The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1921-04-22
TO- Weeks
Publicity
Campaign

M the last days Of December 1919,
~ frank Whitman, the delightful
r,An,her Of the editorial staff OF the
FIorida Grower, visited our town and
county and in the issue Of the Grower,
n December 27. gave his impressions
- the things that he saw and what
the future held in store for us. As
he has no pecuniary. interest in a foot
II our soil what he says may be taken
without any grains OF allowance. It
yin be seen that he verifies every
statement that we have made
Editor.l
Probably our most versatile agri-
cultural section lies in this county
If Marion. Like Joseph's coat it
seems. but instead of the varied colors
that we're supposed to grace that his
toric garment, we have the unlimited
lines Of agriculture. stock raising in
dustries, wonderful scenic spots and
climatic advantages. This is boiling
things down with vengeance, and
while it tells a great deal, it is about
the way yon would put it if you were
cabling at a dollar a word. There
is so much to tell that my head seems
to contain nothing but a mass of fig
ures and consequent calculations. You
Of the north must upset all your pre-.
vious theories Of Florida if they have
been along the lines Of beauty and
climate solely, for while Ocala and
Marion county have these in marked
degree they are also producers, and
have been since away back yonder in
the days Of Osceola. who planted
maize in these huge beds of muck
which IN some places are forty feet
deep.
The county lies in South Central
North Florida, if You care to take the
trouble to study that out, and seems
% have been sort of battle ground
between the whites and Indians on ac-
count Of its fertility and charms as a
place TO hang up your hat permanent
y Historically speaking ocala and
-
tne county are the home of Florida
statistics. It was through the forests
q Marion county that Osceola, the
amous Seminole chieftain and his
bands roamed, hunted, produced
maze and other crops, and incidental
= snot holes in whites who crowded
mem az all. DeSoto is said to have
psssed through also. and while We
aase no authentic records Of his visit
mere y no doubt but that he found
ne district to his liking in the way of
game and fruits and fish.
5eautifuI Gushing Waters
am first going to lead YOU through
ne mont door Of Ocala, certainly that
*hi BE the politest way. and tell YOU
some Of the beauty places and scenic
wonders leading of with Silver
springs which is truly one of these
= composed of series of gushing
sa'ers about five and a half miles
nom oeala. and are the largest
spflngs IN the United States. probaba
u me world. The tremendously
sssp waters are cool and clear as air
"a, Z macn 90 that they seem to mag
!. a''s objects lying in them. They flow
s immense volume from wonderfn,
sa'ural pools and caverns. reflect;ng
IS surrounding subtropical forests
49,. ~ IS positively unsurpassed in
49, 4' AS a matter Of course the
Ks s.ass = popular recreation spot.
saa aas dancing pavilion. boats res res.
grounds n anu picnic
.he year-round temperature ~ tns
IS ss.'nss is about 10 degrees, and there ara
- slass bottom boats from which which
- see the tropic vegetation, all