The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-06-04
Ocala, Fla, May "a, 1920

| TO the Editor Banner:
have read the article from the pen
Of the Hon. w. S. Bullock appearing
IN the Evening Star Of several days
ago and since that time have given
the question of the route of the Dixie
| Highway" a considerable amount OF
thought, and have come to the same
conclusion that the route coming
through our beautiful city is all
wrong and steps should be taken
Immediately by the progressive citi'
Zens to have the route changed no
matter how much the cost.
l have not lived here long enough
to acquaint myself with the names of
/ all the streets but as we'll as l can
remember the western part of our city
/ | suggest as a route that may be the
better way for the Dixie Highway
TO come through our city.
Coming to Ocala from Gainesville
would suggest after you pass the A.
&c. L. Railroad track or Dunnellon
spur / would continue the route due
south until you come up to the old
jail now being used as the colored
hospital My reason for this is that
on nearing the Seaboard track you
come to a garage and perhaps an
automobile party might be in need OF
some gasoline, oil or perhaps work
done on his car. The citizens should
object to this as the party who runs
the garage will have to charge the
said travellers and the city does not
need any outsiders money. Then, too,
they might get a glance at our city
beautiful as they pass in a reckless
speed on the highway through the
city the way that the Dixie Highway
is now routed and might fall in love
with its beauties and will decide to
stop with us. This will mean that
hey will have to stop at one of our
hotels or boarding houses and this
will again mean the spending of more
money in our city.
| could give other numeroul rea.
sons why the route should not remain
as il now runs, but / will pass them
all up except one and that is they
might Happen to get some white dust
on their car and when they get to
some town further south they will
at once discover that the car has been
through Ocala and they will at once
become jealous for fear that they
might wish to come to Ocala to re
side and not locate with them.
Starting from the road in front OF
the Jail the road should go around the
old cemetery and on south until you
pass the Seaboard track and take any
Of the roads at this point that takes
you in a southernly direction and not
turn east until you have passed the
lime kiln which is just south of the
Dunnellon hard road. Just few hun
dred yards beyond the lime kiln
would suggest sign being made very
prominent and to read as follows:
"Autorists plaese do not glance to the
left, else you might get a glimpse of
the pretty view of the hospital and
may wish to drive up and see the
view you get from this magnificent
institution. 1t is private property and
no visitors allowed
After going south three thousand
yards the road should then turn east
and run in that direction until you
come to the hard road that goes by
beautiful Lake Weir and on down tC
Lake county.
81 doing this there will be no pos,
SiG,e way fer tie tourists. the home
seeker, the pleasure seeker, the farm
er or the man with money TO get a
glimpse OF our town. We do not want
any aid from the outside. We want
to build our city with people who
were born within our city limits
II this suggestion is carried out we
viii not be annoyed with the ever
lasting stream OF automobiles forever
passing through our city The gar
2ge men who help pay our taxes
woula not have to go to the trouble tc
sell them gasoline, oil or TO repair
tfeir cars in case of accident. and
they could let all of their help go to
towns further south where the people
want the new corners and they could
DO what work there was left and
thereby cut down the unnecessary ex.
pense. SO it is with the stores that
sell cold drinks. candies and fruits
and merchandise Of all kind that the
traveller might want to spend his
money for and the hotel man would
not have TO go TO the trouble of fit
sng up room for them in his hotel
N case they might wish to stay over
night and see Silver Springs the next
day There are other reasons to-