The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-07-12
(AssOciated Press)
APPRECIATES OCALA
Pretty Bouquet Handed Our City and
County by l.. l.. Palmer


Mr.. L. L. Palmer of the Gainesville
Sun, who spent the eth in Ocala,
writes for the Gainesville Sun the
following concerning our city and the
country between it and his home:
For the men who has never visited
Ocala there is a real surprise in store.
This is specially true if he has any
just appreciation of good farming
lands and a prospect Of booming
crops. and a we'll built city with all
the elements of wealth, activity and
prosperity visible on every hand.
Leaving Gainesville on the morning
train south on Wednesday on which
there was special rate Of 81 for
the round trip to Ocala and return,
there was nothing of interest till we
had passed Rochelle. The site of old
Fort Crane was covered with thrifty
growth of waving corn. It was also
noted that our old time friend of trav-
cling days, W. II. Turner. had a fine
crop Of corn on his place. We also
recalled just how good Mrs. Turner's
biscuit and blueberries tasted that
bright summers day.
At Micanopy Junction was seen the
first real evidence Of business. Cars
were being loaded with melons, and
in the fields there We're scores Of
hands picking and cording up the
great caskets of sweetness prcpara-
tory to being hauled away to the sta
ton.
Beginning with Fvinston one seems
to come into a different kind of a
country, and for miles and mile there
are broad corn fields and pinder
/ patches, and various kinds of truck
ing interspersed here and there with
ORANGE groves. A few fields Of toma-
toes were noted in which the vino
growth was certainly thrifty, though
of its fruitage one could not Judge
from the train. s one swept along
in and out md mp and down among
the hills, through he thrifty villages
! of Mcintosh, Orange Lake, Reddick,
Lowell. Martin and Kendrick, he was
| reminded very much of the river bot
tom sections in Indiana, Ohio and
West Virginia. There were sweeping
! hills on either side. with corn-covered
sections begirt and fringed about with
green trees from which the Spanish
moss gracefully and lazily swayed in
the softly floating zephyrs. Altogether
it was a scene for one to look upon
with glad eyes and a rejoicing heart
Here is Florida at its very best ag-
riculturally.
Arriving in Ocala. the first impress
sion Is that of the compactness and
7olid'tv Of everything. The splendid
brick blocks which surround It's pub
lie SQUARE betokens wealth and stabil-
ity One s reminded of St Louis, Mo.
in that respect. The court house is :
substantial building, and is erected
On a commanding site. The govern
ment building may well be the pride
Of any city in the state.
I There are two main streets leading
east and west through the city, Fort
King and Oklawaha, and the best
residences IN the place are erected
along the line of those streets. Their,
are a large number of handsome resi-
/ dences, costing a pretty penny" t,
construct. The homes of any peopl,
represent the overflow Of business
I prosperity, and that being true Ocal;
can certainly boast of a great busi
ness prosperity. Other streets ar,
lined with lovely, though possibl!
more modest, homes. The entire city i
planted in the midst of forest o
trees, shrubs and flowers, hence pre-
sents a handsome appearance to tn
eye of the stranger.
Naturally we drifted into the offic
: of the Banner and Star and exchang
ed courtesies. Having never had tn
pleasure of grasping the hand of Col