The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-04-14
IT'S Up TO OCALA
Whether or Not the Tampa Il Jackson
Vile VIII Build Int the City

vile VIII hukid Into the
Pursuant TO a special call the Ocala
Board Of Trade met last night with
over thirty representative citizens
present In the absence OF President
NJ J. Roess. the vice president, r p
Carroll. presided and called the meet
ing 10 order
The chair stated the object Of the
meeting and asked Messrs. Arthur
Glass, the general manager. and Sofa
Mendez. the vice president OF the Tam
pa & Jacksonville Railway. TO outline
/ their proposition more fully
Both gentlemen made good talks
straight business statements OF the
situation. Mr.. Glass gave a brief his
/ tory Of the road. formerly the C. & c.
and what he and his people had done
with il since acquiring control a few
years ago. They had brought il up
| from bankrupt, ill-equipped. badly
managed and worse operated line TO
one that they were proud of in equip
ment, roadbed and service. He said the
people OF Gainesville had given them
I loyal support. had the utmost faith
and confidence in the management. had
stood by them closely and they had
given that section a splendid service
and Were now running their trains
right on schedule time. day after day.
He told of the building OF the road re-
Gently. OF finishing OF a work under
! taken some time ago. southwest from
Fairfield eight miles. That il had open
ed up and given transportation to a
fertile section and the road was get
ting lot of new business there. His
people realized that they should come
on into Ocala. that they needed the
! huS 70 he
and along the populous route from
their present terminus to Ocala and
that he thought that section needed
them.
| Mr. Mendez made an interesting talk.
He stated that he was the representa-
tive of the eastern bankers who financ-
ed the road, that they had plenty of
money to push il if the results justified
the expenditure and so far they had.
He and his company realized that they
should get into Ocala, and he wanted
the citizens 10 affiliate with his road
purchase and turn over 10 them a suit
able terminal site. get a franchise to
come into the city from the council
and take stock in their road for the
value of the terminal site and thus
IlocaliZe their interests. He wanted the
site large enough that shops might be
later on TO do this. and his road would
want an Ocala man on the board Of di-
lrectors.
Mr.. Mendez then gave some interest
ing figures on the difference that could
be saved on time, passenger fares and
through freight hauls over this road
via Sampson City and on out of the
state. These figures were compre-
hensive and made the roads future
look good. as IL shortens the distance
from Ocala north and west by a good
many miles. He stated that which most
shippers have found out. that a small
railroad, whose officials We're close at
home, could and would give the ship
pers and the public in general a better
service than a big independent line.
who did not care for them and whose
red tape system was so intricate that
it took forever to get anything done
or differences adjusted
Mr.. Chambliss stated that some of
his shipping friends equally distant to
the T. & ]. and the \. G. L, in shipping
their beans and other produce, either
in car lots local shipments. found
that they got much better service TO
ship over the T. & j via Sampson City
than via the \. c. L. He said the state
ments of Messrs. Glass and Mendez
sounded good and sensible to him and
he was anxious to get their road into
Ocala.
Mr.. J. NJ. Meffert stated that the pro-
tject was a good and feasible one and
that he would take stock in it.
Mr.. Ben Rheinauer said the mer-
chants of Ocala needed the road, that
=, the people of the fine section through
e which it would pass might come here
do mi. lii
drives now necessary to reach Ocala
g and he was heartily in favor Of the
road coming here.
On motion of Mr.. Chambliss the
r chair appointed committee to have q
. conference with Messrs. Glass and
y Mendez and take up the matter of the
terminal site. see what could be had
the price, etc. The committee is com.
q posed of Messrs. J. VI. Meffert, T. c
t Chambliss and F. W. Ditto.
The board then adjourned and the
committee remained to have a confer.
}. ence with the railroad officials a
I once.
The gentlemen representing the rail
road remained over in the city today
this being their third days stay il
a Ocala, and with the committee will b,
y busy looking over matters.
e If the committee finds site that will
answer it is up to the business men o
iOcala TO put up the money for its pur
: chase. In exchange they will be givel
a stock in the road. This stock Is worth
n par and some day will be a VALUABLE
piece of property, the roads earn
ing power will be large when IL 4
e completed this far. Again, it will b
d necessary for the city Of Ocala to gran
the road a franchise 10 come in owe
its streets or such of them as may b
e necessary.
If 1t is up to the people now. Let u
= have the road.