The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-11-19
ANOTHER TRUNK LINE
THROUGH OCALA

Much has been said and written Of
late, looking to an improvement OF
Ocalas transportation facilities-and
we all know the situation is sadly in
need of improvements. for with the dis
ordinations that we have against US
as an interior point, our growth Is
sadly handicapped and these discrim-
nations are almost prohibitive to the
success of manufacturing enterprises
or wholesale and distributing. houses.
Would not the acquisition of an
other trunk line railroad, an independ-
emit road, into or through Ocala, give
us relief in a large measure from this
condition?
Certain it is that If Ocala could Sc
cure another through road it Mould
mean a great deal to our commercial
growth and would make this city so
prominent as a railroad center-make
it's advantages from a transportation
standpoint so obyiouS-that with the
Importance we would acquire, in the
eyes of the outside business world,
recognition would have to be given US
and water transportation or not our
situation would be such that we could
command and secure a decent freight
rate.
Take your map of Florida, fix your
eyes first on Ocala the hub" then
trace a line from Ocala to Brooksville,
via Inverness. taking in that thrifty
and growing capital of Citrus county,
continue your line to Brooksville, an
other Florida city with a great future
and intersect your ina ginary line with
the Tampa Northern Railroad, which
is already prosperous road to deep
water and one of the best harbors and
ocean traffic points in the south, with
several steamship lines making their
terminus at it's wharves. From Ocala,
take the Ocala Northern road to Pa
latka and connect with the G. S. & F.
Railway, part of the great Southern
Railroad system, one of the richest
roads, owning the most mileage in the
country, north or south, and follow
that roads tracks out of the state via
Lake City and on to Valdosta, and you
have a great trunk railroad, almost
an air line from Ocala to the north
Suppose the Southern Railway sys-
tenn could be induced to build the little
gap from Ocala to Brooksville, then
with a track arrangement with the
Ocala Northern north of us and the
Tampa Northern on the south, we
would then have this great road as a
trunk line cutting across Ocala in a
new direction and the railroad map OF
our city and of Marion county would
look like the spokes of a wheel with
Ocala as the hub.
From one end to the other through
the state this road passes through a
good country, a section that is grow
ing and the business for the road is
increasing all the time.
From Ocala to Brooksville the road
would pass through a section of the
state rich in timber and phosphate and
fertile farm lands, territory much OF
which is now without any transporta-
tion facilities. Such a road would
develop this section as nothing else
would and make it blossom as does
the portion of the county that has en-
joyed the blessings of transportation
for a number of years.
With the deep water and steamship
lines at Tampa, it's southern terminus
and deep water and schooner trans
portation at Palatka, fifty miles dis
tant on the north, it looks like our
people could easily obtain a satisfac-
tory freight rate if such a road and
connection were induced to come to US
and we believe If the Ocala Board OF
Trade would get busy and take the
matter up with the Southern officials
that the result could be accomplished
At any rate the plan is worth trial