The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-11-26
VS.. RAILWAY TRANsPoR-
TATION

- ~ anu lfA1Nnt- "a beAS NtAANNT NJ '-A~
world are on natures highways. -
Ocala Evening Star.
What the Star says is largely true.
Why is it true? Because the world is
very old and railway traffic is very
new.
Empires have arisen and fallen, dy-
.nasues one after another have disap-
peared. yet throughout the slow pro-
oesses Of the ages tina, marked the
rise and fall Of those civilizations no
mode of commerce was thought OF eX-
cept that made possible by packs on
TIE backs Of domestic animals and the
crude sea and river crafts.
So in the founding of cities mari
time traffic was alone considered.
As new as this country is. IT was 50
here.
The editor of the Star seems TO
think that il is impossible even now
TO build anything Ike a great city re-
mote from water transportation. and
asks this paper 10 cite a single in
stance.
Well so as not 10 grow tedious. we
shall begin AT i. and shall ask. what
Is the matter with Atlanta II is not
located on the seacoast nor on any
navigable lake nor river. Yet il is the
largest and fastest growing city in
Georgia.
Well. lets proceed on 10 B. What's
the matter with Birmingham. Ala? II
has long since left Mobile in the lurch.
What has been made possible in
Georgia and Alabama can be made
possible in Florida. and every other
state in the Union.
81 il remembered, too. that those
cities have grown in spite Of the inc
qualities in freight rates. Had they
been put on the same footing with the
seaport cities they would have shown
still more rarid and marvellous deveI-
opment.
Railway traffic Is something new IN
the worlds history. II had its begin /
ming within tie memory Of men yet
living. New as it is. il has already
shorn our river traffic OF is ancient
glory.
Our railway traffic i expanding ev- (
cry day. Everything connected with /
our railroads is growing bigger. Com F..
pare The size Of the locomotives today /
with those Of a few years ago. Com |
pare the weight OF the rails. Our
railway development. indeed. We
aEain repeat. Is the most marvellous /
thing in the worlds history.
1t Is the railway, more than the
water traffic. that Is acceleratiRg the
growth of our great cities.
The east coast Of Florida was
nothing until the Florida East Coast
railway was constructed along its
shores
Tampa struggled along for fifty
years or more and amounted 10 very
little until il became a railway termi- /
nal.
The editor of the Star seems toI
have misunderstood and misinterpret-
ed our article altogether. II was not
intended as an eulogy on Nj James
J Hill. In citing the rapid and ire
mendous growth of 81. Paul and Min
neapoEs our purpose was simply 10
show the possibilities of building up
great cities by proper railway legisla-
ton and management
The Star, whether 50 intended or
not. comedies this much. Il says.
Then. TOO. Editor Harris viii re-
member thar James J. Hill. Erea- AMI
powerful as he Is in the railroad
world. ana much as be has done for
the benefit Of farmers along his line
10 promote their interests in growing
wheat. his motive was not purely phil
3nrhrOpiC. but largely selfish, tfreighcs
tNl AAAN tAaAtA -A--A44-- III mn = -
not the only railroad entering in The
Twin Cities. There are half a dozen
equally powerful. namely: The NOrhI-
ern PacifiS. the Milwaukee & St
Paul the Canadian Pacific and q num-
Der Of lesser lines. but all important
factors in the transportation facili-
ties of that great northwest and all
rivals for il. whose tonnage in wheat.
cattle and lumber. etc. makes the
commerce and transportation com
modicieS Of Florida look like 80 cents
IN comparison
81 Paul and Minneapolis would be
great cities despite of any one man.
because nature endowed that great
section with q fertility and productive
ness that was bound 10 create cities
and has shared in that endowment
OF course the editor Of this paper
is aware that the railroads are not in
business for their health. They are
not posing as philanth-opists. To be
a little Slangy. they are after the
long green"
Nature has endowed other sections