The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-08-14
THE OCALA NORTHERN FRANCHISE


''Selah' and a few others have had a |
great deal to say about the little street |
franchise that the city council recent |
ly granted to Mr. f. P. Rentz. presi- |
dent of the Ocala Northern Railroad.
This franchise. as has been stated in
this paper and was published several
times both before and after the ordi
nance was passed, extends from the
point on Osceola street where the right
of way of the OcaIa and Silver Springs
Railroad reached the street, crossing
the street there and thence south along
the west side of the a. C. l. track 10
the corner of the half block that Mr..
Rentz owns at Oklawaha avenue, but
not across Okiawaha avenue, a total
distance of two and half blocks. Kept
up, as the council will demand, the Or
dinance requires and Mr.. RentZ will be
more than willing TO do. a track along
this place will not interfere with travel
on this portion of the street any more
than two tracks interfere with travel
on il in other portions. and We notice
that there is a great deal of hauling
over that portion from Oklawaha av-
enue to the freight depot of the A c.
l., every foot of which has a double
track From South 5th streets where
the tracks bend west and leave the
street to the entire north portion of
the city, this street has two or more
tracks along almost every rod of its
length. Why this howl over the addi-
ton of second track along a few
yards where there does not happen TO
be one now. is mostly engendered by
the love to kick about something and
the well known love of some citizens
TO kick against the actions of their
local city government, whether they do
or do not do anything. So much for the
portion of the matter bearing on the
street itself. The manager of the Star
worked for the passage of this little
franchise in the city council and will
continue to do so till the matter is
settled one way or the other.
Mr.. Rentz proposes to operate a troll
ley line into Ocala. We think we
would be safe in stating that several
hundred columns of type have been
set in the past twenty years in the
local papers favoring some kind of
street car line from Ocala to Silver
Springs 1t is badly wanted and would
be a great step forward for Ocala. Mr.
Rentz, who owns the right of way of
the old Ocala and Silver Springs road,
proposes, just as soon as he has this
franchise. to commence laying rails on
this right of way, and operate an cleo
trio or gasolene propelled trolley line
from his Corner at Oklawaha avenue to
the Springs and return, making trips
at short intervals with a very low fare
for the trip. This will be operated en-
tirely separate from his railroad. He
does not intend to operate his freight
or passenger cars over this line, but
will continue his most satisfactory ar
rangements with the Seaboard. II the
people want a trolley line to the
Springs they would naturally be inter
ested in having ii come up into the
heart Of town where it would be the
easiest of access to the greatest num-
Der Of people.
In the matter of union depot, if
this is ever secured. Mr.. Rentz is per
fectly willing to come into it with his
railroad, and has expressed such will
lingness on many occasions.
AS TO whether Mr.. RentZ and his road
are entitled to this little concession.
the Star points to the works and re-
suits Of this man and his enterprises.
Since coming to Ocala a few years
ago he has spent large sums of money
all along the line from Ocala to Palat-
ka- He has built a railroad through
this country and has opened up a strip
OF sixty miles of rich territory mac
cessible and entirely undeveloped be-
fore which is now being rapidly set
tied and is contributing a great deal
towards Ocala in a commercial way
Huge saw mills, employing hundreds
Of men have been in operation for a
long time and have made the section
about them prosperous.
-
been bought and the interests of this
man and his companies are closely
Identified with Oca1a and the section
hereabouts.
By the first of October the Ocala
Northern will be completed and operat-
ing trains into Palatka and deep water
IL does not take a very astute person
10 see what this will mean for Ocala
II We are inclined to take advantage OF
the Independent road and its freight
opportunities. In Palatka the peopl,
have met the management with oper
arms and anything wanted was given
IN the way or right of ways and ter
minals.
A great deal has very truthfully beer
said against the policy of allowing
railroads to have too large and firm
hold on the streets of a city. 1t is
very irritating problem IN many places
and may become one in Ocala. All tn,
same, town cannot progress withou
railroads. and it cannot have railroads
without letting them use some of it
streets Also, il must be remembered
that the policy of compelling railroad
70 have their stations the outskirt
OF z city does not suit that very larg
proportion of the travelling public tina
doesn't own horses. carriages an
autos, and to which paying hack far
is considerable expense. You viii
not find street ear lines running in un
frequented streets in any city. excep
a. they must pass from one populou
section 10 another. If We have chea
transportation line to Silver Springs
f. should start near enough the cente
Of town TO be accessible to everyone
il will destroy half its usefulness [
put il so far out that people must TAX
long walk or pay hack fare to reac
Fl