The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-10-24
AGAINST ALLIED INTERESTS
Frank Drew's Strenuous Efforts to
Secure Water Terminal for the
Florida Railway
Inverness Chronicle

one Of the most important suits ever
known in Florida was fled against the
knickerbocker Trust Co, Of New York.
and others last week. the complainant
being the Florida Railway. with head
quarters a. Live oak, through Attor-
ney Geo, VI, Powell. Il stockholder Of
the company. and the damages asked
are $4,000, 600.
The history Of the case reveals one
Of the most determined efforts to
thWart the enterprise of one Of Flor
ida's most DISTINGUISHED citizens and
cnterpri@in- men, who has done more
to build up transportation facilities
than any other man, save. perhaps, Fl
VI. Flagler, and every endeavor upon
his part has been fought by others
vigorously, backed by capital almost
unlimited.
Several years ago Frank Drew es-
tabIished al Alton, in Lafayette coun-
~, one of the largest sawmilis in the
state, and also built a railroad known
then as the Suwannee q san Pedro, 81
miles in length, running from Live
oak to Perry. with a branch al Mayo
10 the big mill a Alton. Statistics
show that this railroad realized for
its owner greater per cent of profit
than any other road in the state, and
was a feeder for the Seaboard
Immediately afterwards the Dow
Iings, prominent mill men and capital
lists. came into possession of the Alton
mill. and began the construction Of a
competing line of railroad known a.
the Live Oak. Perry & Gulf. extending
it six miles further than the Suwannee
n san Pedro, to Hampton Springs.
Then really began the battle for su-
premacy. and Frank Draew. realizing
that his road was only a feeder for
the Seaboard. sought water terminals
at Fernandina and jacksonville. Then.
it Is alleged. the Sea board Joined hands
with the opposing factions. and sought
To circumvent the efforts of Mr. Drew
80 successful We're his opponents. ne
was compelled TO cross the wates 10
secure the fioating Of the bonds for the
projected extension. The Carnegie
Trust Company of New York was Sc
lected TO float the bonds. but Mr. Drew
again struck a snag. for that company
failed, but the bonds werg III 40 man
ner impaired by the failure. and then
the knickerbocker Trust Company
was substituted. When the time came
for the knickerbocker Company TO
transfer the bonds sold by the Florida
hallway Company for their agent, they
proffered excuses for not doing sa and
now 1t is alleged that two of the direc-
tors Of the knickerhocker Company
are directors Of the eaboard. and mere
is the milk IN the rocoanut. Not only
has the Florida Railway sued for dam
ages 10 the amount of $6,O0O.G0 but
Senator LaFoIette of Wisconsin has
started an investigation 10 prove
whether or not the sherman anti
trust law has been violated
Frank Drew IS the son Of The MUS
trious George Drew. who did more for
Florida than any other living man.
before, al the time and after pecon-
struction days. as governor and private
citizen. Not one Of the family has ever
been accused of being of a eraspina
nature, Neither has one or them been
accused Of being a party to graft,
Frank Drew Is one Of the plaInest
men in the state, who il more con-
tented dressed IN overalls and wampus,
besmeared with grease from a loco
motive engine he was working. than
when attired in an evening dress suit
lined up with tac elite OF society at a
dinner or reception. and he is at home
in either capacity lie has done more
for Florida without asking AID FROM
the state than ahN HaH II 1t. and 1t
behoayeS the people 10 stick by him in
his efforts to check outra ges offered
! by silk Hat Harrys'' and others Of
| that ilk who might cruelty the,f moth
| ers for financial gain