The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-03-07
THE PENDING
RAILROADOR-
DINANCE
To the Public

To fhe Public:
have read the various articles in
the local press. and the editorial COM
meut. from tine 70 time. of the Even
Ing star. regarding the ordinance now
pending before the city council of
Oeaia. VITA reference to the addition
81 facilities 20 be afforded the A c. L.
Railroad Com any in connection with
SIS freight depot and terminals in
Oca.a as 40 present located.
= feel Justified, in view OF the va
rious publications. in making plain
statement Of the facts, without Wifi
cation. vituDeration or abuse. so far
a. ms relations as division counsel of
the A C. L. r. r. Co, and as a citizen
81 Ocala. Interested in its progress
and Development, are concerned.
The last proposed ordinance has
furnished an opportunity for those
who may have private grievances
aea ast tho Atlantic Coast Line Rail-
road Company TO vent the same 10 the
utmost limit. ana it has also afforded
an opportunity for any and all writ
ers. by nom de plume and otherwise
70 express themselves as to the
great outrage" which the railroad
company is seeking to perpetrate
upon the public.
rs division counsel for the A. c. L.
Railroad Company. | drafted the or
pending before the coun-
eli. as a substitute for any and all 9th
81 ordinances that may have been
heretofore introduced on the subject,
and ia drafting the pending ordinance
I attempted, so far as ! could, not
on,y as counsel for the railroad COM
pa brt as a citizen of Ocala. TO re-
move every reasonable objection
which could have been urged against
the ordinances heretofore submitted.
rrom published articles. editorial
or ofhergls in the Evening Star, the
Inference IS sought to be made that
the a G L. r. r Co, is seeking some
undue advantage and that it has been
abiding It's time. and presenting new
ordinances from time 10 time as the
city council may be changed in its
menb ship The members of the
CITY council as now existing. and the
former members know absolutely
that this charge is without the slight
est founda ion. and that any changes
thar NAV have been made from time
% time IN the ordinances as introduc-
~ were for the purpose of meeting
any objections that might be reasona-
bis urged. and to meet existing stu
atoms 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
reg8rding the extension Of railroad
facilities as contemplated and every
new ordinance has been prepared and
introduced TO meet any and all objec-
t.onable 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
prepared and submitted to meet every
objection that had been previously
urCed. so far as the writer of this ar
ticle IS infoEned. and while its pass
age De the form as introduced will
necessarily prevent the railroad com
pany from carrying out the scheme
cas- originally contemplated. l am en-
trolv satisfied from the standpoint OF
CITIZEN Of Ocala interested in its
progress and development. that il
oHd .nfict no injury whatever upon
avs individual property owner, and
No.d rebound greatly to the develop
ard prosperity Of the city al
larer
Tile ordinance as first introduced
contemplated the establishment and
maintenance Of extensive yards in the
c.y o' Ocala furnishing facilities fol
tae erection OF repair shops. and max
ing Ocaia. by reason of such facili
tes the initial point for the starting
and terminus OF trains, as conditions
miEh. warrant.
10 q recent edition Of the Star
there was an article signed Cum
min and Coin under a flaming head
line. Corporation Has Failed to Keey
lfs Contract in which reference i:
made to an old ordinance passed il
1904, which related solely to the re
moval OF the old depot from its pres
ent location 10 en- immediate adjacent
location. When this ordinance was
passed there was no other idea in
view; but when the question was TAX