The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-03-06

ola street, and il no doubt suffers an
noyance and inconvenience by the |
noise of passing trains. smoke emitted
therefrom, etc. The public, however,
viii bear in mind that the Evening
Star purchased the property long aft
er the railroad company was located
and in operation. and its owners knew
of the inconvenience that it would be
subjected to when such purchase and
improvements were made. The Even
ing Star and others may think that by
unreasonable criticism and agitation
such public sentiment can be Great
ed that the railroad company may be
constrained to remove its tracks from
Oseeola street entirely, thereby per-
uniting them to reap the benefit of
the changed conditions. IL any such
idea prevails, anyone entertaining
same should bear in mind that the
city of Ocala has offered every rea-
sonable indueement to industrial en-
terprises, and in response TO such in
ducements various industrial enter
prises, adding largely to the growth
and prosperity of Ocala, have been
inaugurated and established along the
line of the A. c. L. R. r. Co, through
the city of Ocala, as at present loeat-
ed, and that entirely regardless of
what the railroad company might be
willing to do, these various industrial
enterprises would never consent to
the abandonment of its track through
the city of Ocala; and it is entirely
unreasonable for anyone to advance
an argument based upon that theory
or idea.
In writing this / wish it distinctly
understood that it is in my personal
capacity as a citizen of Ocala, some
what acquainted with the existing
conditions and entirely responsible
/ for the form of every ordinance that
has been introduced relating to the
extension of the A. c. L. railroad facil-
tiles in 0cala, and the various modi-
order to meet every criticism and OBJ
lection that could be reasonably urg-
ed.
i | may be in error, and some may
which l live, but my judgment is that
the improvements as contemplated
will add more generally to the pros
perity of our city than any that has
been suggested. and that such i'm
provements will not hurt or injure a
single property owner in Ocala, but,
upon the contrary, will enhance the
value of his property if it is contigu-
will, without doubt, in the mind of
any reasonable person, rebound to the
great general benefit and interest of
the public at large.
In conclusion, respectfully call at
tention to this, that so far as heard
from, there is no property owner in
the near vicinity of the contemplated
Improvements who has raised one par
ticle of complaint, and the parties who
are complaining, so far as their names
have been revealed, have either an in
dividual interest to be subserved, are
misinformed, or are possessed of
some private grievance, which is be-
ing INDUCED in to the prejudice of the
4 general public
i There's a great deal more that /
would like to say upon this subject,
but it is apparent that the whole field
cannot be covered without trespass-
ing upon the time and space of the
editor who kindly consented to pub
lish what l may write in reply to those
who have SO severely criticised the
pending ordinance. / hesitated to
make any reply, for l realized that,
from prejudiced standpoint all a
critic would have to do, whether his
own name or that of nom de plume
would be signed, would be to say that
this is an article by an attorney for
the railroad company.
| invite the general public to read
what | have had to say from the
standpoint of my attitude as citizen
of the city, as much interested in its
advancement and development as any
man who sees proper to write by way
of criticism under nom de plume or
otherwise.
/ 1t is an easy thing to criticise and
indulge in vilification and abuse, espe-
cially if the critic is laboring under
some grievance, either real or fancied
or under a Misrepresentation of facts
Respectfully,
! r. A. BURFORD.
ARE YOU COySTIpATFn