The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-08-13

Hapsburg contented with Hohenzoll-
en-; Shakespeare lived and died; Crom-
well fought and prayed, and king
/ George the Third defied the struggl.
ing colonies for three-cent tax. Not
even the rumble of events that made
such deep crevasses in the hillsides
i of history reached Florida, which
waited in calm content for the dawn
ing of the day of destiny.
The Constitution of the United
States was adopted, state was admit
ted, England and Mexico were van
pushed; the Indians Quelled, and all
bat exterminated. The tariff was rails
ed and the civil war shook the whole
of the continent with a mighty and
! bloody roar Yet Florida new moth
ing of all of this, save what was known
throughout narrow strip along the
northern border and through a few
brigades that hunted the Seminoles.
From 1892, when Columbus discov-
cred TIE new continent, landing, by
the way, not far from Florida, until
most modern history was complete.
| Florida was an unknown land, barter,
ed by the French, Spanish and Eng
fish, but little known by either. A
sort of no-man's land, unsettled and
unclaimed, except in sparsely settled
and scarcely named sections.
1t was 1858 before there were as
many people in the whole territory of
Florida as there are people in one pre-.
cinct in Boston today.
j Why this tloofness? s.
To answe.' this is to answer the cap
ton: Why is Florida?
Tranquil and undisturbed lay this
great peninsula for 500 years. History
was made from Columbus voyage to
Columbus Circle. A mighty nation
was born and brought to maturity.
The date lines of history shifted, am.
a great name was written in blaze
of glory.
Yet the land of Florida slept quiet
ly because the lines of trade went far
/ to the north. Trade and barter did
| not lead adventures across Florida.
The direct lines between London and
New York did not lead through Jack
sonville. Philadelphia did not go
| through Tampa to reach Chicago.
Across the country east and west the
trunk ines were laid and through
these lines the riches of rapid wealth
flowed as through vast channels. The
arteries did not run north and south.
They did not reach south to Florida.
But miracle has happened.
Scarcely a state holds the eye of
American in the year of 1920 as does
Florida The election of governor
and United States senator is report
ed in a great daily in every large city
A million visitors come every year. A
Florida city grows faster in the last
decade than any other city in all
America. Every city and center in
the state, every hamlet and town
feels the throb of Astounding life.
! Why this miracle of swift change
/ To explain is to answer still further
the captain: Why is Florida
/ Two great economics causes have
brought about these changes. Causes
wide and deep and Interchangeable
They will make Florida state of ire
! mendous Importance. Its wealth will
be boundless and it's population mil
lions These two causes cannot be
stopped or even hindered. Florida Is
favored past the dreams of all save
the few whose visions can reach a
century into the future.
! First, the lines of trade have turn
ed southwark. Florida is front door
now: back door no longer. Ameri
can enterprise. like that of Peter the
Great Of Russia, has cut a window in
South America. Florida is the win
Cow.
| By steam, electricity and gas: by