The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-07-28
NO UNION DEPOT NOW

NO UNION DEPOT NOW
Mayor Robertson recently received
the following communication from the
COMMISSIONS
Tallahassee. July 25. 1911
Hon. ]. D. Robertson, Ocala, Florida:
Dear Sir: Your telegram Of the 22nd
inst, wishing to know decision of the
in the matter of union de-
pot, has been received.
I'm reply wish to advise that in the
opinion of the commission a union de-
pot at this time for Ocala is unjust to
the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, as
that road now has very substantial
brick passenger depot, which We feel
we would not be justified in confiscat-
ing by ordering a union depot at some
other point.
Yours very truly,
"R Hudson Burr. Chairman"
In commenting on this curt dismis-
sion of the subject. our contemporary,
the Banner. refers to the heavy grade
over which the Coast Line enters the
city from the north, and its consequent
danger to life and limb. the need OF
depots for the Ocala Northern. Ocala
and Southwestern and possibly the
Tampa and Jacksonville, the made
quate Seaboard depot, and the meager
size of the Coast Line station, and it
recommends that if majority of our
citizens want an union station they
should give the commission no rest un-
til one is ordered built.
All these arguments are good except
the one referring to the grade. In the
first place the grade, while it looks
tremendous to a Floridian, is less than
two per cent. Many railroads in more
northern states are all up and down
on such grades, or, what is worse,
curves, and nobody thinks anything Of
them. No up-to-date engine would
have any trouble climbing such a
grade. and what danger and difficulty
there Is to it would be greatly multi
piled by building an union station at
the bottom Of it, In the second place,
building an union station will not do
away with the grade unless the Coast
Line changes it's tracks. One Of the
best lawyers in the city says it Cant
be compelled to do it, and we haven
found anyone rash enough to assert it
would do so of it's own accord. Any
railroad man will testify that a curve
is just as difficult as a grade and far
more dangerous. Several fatal acct
dents have occurred on railroad tracks
In Ocala in the past twenty years, but
not one of them on the grade referred
to.
much greater objection to the line
through the city is that it crosses our
principal streets, and causes a great
deal of Inconvenience and not a little
danger to the people who are constant
ly passing. People are held up many
times every day on Fort King and Ok
lawaha avenues by passing trains, and
as the people and trains increase the
Inconvenience and danger will in
crease; still, as aforesaid, unless the
road can be compelled to change its
track. this would not be done away
with by an union station; in fact, il
would be increased, for the trains now
stop at the most dangerous point
while if the passenger station was re-
moved they would run through the city
at the greatest speed the law would
allow. The danger in this matter car
be abated by the city without waiting
for the commission, by obliging the
railroad to keep watchmen at the cross
ings. This has been done for years by
the Seaboard at the Magnolia stree
crossing, and we see no reason why
the Coast Line shouldn't observe tn,
same precaution at Oklawaha and For
King.
The Banners arguments about tn,
depots are correct. The Coast Lines
the best-is not any more than eQua
to the demands made on it now, ant
will soon be far behind. The eaboart
station is a disgrace to the city, ant
the smaller roads haven't any. Al
union passenger station would be
good thing now, and it will soon be al
absolute necessity.
OF the same time, it should be re
membered that a large proportion o
the travelling public doesn't like TIL
idea of a passenger station in the IA
north or west of town. One of tn
strongest arguments for the Coast Lin
station being where it is is its conven
fence. There the little Florida South
ern built nearly thirty years ago whel
ii asked. and was gladly given. per
mission to run a few narrow-gag
trains a day through what was then
Struggling village. me relation De
tween the big corporation and tn
growing city has changed only a de
gree and not in kind Each is yet nee
essary to the other and should try t
meet on the ground of common good.
large majority of the population an
business is contiguous to the Coas
Line station, and most people. if yo
ask them, will tell you that personal
ly. they prefer the Coast Line station
to remain where it is, though they ad
NIT that it might be better for the fu
ture Of the city if it was somewher
else.
The Star thinks it would be bette
for the city and the railroads if tn
tracks of the latter ran around instea
of through the former. Just how to &c
them there isn't so easy to decide.
can be done. however. in time by per
sistence and a regard for the rights @
all parties.