the best
equipped systems in the south, is at
present putting in the latest equip
ment for the operation of four party
lines. Subscribers, it is said, using
these four party lines, while suffer
ing some slight Inconvenience, vii
have the benefit of cheaper phone
rate.
In October, 1912, the Oeala Tele
phone Company had a service of 44S
phones; this number had increased tt
ego in October, 1913, to 738 in DC
toher, 1914; and at present, notwith
standing the war, the number o.
phones is about IT'S.
OcaIa is one of the few cities ant
towns in Florida enjoying the com
mon battery phone system, which
means that it is no longer necessar.
to ring central to make a call
Gainesville, for example, still has tn
old system
According to the city engineer, ap
proximately six and a half miles o
cement sidewalks have been laid tn
last Is months. The superintendent
of streets, on the other hand, es
Inmates that about So blocks of linn
streets have been built or rebuilt
during the same time, some of thes
blocks being very long. Also thl
does not include repairs.
During the last few months tn
following business concerns have bee
Incorporated, or have begun bust
ness in Ocala: The Marion Bottling
Ice Cream Co.. Louis R. Chazal
Sons Co., the Florida Soft Phosphat
& Lime Co., the Florida Mortgage
Farm Co., the T. J. Bernard Co., tn
Marion Mercantile Co., the Mario
Realty Co., Smith Grocery Co., Deal
Chero-Cola Bottling Co., Standar
Grocery Co. (wholesale,) and tn
Ocala Knitting & Manufacturing Co
the last named concern just being OF
ganized with a capital of $4,000, tn
first knitting factory in the state.
The Ocala House has recently bee
remodeled. Among the new building
completed during the last few month
are a $4,000 modern public schoC
building, new school building
North Ocala, and rebuilt primar
school building. The Holder buildin
is now being refinished Throughout
A number of new residences al
building and others are planned.
A comparison of the state an
county taxes collected is most intel
esting, and the showing is very fa'
orable considering conditions.
1913 the total assessments WEI
around $185,000. The collections
May, 1913, were $4,000. tt
amount of taxes not paid in that ye;
was SIT 900, or about 8 per cent. TT
1914 assessments were $178,000. TT
collections to date are $4,000. Abol
$4,000 remains to be collected,
about 16 per cent. This is a diffe
ence of z per cent.
The city tax figures could not
obtained, the city tax collector BEN
out of town.
There are at present about 5
motor cars in the city and county,
Increase Of about $50 over last yes
Most of these cars are owned
Ocala.
Further evidence of the prospect