The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-03-07

lie thoroughfares.
It is easy for critics, and those who
may have personal grievances against
the \. c. l. R. R. Co to engage in vii
ification. vituperation and abuse.
have attempted in this article TO avoid
this line Of argument, but | cannot re-
Train from saying that if those who
are writing under nom de plume, and
those who are proposing to pay ad-
vertising rates for publications of a
vituperative and antagonistic charac-
Ter will reveal their names to the gen.
eral public it may be made apparent
that such persons are actuated by pri-
rate grievances rather than by any
desire TO serve the public interests.
I do not mean to criticize the Even
ing Star in its editorial policy, but it
IS a we'll known fact that the building
occupied. and. I suppose. owned by
the Evening Star, is located on Osce-
ola street, and it no doubt suffers an
noyance and inconvenience by the
noise Of passing trains, smoke emitted
.herefrom, etc. The public, however,
viii bear in mind that the Evening
star purchased the property long aft
r the railroad company was located
md in operation, and its owners knew
)f the Inconvenience that it would be
subjected to when such purchase and
Improvements were made. The Even
Nc Star and others may think that BY
unreasonable criticism and agitation
uch a public sentiment can be Great
d that the railroad company may be
constrained to remove its tracks from
Osce0la street entirely, thereby per-
hitting them 20 reap the benefit of
ne changed conditions If any such
/ dea prevails. anyone entertaining
ame should bear in mind that the
,ity of Ocala has offered every rea-
enable inducement to industrial en-
erprises. and IN response to such in
lucements various Industrial enter
rises adding largely TO the growth
nd prosperity of Ocala, have been
naugurated and established along the
Inc Of the A. c. L. r. r Co, through
ne city OF Ocala, as at present locat-
ID. and that entirely regardless of
What the railroad company might be
Wiling to do. these various industrial
Enterprises would never consent to
he abandonment OF its track through
| ne city OF 0caIa; and it is entirely
unreasonable for anyone to advance
N argument based upon that theory
II idea.
! In writing this I wish it distinctly
! Understood that it is in my personal
| apacity as a citizen of OcaIa. some
| That acquainted with the existing
conditions and entirely responsible
| or the form of every ordinance that
las been introduced relating to the
! extension of the A. c. L. railroad facil-
| ties in Ocala. and the various modi-
| ications made from time to time, in
rider to meet every criticism and OBJ
ection that could be reasonably urg-
! a.
! | may be in error, and some may
iay l am an enemy to the city in
! which live, but my judgment is that
| he Improvements as contemplated
| Till add more generally TO the pros
)erity of our city than any that has
been suggested, and that such i'm
royements will not hurt or injure
! single property owner in Ocala, but,
| IpOn the contrary. will enhance the
! value of his property if it is contigu-
GUS to the territory mentioned. and
will, without doubt, in the mind of
my reasonable person, rebound TO the
great general benefit and interest of
he public at large.
In conclusion, l 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
ricle of complaint, and the parties who
are complaining. so far as their names
have been revealed. have either an in
/ dividual interest TO be subseryed, are
misinformed, or are possessed OF
some private grievance. which is be-
/ ing INDUCED in TO the prejudice OF the
general public
There's a great deal more that I
would like to say upon this subject.
but it is apparent that the whole field
cannot be covered without trespass-
I ing upon the time and space of the
editor who kindly consented to pub
! lish what I may write in reply to those
who have so severely criticised the
pending ordinance I hesitated to
make any reply, for l realized that,