The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-09
FLORIDA's ELECTRIC LINE.
The Men Behind the Enterprise Cap
itnIists of Ohio.

Sanford. Fla. Aug Sin the absence
of the names of any noted capitalists IN
connection with the proposed Jackson
vile and Tampa Bay Improved railway.
the idea has gone abroad that it is a
mere local scheme for selling out pur-
poses. This is a great mistake. for there
are some Of the most substantial capI-
talists and experienced railroad men OF
Ohio behind this proposed enterprise. 1t
was necessary in the start to have resi-
dents of this state at the head Of the
movement, but in the choice Of these men
the projectors make no mistake. as your
correspondent will proceed to show The
hrst thing was 10 procure a charter, ono
with as liberal grants ana privileges as
could be secured. Col. Thomas J. APP
pleyard, editor and proprietor Of the Gate
City Chronicle Of this city was deem
ed the hest man 10 secure
such a charter. He was not only secreta-
ry of the Senate. but in past years had
been clerk of the judiciary and other inn
portan committees Of the legislature. All
this gave him ripe experience, as well
an extensive acquaintance. He is also
secretary treasurer of the Florida Press
Association and one of the bcst-known
Enewspaper publishers in the state. As
| his confidential legal adviser, ex-State
Senator Ed NJ. Hammond of Orlando. one
of the abest lawyers and most popular
public men in the state, was selected.
| Having been a member of Senate himself.
he was dOubly useful in cooperating with
Col. Appleyard and securing one of the
most liberal and valuable charters Of the
kind ever granted by the legislature.
With this charter in hand, no time was
lost in making the most important move
in the Inauguration OF the
enterprise, which was the securing Of a
L. 4. So ne
St. Augustine for their tracks and other
electric purposes. The line is 10 run from
Jacksonville to Tampa, via St. Angus
tine, Palatka and probably DeLand. As
the charter contained a very liberal land
grant, a land commissioner was needed.
and the choice fell upon Capt. George II.
Packwood Of Maitland and Tampa, who
was one Of the early projec tors of the old
South Florida railroad, and also for a
time connected with the construction of
the Florida Southern railroad. Messrs
Applewood, Hammond and Packwood sue
ceeded admirably I'm their operations at
St. Augustine, and the company win prob
ably not only run street car line there
but also furnish the city electric lights
What is to be done in the Ancient city"
will be duplicated in all other towns and
cities of sufficient size through which the
main line shall run. AS a direct through
line 1t will tap several important points
now without railroad facilities or merely
such as a branch road can give them.
The preliminary organization OF the COM
pany has taken place in Cleveland o.,
and for the present the following named
Will be in charge Of their various depart
ments: President, Crosby Thompson, of
Cleveland o.; vice president and legal
adviser, Ed NJ Hammond of Orlando, Fla;
general manager and secretary, Thomas
J. Appleyard, of Sanford. Fla; treasurer,
o. c. Ringle of Cleveland, o.; land com
missioner. George II. Packwood, of Lake
Maitland.
Behind these officials are the Ohio cap
italists, who are the backbone OF the on
terprise. and who propose TO build the
road without asking the people of Florida
to take stock or put money into the
scheme. They propose to give the towns
and cities on the proposed line from JACK
sonville to Tampa Bay not only thor
ough electric line, but street
railways. electric lights, etc. Next
week they will be In Florida
when a meeting Of the board of directors
will be held and a definite plan of ac-
ton decided upon. After that time the
work will be pushed ahead rapidly The
St. Augustine franchise allows only one
year for the work 10 be completed in that
city, and probably that will be a key
note to the work on the entire line 1t
is a big enterprise, but there is big money
behind II, with plenty of experience and
energy for pushing it through.