The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-09-14
THAT TRAIN TO TAMPA"
BY L. ]. Brumby.

tail trade OF Ocala is connned chleny 10
my patronage of the Ocala merchants
and the payment of their bills when
presented.
I presume, however, as citizen,
with the best interests of my home
town in view, to direct attention
through the columns of the Banner"
and personally to the board of trade
to a very widely circulated petition
asking the A. C. L. railway to put on
a new passenger train between this
city and Tampa, leaving Ocala at z
a. m. returning at night and giving
passengers a stop of from four to
five hours in Tampa
l claimed and still claim that this
schedule would seriously affect not
only the retail merchants OF Ocala
land incidentally every citizen) but
also of Dunnellon "and every other
towns along the proposed route until
the corporate limits of Tampa are
reached
In the editorial columns Of the
Star" of Monday was published an
article from the Tampa Tribune crit
icising my position. This was followed
Wednesday afternoon with an editor
ial strongly endorsing the proposed
schedule. The Tampa Tribune and
the Ocala Star are unanimous!
The editor of the Star, who is also
secretary of the Ocala board OF trade
might perhaps have in fair
ness mentioned the factt that
this organization OF our
business men unanimously entered
their protest against this movement
and appointed a special committee to
see that this protest was made as eff
fectiye as possible The editor OF the
Star was present at this meeting. why
did he not then express his senti-
ments? He might also have referred
to the fact that in presenting the
facts to the board ! declined to my
self submit a motion, but presented
the situation as / saw it. The discuss
ion was general, there was not an OPP
posing voice or vote and the resolu-
ton of protest, ~. D.-ouuced py me-
was adopted.
We can hardly censure the tampa
Tribune, though in seeking to place
somewhat erroneous construction
upon my card, departed from its usual
and almost unbroken custom OF fair
ness to this city and to an opponent In
fair discussion. Certainly ! Will con-
tend from personal knowledge that
one can buy goods in Ocala. both as
far as price and quality are concern
ed. as advantageously as in either IN
Tampa or Jacksonville.
But If you will so arrange railway
schedules that it would be far more
convenient for all persons within a
radius of fifty miles to do their trad
ing in either Jacksonville Of Tampa,
would il not be reasonable to say
they would do so?
II is idle to pretend to say rall'
way schedule cannot injure or beneft
a town. After this train is put on
will the editor of the Star give his en-
dorsement to another one that would
say leave ocala at a. m. give pas
seneers four hours in Jacksonville
and return at p. M?
Will the editor of the Star contend
that the train now operating from
Itra to Gainesville, via Oak Lawn.
Orange Lake, Mcintosh, etc., has rot
cost Ocala a good share of the retail
trade from the northern portion OF
our own county?
Another point made by me is that
the proposed schedule would in5ure
all the towns along the route. Do the
Tribune and the Star question this?
II is quite true as the Star says or
intimates that MI. NJ. E. Robinson or
Sunny Jim" is good man and was
a good citizen of Ocala when he re-
sided here. To this l cheerfully sub
scribe. Personally l know OF no more
genial. clever and courteous man ON
the road He sells shoes, good shoes
and lots of them and hisSenergy and
ability entitle him to the success he
has achieved. Certainly | have moth
ing personal in the matter.
1t is also at the same time quite
true ne has moved to Tampa and
opened his sample rooms there. Man
ifestly it would be more convenient
for him to bring his customers there,
Put for this convenience is he, on
second thought, willing to hurt every
customer whose name is on his order
books and who is so unfortunate tc
live north of Tampa? Mr.. Robinson
name was used by me because he was
the principal mover, as understand i
in the circulation of this petition.
hone he will withdraw it.
Again repeat let us do somethins
I+o h,,ild nm Oca1a MT to iniure her