The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-11-08
ELECTRIC LINE FOR 0lALA
Important Proposition Considered nj
the Board of Trade Meeting
Last Evening

\ well attended and enthusiastic
meeting Of the Ocala Board of Trade
was held last night at the Board of
Trade rooms
The object OF the meeting was to
hear Mr.. c. 4 Harp. of Sacramento
Calf, lay his plan before the board of
an interurban line from Ocala to Sill
yer Springs and Lake Weir.
Mr. Harp stated that he was at pres
ent engaged in putting in municipal
docks al Pensacola. the work now be-
ing in preparatory stage, and he
had few days leisure time, and came
here to discuss street railways with
our people He stated that the country
was coming 10 realize more forcibly
every day that municipality owned
public utilities. such "a street railways
docks, light plants, water works. etc.
Were the best. most satisfactory and
could be operated with greater benefit
to the local public than if owned and
controlled by foreign capital His
proposition was for the citizens of this
county to bond. buy the bonds among
themselves and build and own their
own railway to Silver Springs or wher-
ever they chose to build it and he was
principally interested in building the
same. on a commission basis, whereby
every dollar would be made to buy
one hundred cents worth OF labor and
material and there would be no waste
His proposition was clear and he
brought such facts TO bear in the case
that il seems TO the Star it would be
the most economical method of build
ing a railway line.
Some of the members of the board
stated that more important than this
and which should come before the rail-
way line, the Inauguration of a
line of boats on the Oklawaha river
from Silver Springs to Jacksonville
When this was established and in
running order then the electric line
would be fine thing and the work of
getting it started would commence.
Mr.. Harp stated that a Holland COM
pany with coal mines in Alabama was
constructing some steel barges, fitted
with gasoline motors and double
screw arrangement, to transport coal
from the mines to Mobile. That the
passage was narrow and winding and
in making the turns in the rivers, the
screws were set revolving in opposite
directions and in this way the barge
could be turned almost a right angles.
These barges would only draw three
| feet of water when loaded and would
| cost probably $4,000 apiece
Mr.. Ed Carmichael stated that he re-
Gently visited Jacksonville and inspect
| ed a new style river boat of light
draft and had data and cost of same
and if his opinion these boast would
/ be practica BILE for this narrow, shallow
and crooked river. The boats were IS
| feet long. of 90 tons burden, steel
| hull. twin screw and only draw 30 in
ches of water when loaded. They can
/ be built and commissioned for $4,000
each. They are quite speedy and safe
! Mr. Carmichael stated that he had a
/ talk with Capt. Slatterly, of the L S.
engineering board. in Jacksonville, a
short time ago. and the captain prom
| ised him if the people would put the
| proper amount of business on the river
the department would clean the river
out. destroy the hyacinths and do what
/ ever other work could be done pend
| ing an appropriation for actually deep
ening and strengthening the CHANNEL
\ committee was appointed. consist
| ing of Messrs. Chambliss. Carmichael
and Thomas to solicit funds for the
company to buy the boats for the
| freight line.
! One think is certain and sure about
| ii. and that is that the business men of
Ocala should never rest until they have
made proper and permanent arrange
/ ments for freight line on the Okla
waha river All they need is to get to-
gether and stick together, and the
/ thing Will be done, to the great adj
vantage of the city and surrounding
| territory. There is business enough to
keep half a dozen boats plying the
river all the time if our business men
would take concerted and sustained
action.