The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-11-20

Showing How OcaIa Can be Made a
Model City

Following is a copy of a paper read
by Mr. r. L. Martin before the Mis-
sissippi to Atlantic Waterway Asso-
citation at its convention at Albany.
Ga. last month:
There are a number of cities in
this country. and in foreign countries,
situated at interior points, not very
far distant from navigable water. that
are in sore need of water transporta-
ton 10 controol freight rates, but the
elevation of these cities is such that
no apex water can be obtained
Annually these cities pay freight in
excess of the water rate, amounting
TO thousands of dollars.
The writer suggests that it would
be profitable for private capital OF
these cities, in many instances, to in
stall canals, and fetd same with OPP
Grating water by pumps, or other arti-
fetal means of elevating feed water
In order to do this, the canal would
be constructed in the usual way. with
locks sufficient TO elevate the vessels
to the citys level, and near the head
of the canal a reservoir be construct
ter pumped for feeding purposes.
From this storage reservoir. as
needed, the water could be turned
into the canal in order 10 keep the
water at the proper depth TO carry
such vessels as might enter the canal.
There might be a dozen or more
locks in the canal to elevate vessels
to the level of the upper end of the
canal, still only one lock full of water
would be discharged each time a YES
sci passed through the canal.
In order to economic in the use
of feeding water, there might be a
haulover for boats of 80 feet and less
in length, thereby saving the loss OF
any water on all of the smaller craft.
AS a further means of supplying
| feed-water, the storage reservoir could
be so constructed that the water from
rains falling on as large a territory
as possible would flow into the reser-
voir, thus accommodating a large pro
portion of the feed-water.
AS another means of keeping UP
the supply of water in the reservoir
sewerage water from the city, after
passing through septic tanks, could be
turned into the storage reservoir.
Los Angeles, Cal, Merida, Yucatan
| Mexico and other large cities, as well
as many smaller cities, might use this
system with profit
Ocala, not having natural apex wa
| ter, a canal constructed from Silver
| Springs to Ocala on this plan is what
we need, locating the storage reser
voir at the pond, near the ice plant
We understand the elevation of this
| pond is about 90 feet above tide wa
ter, and Silver Springs being 40 fee
above tide water, would necessitate
raising the water % feet
The cost of construction and in
stallation of this canal, including dig
| ging of canal and reservoir, building
of necessary locks and adequate
pumping machinery, ready for traf
fic, would not exceed 100000 The
! freight saved in two years by the city
of Ocala would more than pay thi:
back, besides the many other advan
tages that would be derived. This
would solve the question of DISPOSE
ton of our sewerage. The city own
ing the canal, sewerage plant anC
water works, sewers could be flushed
every day and the water used to keel
up the water in the reservoir foI
feeding the canal.
Ocala could, by the installation o
this system. be made the cleanest ant
most healthy city in the United
! States. r. l.. MARTIN.