The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1903-01-09
NO INTERIOR CITY.

On the first day of January three of
the largest grocery establishments in
the state were consolidated and are
now known as The Consolidated Gro
Gerry Company" 1t has capital Of
half million dollars all paid up.
Senator c. B. Rogers, one of the
shrewdest and most observant bust
ness men in Florida, is at the head Of
this great concern. Senator Rogers
has made thorough study Of the bus
iness situation in the state and will
nave branch establishments st Tampa
and Pensacola, but it is observed in
it's article of ilcorpor ition that ii will
have no branch establishment in any
interior city, although the distance
overland from Pensacola to Key West
covers a territory of more than seven
hundred miles,
The business of this firm, we mean
in the sale of Its goods, will be done
almost entirely in the interior Of the
state.
Here are located the great lumber,
turpentine, phosphate, fruit and
farming industries, but no branch
establishment of this great firm will
be located near them.
i this not a recognition of the fact
that it is impossible for a wholesale
establishment to survive in the inte-
riOr of Florida?
1t is not 80 in any other state IN the
union.
Georgia has her Atlanta; Alabama
her Birmingham, and there are big
interior cities scattered all over Tex
as, which have large manufacture
ing and wholesale establishments,
but it seems that no such good
luck by any combination of circum-
stances, the discovery or establish
ment of any sort of industries and the
shrewdest business Judgment, can do
that much for FlOrida-nO interior
city can be built in the interior of
this state.
Her sea ports alone are to become
cities. Why is this?
Simply and solely because its freight
rates will not permit anything else.
These freight rates crush out any
thing like a wholesale business any
where in the interior of the state.
Gainesville, Ocala and other inte-
rior cities have tried it, bnt they find
it impossible for even the fittest aud
strongest to survive.
If Ocals expects to become city
she must do something 10 command
the freight situation. If she does not,
all her labors will have been in vain.
The only thing that presents itself
TO Us is for Ocala To build a private
railroad of her own To the st. Johns
river aud form an alliance there with
the Clyde Steamship Company. She
can then make satisfactory rates
enter iuto competition with the sea
port cities, and being near the great
lumber, phosphate, turpentine, fruit
and farming industries, will be in s
position to grow into a city with leap,
and bounds.
The Ocsla board of trade should
take up this matter, give it seriou,
consideration and discuss it with
energy and determination.
The distance to the 1t. Johns rive
is less than thirty miles,
We should not lee these thirty mile
stand in the way of cur prosperity.
Just a Little Puzzling.
The Metropolis wishes the Florid,
editors continued prosperity for 1903
They are certainly talented lot O
fellows. They have duty devolvin!
upon them that they fulfill and tina
is to help the people euro the trusts
The prices of commodities must com
down.
Next sentence:
With Charles b. Rogers at the hea
of the biggest mercantile establish
ment in the state Florida can we'll b
proud. No more ssgacious busines