The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-02-16
IN THE SOUTHLAND

at the lorida House, to a friend in the
chilly north.-Ed. Banner)
Dear Raddi:-
The recent cold wave has been a
reminder to us of the weather in the
Mohawk Valley at this time. without
the snow and ice covered streams,
however, the temperature now is near
ing seventy, with blue skies and warm
sunshine.
The gardens and orchards that ten
days ago were bright with the bloom
of fruits, flowers, shrubs and vege-
tables, today are sorry spectacle
OF citrus fruits, the loss will average
forty per cent, the balance having
been shipped to market.
Ocala is a town of seven thousand
population, the county seat of Marion
county. On a high ridge nearly half
way between the Gulf and Atlantic
ocean. Although not as well known
to the tourists as the coast resorts,
it has several features that will ap-
peal to many northerners. The air is
dry and but little fog and dew are
seen. Good railroad facilities. mod
ern public buildings. hotels and board
ing houses, at reasonable rates. Paved
streets, no saloons and the drinking
water is excellent. 1t has the usual
proportion of colored people for a
southern town. They operate one
bank, department store, hotel and
knitting mill.
The country club. nine hole gclf
course, a plot of an hundred acres.
of rolling land near the city, with
fine old oak trees and the grounds in
fine trim, with its club house, will
please those who like this form of
pastime. One of the best informed
and most interesting citizens met
here, is Uncle George" so addressed
by every one. His system seems sat
urated with historical lore of the early
days of the peninsular. when Indians
roamed through the forests or dipped
their oars in the rivers and lakes, and
deer. panther. wild cats, snakes and
alligators, disputed possession of the
land with the pioneers. His stories
almost rival the weird tales of the
African jungle. OF late years those
conditions have disappeared, and
farm lands here are we'll in advance
of other sections in Florida.
Irish potatoes are raised at Hast
ings, with good success In one in
stance crop of fifty acres sold for
S19,000.00. Fertilizing is necessary to
get large returns. A diversity of
crops is more certain TO bring good
results and the southern farmers are
waking up to its Importance. Time
for planting cucumbers, cantaloupes,
watermelons. and tomatoes, is here,
the same maturing the last of April.
The Dixie Highway" from the
northern states. terminating at Miami,
is progressing, and in two years may
be finished There are many twenty
and thirty mile drives over fine roads
and the state is spending millions to
increase the mileage.
A very enjoyable inland water trip
is from Jacksonville. on the St. Johns
river, to Palatka, changing boats
there and then up the Ocklawaha
river, continuing on the Silver river
the journey by boat, terminating at
Silver Springs, and a six mile auto
mobile ride on a state road lands the
tourists at Ocala.
Words fail to describe the wonders
and beauty of the Silver Springs, a
pool of clear transparent water and
the source of Silver river. 1t is about
fifty feet wide. arising from the
grottos and caverns of wonderful
beauty, from depths of twenty to fif
ty feet. Seen through the glass bot
toned boat every pebble, fish and
turtle. the moss covered rocks, phos
phoric and white sands, that sparkle
in the bright rays of the sunlight as
though encrusted with thousands OF
diamonds, are distinctly seen. 1t is
well worth the time and expense to
visit it.
Miami, st. Petersburg, Orlando and
Tampa, are overlooking with tourists
and any accommodation very difficult
to secure.
If the signs Increase that Uncle Sam
is really getting down his gun and
strapping on his powder horn. we will
return home at once. and see that our
firearms and munitions are in proper
condition to loan to some of the neigh
borS.
THEO. c. CLARK.