The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-11-30
OUR FREIGHT TROUBLES.

freight nor freight rates. These
troubles are all Of modern origin
Here in Ocala, for instance, we OPP
Grated a line of boats from Jackson
vile 10 Silver Springs and a wagon
line from the Springs to OcaIa. There
never was any trouble nor thought
Of trouble and people lived in those
days as they do now. They neither
starved nor went naked. They had
their fire eQaipases and social gal
ties prevailed the same as in modern
times.
Merchants from Brooksville, Sum
terville, Adainsvi;le, WhiJesviIle and
all intermediate points, received their
goods at Silver Springs and such
a thing as a complaint about freight
or freight rates never once entered
into their business calculations.
There. too. was considerable ship
ping in those days. We remember
that Captain Samuel Agnew operat-
ed large turpentine distillery at Sill
yer Springs and shipped the entire
output on boats down the Ocklawaha
river. We remember, also, that Mr..
James Harris, Hon. P. P. Bishop. and
other large orange groves. shipped
their fruit to market via boat line to
Jacksonville.
There were business rivalries in
those days the same as in these days.
In Ocala, Messrs. Eichelberger, Ag-
new, Harris, Howse, and, later, the
RObirsuns. were the principal mer-
chants here and each had a landing
and a line of wagons from the
springs.
Why cannot We return TO those old
time methods? Why cannot the mer-
chants of Ocala operate their own line
of boats from Jacksonville to Silver
Springs and wagon line, or per
haps, what would be better, a track
less trolly line" from Silver Springs
to Ocala?
If individuals, not overburdened
with money, can operate a line Of
boats On the Ocklawaha river, why
cannot the merchants Of Ocala join
forces and operate their own line of
bCets and be independent of the rail
/, ads and the railroad commission
ers?
The Ocala Banner has been Urgin.
the merchants OF Ocala for many
years to do this. The scheme is en-
tirely feasible and practicable and in
times past served It's purpose well.
In these latter years. however. We
have fallen into the habit Of being
too dependent and calling ugon cha.
government Tor protection in too
many matters.
Now. nearly twen-v yeas ago. we ia
aored for the creation Of a state and
Interstate railway commission. We
dreamed dreams that when these com
missions were established that the
freight problem voG;I DC solved AZ
shippers .oulj be given no fur7ler
trouble Our troubles would be -
cariously shifted to the shoulders Of
others BIZ trouble increased rather
han diminished and the state' and in
ter,stata commissions put forth the
cry that they did not have power
enough to force their mandates. So
str( ngtheaing and enabling acts
we've passed comforting on them add.
tional powers; indeed, they were in
vested with the same powers as our
courts are. yet. the same cry still
goes forth that their hands are tied
for the want of ju 1icial power and in
the meantime cur freight troubles
multiply and the shippers, not only in
Florida but throughout the United
States, are in a more HOPELESS and
helpless condition than ever before
and we awake to the conclusion that
governmental interference is unable
to solve the problem.
1t seems TO us that the door of
hope" for the merchants of OcaIa
lies in the direction of a trolly line
to Silver Springs and a line of boats
to ply the Ocklawaha and St. Johns
rivers. That will solve the problem
so far as our local interests are con
cerned.
We know at least that all other
methods have signally failed up to
date
The merchants of Ocala in the mat
ter of freight rates, must not look 10
the railway commission to solve their
difficulties for them but they must be-
come their own Paul, Silas and Apol-
los. Put on their boat and trolly
lines and be in a position to snap
their fingers at the railroads and the
railroad commissioners.
The distance from Silver Springs is
only five miles. The distance from