The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-09-20
RIDING OVER SUMTER
COUNTY'S FINE ROAD

Friday afternoon, Sept. IS, the edl-
tor had the pleasure of riding over
the splendid highway that Sumter
county has just built from Oxford to
Webster, with lap-over at each end.
We were indebted for this pleasure to
Mr.. Nathan Mayo of Summerfield,
our representative in the legislature,
who has an extensive knowledge of
and takes a deep interest in all the
industries and improvements of Mar
ion and Sumter counties. While his
home is on the southern border of
| Marion, he has mingled so much with
the people of all over the county,
while working for the Marion County
Fair, and attending to his duties as
| Legislator, that it is doubtful if any
man in the county knows more about
it. Mr.. Mayo is particularly interest
ed in good roads, regarding them as
the beginning and the constantly en-
twining connection of improvement
and prosperity.
Mr.. Mayo took US to Summerfield in
his powerful Hudson car, which, if on
a good road, we will put our money
on against the Seaboard Limited any
day. In this vehicle we made the
trip to Summerfeld in good time. The
road from Ocala to Belleview, tho it
has had but little attention for years,
is good, except in spots. Reaching
the fork of the road at Belleview, we
followed the old county highway,
abandoned for the last few years for
the route thru Belleview. This road
lies along the ridge top, and despite
neglect of years is yet good road in
good weather. 1t is considerably used
by the people of the neighborhood
and runs thru a pretty country. With
increase of population, it will be re-
stored to the list of public highways
before long. While traversing it, a
heavy rainstorm struck US and turned
the low places into lakes. But Mr..
Mayo knew the road by heart, and
drove on high thru the puddles, send
| ing showers of water right and left,
and soon we were on the regular road
and driving into Summerfeld.
The road from Belleview to Sum-
! merfield and on south Estate aid 124)
is now being graded by the combined
work of state and county. The grade
| has been built mile or so south of
Belleview, and is steadily moving on
as fast as the rather small force of
county convicts can clear the ground
and pile up the dirt. There is an i'm
mense amount of traffic on this route
!, all of which is badly hampered until
the work is finished.
We stopped at Summerfeld fol-
some friends to catch up with US, and
meantime took brief look at the
pretty and prosperous town. Sum
merfeld always reminds US of "Sweet
Auburn, loveliest village of the plain,
only it has much more hustle than
Goldsmith doped out about Auburn
Mr.. Mayo drove down to the middle
of the town. to hunt up County Com,
1 missioner Clyburn, and while there
we looked over the various business
y establishments of the quiet but al
y ways busy little burg. We had time
for only a glimpse. We entered the
n big Mayo-Lyles store to renew ole
: acquaintance, and found Mr.. Lyles
S and his chief clerk, Charles Tyler, anc
S that smart boy, Bryan Duncan, who i:
: learning to be a merchant The Star!
o correspondent, Miss Hazel Seymour
X is also an attache of this store, anC
e she isn't corresponding very vel
Y lately, and we wish the people down
n there would stir her up, for she cal
e find a column a week, easy. Mrs
4 Mayo conducts the drygoods depart
Y ment of this store, and Nathan say
e he is the office boy. Nathan took u
e to his pretty and comfortable home
o where there was nobody just then bu
Y the cook, an old-fashioned "auntie,
/. one of those who are becoming to-
e scarce, and looked in the ice box an,
IS brought out a big. cutglass pitche
S. filled with genuine country butter
1t milk, of which we had a brimmin.
= glassfull; there was also severa
pieces Of good-looking pie on the din
IS ing room table. Of which pie we an
nexed a section and with it and tn
buttermilk felt like we were sittin,
e on top of the world.
% About this time came Mr. ely
1t burn-the party was also joined b.
2. Messrs. Dewitt Griffin of the Munro
8 & Chambliss Bank and c. G. Barnett
II manager for Marion and Sumter o
h the A. A. A. They came from Ocal
S. in Mr.. Griffin's car, but the car wa