The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-03-06
CITY OF OCALA
VERSUS
THE A. c. |.
To the Public:

To the Public:
have read the various articles in
the local press, and the editorial com
ment, from time to time. of the Even
ing Star, regarding the ordinance now
pending before the city council of
OcaIa, with reference to the addition
al facilities to be afforded the A. G. u.
Railroad Company in connection with
its freight depot and terminals in
Ocala as at present located.
feel justified, in view of the va
rious publications, in making plain
statement of the facts, without Wifi
cation, vituperation or abuse, so far
as my relations as division counsel of
the A. c. L. R. r. Co, and as a citizen
of Ocala, interested in it's progress
and development, are concerned.
The last proposed ordinance has
furnished an opportunity for those
who may have private grievances
against the Atlantic Coast Line Rail-
road Company to vent the same to the
utmost limit, and it has also afforded /
an opportunity for any and all writ
ers, by nom de plume and otherwise, /
to express themselves as to the
great outrage" which the railroad /
company is seeking to perpetrate
upon the public.
AS division counsel for the A C. L. +
Railroad Company, l drafted the or
dinance now pending before the coun-
ell, as a substitute for any and all 9TH
er ordinances that may have been
heretofore introduced on the subject, /
and in drafting the pending ordinance
| attempted so far as / could, not
only as counsel for the railroad com
pany, but as citizen of Ocala, to re-
move every reasonable objection
which could have been urged against
the ordinances heretofore submitted.
From published articles, editorial
or otherwise, in the Evening Star, the
inference is sought to be made that
the A. c. L. r. r. Co., is seeking some
undue advantage, and that it has been
abiding it's time, and presenting new
ordinances from time to time, as the
city council may be changed In its
membership. The members of the
city council as now existing and the
former members know absolutely
that this charge is without the slight
est foundation, and that any changes
- that may have been made from time
to time in the ordinances as introduc-
ii FNw nF M n
any objections that might be reasona-
bly, urged, and to meet existing stu
ations as fairly and as justly as the
circumstances would warrant. There
has never, so far as the writer re-
members, been any vote by the city
council on any ordinance submitted
regarding the extension of railroad
facilities as contemplated, and every
new ordinance has been prepared and
introduced to meet any and all objec-
tionable features that may have been
urged against the passage of former
proposed ordinances by the commit
tee or committees to whom the same
was referred. The last ordinance was
8.
objection that had been previously
urged, so far as the writer of this ar
ticle is informed, and while its pass
age in the form as introduced will
necessarily prevent the railroad com
pany from carrying out the scheme
as originally contemplated, am en-
tirely satisfied from the standpoint o1
a citizen of Ocala, interested in its
progress and development, that il
would inf1ict no injury whatever upor
any Individual property owner, ant
would rebound greatly to the develop
ment and prosperity of the city a
large.
The ordinance as first introduced
contemplated the establishment ant
maintenance of extensive yards in thu
city of Ocala, furnishing facilities TO
the erection of repair shops, and max
ing Ocala, by reason of such facili
ties, the initial point for the startin
and terminus of trains, as condition
might warrant.
In a recent edition of the Sta
there was an article signed Cum
min and Coin under flaming head
line, Corporation Has Failed to Kee
Its Contract" in which reference
made to an old ordinance passed i
1904, which related solely to the Re
movaI of the old depot from its pre-
ent location to an immediate adjacer
! location. When this ordinance wa
passed there was no other idea
view; but when the question was tai
en- up for action, it was made perfec
ly apparent to every reasonable an
sensible person that mere removi
of the old depot to an adjacent si1
would not furnish adequate facilitit
either to the railroad company or Il
shipping public, and the railroad col
pany thereupon indicated its desil
and willingness to enlarge, and NAL
reasonably adequate, its facilities
Ocala, and announced its readiness
purchase any and all properties tn
might be essential for the enlare
ment of such facilities, and the co