The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-01-31
INLAND WATERW AVS

INLAND " ATERN t1>
\ good sized audience met last night
at the Woman's Club 70 listen 10 talks
on the vital subject Of waterways by
MesSrs H. Fl. Richardson. secretary of
the Jacksonville Board Of Trade ana
Arthur y. Stevens. Of the Merrill
stevens boat building firm OF that city
and president Of the Duval county Wa
terway association. Mr.. NJ J. RoesS.
president Of the OcaIa Board Of Trad.
introduced the speakers. Both gentle
men made interesting ana Instructive
showing how essential these
waterways We're 70 the uphuiIdin. and
developing Of The country through 4iv
ing lower rates to the producers.
The story "a already outlined in the
star was impre<sively detailed. Mr..
Richardson spoke Of what a deeper
channel in the 81. Johns river had done
for the commerce and business Of the
city Of jacksonville, and he was pleas
ed TO say the board Of trade of Jack
sonville has played an important part
in fostering and assisting in this great
work He impressed on his hearers
how essential il was TO get the public
interested in the work for it was only
by their efforts, labors and demands
that our congressman were made TO
act How necessary it was to get up
data of the products that needed trans
pOrtatiOn and these in turn would be
used by our national Legislators. He
said Jacksonville had the most friendly
feeling for all of Florida and desired
that the interior towns should grow
and an important factor in their ad
vancement was to have cheap rates for
commerce both coming and going from
the state. He said there was no ques
ton but that in the future there would
be a large interior city in the center
of the state and believed Ocala, with
the advantages it would possess with
water transportation near its doors
would be an important commercial cen
ter.
Mr. Stevens referred to the wonders
water transportation had wrought for
several foreign cities, notably Frank
fort and Manchester. How commerce
and population had grown, after the
building of canals and which in no wise
had affected rail transportation. but
it had increased. He also referred to
the fact that the fifteen millions to be
expended for a canal across Florida
would be largely devoted to labor and
its circulation would greatly vitalize
all interests He referred to the fact
how his business was helped by water
transportation. They used great
deal of steel in the construction of
boats and that product came from
Pittsburg. Pa. The all rail rate was
30 cents a hundred BY rail to New
York and water to Jacksonville it was
p cents a hundred, making saving
that meant business and profit to the
firm and a lower price on the boat. The
speaker also referred 10 the meeting of
the National Waterway Association in
Washington at which 1000 delegates
We're present and the unanimity of SEN
timent that prevailed for this interior
waterway work all over the country.
Mr.. Stevens was a delegate in attend
ance from the Jacksonville Board of
Trade and said the enthusiasm the
meeting created was unbounded.
Mrs. William Hooker president of
the Ocala Woman's Club, was then in
troduced and made some very peril
nent and suggestive remarks.
Mrs. Henry, field secretary of the
waterway association. was then called
on and made one of her enthusiastic
and telling talks, reading extracts
from the article of J. J. Hill. the rail
road magnate. in which he said the
growing commercial tonnage of the
world needed water transportation as
sistance and the thing for the people
TO do was to get it. She also read a
few extracts from a splendid address
| delivered by Senator Fletcher a. the
Pensacola convention. Senator Fletcher
is president of the waterway association
and born enthusiast in the work
whose labors are bringing success He
said the average earnings of a day la
bOrer was $500 a year. 500 of which
was consumed in transportation. This
alone gives an idea of the StupendOuS
| import of this cheapeninG of transport
tation. She read several extracts from
the address of Secretary Thompson OF
the National Water Association before
the Columbus. Ga. convention. the best
! posted man on this subject in the
country who stated that the saving OF
freight through the 500 canal on the
/ Great Lakes was three hundred and
thirty-eight millions of dollars a year
| over what the same products would
cost if transported by rail That the
speed Of railroads in transporting
freight was SO miles a day. while water
| transportation averaged 100 miles q
/ day. She then said in the five South
ern states which were being organized
one man to each county would near
900 persons. while up TO the present
time ESQ had been appointed to work
in their respective communities for this
great project. Mr. r. L. Martin is ON
man.
II was then moved and seconded anG
unanimously passed that the Marion
/ County Waterway Association be or.
ganized. President RoeSs then handed
in list of his committees TO act or
membership. the securing of funds
etc. but as every individual on the
committees Will be interviewed to see
whether or not he will serve. We re.
frain from publishing the names now
Mrs. Hooker said she would name hel
committees at the business meeting o.
the club tomorrow.
The meeting was a good one. full q
determination tina Marion county
would be called upon 10 line up anj
do her part in bringing about tn,
greatest and best thing that conlt
happen 70 the state. a canal across it