The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1904-09-02
ELECTRIC car LINE
TO SILVER SPRINGS
Would Make oesIs 6 City Besides
Being . Joy Forever.

TO the Editor OF the Ocala Banner.
After a weeks absence in South
Carolina, where / was called on pro-
fessional business, | wish to make
good my promise to the public and
give through the press, what facts
have gathered as to the cost of con-
structing and electric railway and
| plant FORTS operation between Ocala
and Silver Springs. At the time of
this writing have heard from two
of the parties to whom l addressed
| letters seeking information. One
only acknowledges the receipt of my
letter, and promised an estimate at
later day, which he wished TO care
fully prepare. The other, Mr.. James
T. Harris, the owner and developer
of White Stone Lithia Springs, and
personal friend of the writer, answer
ed more at length, and 1 doubt if l
can make it palmer than he has done
and therefore quote from his letter.
He says:
Yours to hand and noted. As to
the cost of building an electric line,
I should think YOU could get first
class, second hand rails, about 56 ID.
rail, to build FIVE miles for about SIO,-
600, or, say about SOB per ton. Your
dynamo, engine, wire and other ap-
planes, would cost about 5000. Of
course you know about what the
cross-ties would cost. If through a
level country, it ought to cost very
little to grade it"
Mr.. Harris speaks from actual ex-
perience, as his hotel and spring are
about six miles from White Stone sta
ton on the Southern railway, and
through a very billy part of the coun-
try-in the Piedmont section of the
state-and he has quite recently
graded and constructed an electric
railway line from the station to his
hotel, and has it now in successful
operation. He built IL with his own
funds and kept an accurate account
of all expenses. His power, in addi-
tion to running his railway, furnishes
electric light literally. throughout his
large and beautiful hotel and sur
rounding grounds.
It will be seen that Mr.. Harris has
not estimated cost of cars, as they
vary much in price, according TO the
style and finish. The item Of grad
ing need scarcely be considered by
Us, as there viii be but little Of that
to do. Cross-ties may be had ali
along the line, and can probably be
delivered at 20 cents a piece.
According to Mr.. Harris, rails msy
be obtained at a cost of $1,000 per
mile Dynamo, engine and other ap-
pliances, 5000. A six mile road |
about 81, 600, exclusive of cross-ties.
That is comparatively small item.
Suppose we had a capital stock of |
$50, 900 "a sum which should be |
easily raised here for such an enter |
prise) we would have a margin Of |
$4,000 for construction, cars and ]
casino. 1t seems to me that would |
be sufficient to put the line into a
going concern, and once it is in oper- !
alton, any further funds needed |
would come easy. Can so much be /
raised? think it can. If the bust !
ness people of Ocala will pledge them
selves to have all shipments made
from all points north of here, wherever
it is practicable, by the Clyde Line of |
steamers, to Ocala, via Silver Springs |
steamers, as well as make all possible |
north, over the same route,
and stand by the agreement like men,
then am convinced, that if properly
by a committee of prac-
teal business men, the Clyde Line |
people will gladly fall into line with
us and more than likely take stock in
the road, and make such traffic ar
with us as will in a short
while save US in freights more money
than it will cost us to put the road in
operation.
Of course t'"sN views are thrown
out in the "cru3"," but they are suf-
hcient to enabl" practical men to do
a little figuring for themselves. But
we want unity of action.
The road won't build itself, nor can 1
build it myself. have no Alladin's
amp, nor can l simply say "presto!"
and make it come fully equipped. If
{ is needed or wished for, then it can
only be had by going Systematically