The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-09-25
OCALA HEMMED IN

We took an auto ride over to
Gainesville and return Sunday, and
what we saw on the trip confirmed
our opinion that Ocala is hemmed in,
so far as automobile transport is con-
cerned. The only dependable road out
of Ocala to Gainesville is that by
Martel, Romeo, Williston and Archer.
From Ocala to Martel is very rough,
but car can get over it if the people
in it don't mind being bumped. The
road is better west of Martel; for
most of the distance fairly good.
There are number of holes in it, and
it will not be long before it is pound
ed end rained to pieces unless repair
ed. Like all our country roads, it
must be constantly worked or rapidly
deteriorate. The Romeo road runs
over ground that is high and dry
with easy grades. A scientifically
build road over that route would
probably last long time.
Reaching the Coast Line near
Romeo, this road comes to sudden
end. There is something over a mile
of deep sand to wade thru before COM
ing to the southern end of State Road
5. thru western Levy county, from
tie Marion line to the Alachua line.
This is fine road, and will be better
when the final coating is laid on it..
Morriston, Montbrook and Williston
are the three principal towns along
the route. Morriston is over to the
right of the road, and we saw only a
side glimpse of it. to our regret, as
the Star has many friends there. We
had a good look at Montbrook, with
it's wide, shaded streets bordered with
pretty homes, and noted the handsome
church, which was well-flled with
worshipers when we passed thru. Will
liston is sure enough little city,
looks as bright as a new dollar, and
is evidently thriving. On account of
the bad condition of Marion's roads,
Williston is getting a great deal of
our county's trade, including that of
considerable number of people liv-
ing much closer to Ocala than Willis
ton. We can't blame the people, I'M
der these conditions, from going to
Williston, or Williston for taking
their trade, and unless Ocala wakes up
this condition will grow worse until
we probably lose a slice of our county
as we'll as its trade.
Above Williston. the roadmakers
are putting the final coating on Road
5. and it is an excellent highway to
the Alachua line. From there on,
thru Archer to within six Or seven
miles of Gainesville, there is a good
road, nothing extra, but little better
than anything in our county. About
seven miles outside of Gainesville we
came to wide, firm highway leading
to the brick paved streets of the Uni
versity City. By this route, it is fifty
eight miles from Ocala to Gainesville.
| Returning in the afternoon, we
came back out the Archer road, pass
ing the fork of the Ocala road, until
we reached Arredondo station. The
Ocala road is almost impossible at
some places between where it leaves
the Archer road and Clyatt, but by
driving down to Arredondo on the Ar
cher road, and taking country road
thru to Clyatt, these bad places can
be fanked. This country road is deep
in sand, but is down hill from Are
dondo in all the worst places, so it is
possible to get thru coming south. We
won't guarantee an auto pulling thru
some of the worst places going north
and uphill. Striking the Ocala-
Gainesville road again north of ely
att, the traveller will find it very hard
to negotiate until he passes Mcintosh.
The state road force is building the
Dixie Highway in the vicinity of Nc
Intosh, and that of course makes the
road hard to travel. A little this side
of Mcintosh, the road again is in toll
erably good shape and continues that
Iway into Ocala.
We understand that the road by
Morriston and Blitchton is passable
coming this way. The bad, Doggy hills
mostly slope toward Ocala, so a car
can come down them; but going the
other way heavy rain turns the hills
Into a slush that hardly anything but
Ia yoke of oxen can climb.
How long is Ocala going to consent
to stay in such a trap?