The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-04-03
OCALA'S ONLY CHANCE.
THE SALVATION TINE HAS COME
THE BRIGHTEST OF THE
YEAR.
Our Railroad Interests Must BE
Looked After--Ocala to be
skirted by the New Trunk
Lines--Other Rail.

LtDes--Othef Kali
way Notes. etc.
The wiater schedule Of our railroads
has caused considerable comment among
our citizens. While the number OF
trains both ways were sufficient, they
were not run in the interest of Ocala,
but other places along the lines Of rail
road. This fact cannot be deEied, and
while It injured us some il might have
been made more so, il it had not been
hooked into by our more thoughtful cit
liens.
Blu, there is another matter Of railroad
interes: more important to our people
than the above subject. Recent deyel-
ments in railway circles throws light
upon an important movement soon to 10
inaugurated in which Ocala will not -
recognized. The Item has reference to
the proposed extension Of the Savannah,
Florida & Western Railway system from
Gainesville to Pemberton's Ferry. The
plans have already been adopted, and
some time this summer active work viii
begin. This road will touch the proposed
s. s., o. & q. Railroad near OF at Blue
Spring. Unless the $. s.. o. & q. is q
certainty. and can be controlled by our
business men rs far as traffic is concerned
then the extension Of the s. r. & ".
system will be drawback to Ocala.
In the event that this scheme il carried
out the best thing Ocala can do is to
build road from here to Palatka and
own and control It entirely by her own
people.
In conversation with a prominent rail-
road man recently we learn that the
building and eluipping Of such road
would not exceed =. 600 to the mile, and
the distance is only forty.two miles. At
Palatka double competition can 10 Sc.
cured both by rail ami river.
! This is matter that is worth the care.
full consideration Of our citizens. They
must look to their own laurels, or else we
will be skirted on all sides by railroads
that will not benefit our interest in any
way. Ocala has the citizens who are
able. financially, to build such q railroad,
and with such an enterprise We could
make our city great commercial town
for South Florida and compete with Jack.
sonville prices. With donations from
the county and citizens along the line Of
road tho balance would be but trifle for
Ocala TO secure.
Suppose the Florida Southern should
run a branch into Silver Spring, which
they have already decided to do, where
is Ocala's opportunitunisy to secure any
Of the winter travel; Suppose the 8. s.,
o. Il g.. is built will it give us com.
petitive route: And suppose it is not
built. will the $. +. & W. give us the
benefit of branch? The position Ocala
IL in right now Is conundrum. and a
hard one to solve. But by cooperation
Of the energy of our citizens much car
I've accomplished. and they should not
lose too much time in thinking of Ocala :
only opportunity.
| OTHER NOTES.
The Florida Southern and the S. F. &
w. railways are two and distinct sys
tens and have no control OF each other
the former is owned by Boston capitalists
and the latter by the Plant Investment
Company.
| Tho Florida Southern and the Savan
nah. Florida and Western will be soon al
loeger.heads.
The Florida Southern will be forced &c
build tier road as per charter from Lees
burg to Barlow.
Superintendent }. ID. HOLSTER vii
step down and out in that capacity OF
the Florida Southern. Many otheI
changes are looked for.
| Work of changing the Guage Of the +
Il. & n. will commence June |.
| Nothing definite about when the Flori
da Southern will change its guage, bu
it will no doubt soon follow the Others
Major Gruele informs the Item thai
work on the :. s.. .. a. g., will be re
sumed at once and pushed to completion
He also promises a Mayday pic mic a
Blue Spring over his line in iirst.clas
parlor cars.
Nothing new has been learned Of Cap
tain Carney's proposed Ocklawaha route
--Ocala Free Press.