The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-03-06
THE CITY OF OCALA
VERSUS
THE ATLANTIC COAST LIN


sition to close several of the streets
OF Ocala in order. so he says, that the
railroad may erect a larger freight de-
pot and make other improvements.
Mr. Burford is one OF the leading
men in his profession in the state. 1t
is by no means to his discredit, it is
entirely his duty, that he makes the
best argument possible for his client.
1t is his misfortune and not his fault
that he makes such a faulty argument.
He is arguing on the wrong side. If
he spoke for the city of ocaIa instead
OF for the Atlantic Coast Line, he
could make an argument that would
be impregnable As Mr.. Burford is on
the wrong side of the question, the ed
Itor OF the Star. who has not a hum
dredeth of Mr.. Burford's legal lore. and
would be proud If he had just claim
to half as much intellect, sees no trou-
BILE in tearing Mr.. Burford's argument
into doll rags.
Thru Mr. Burford's article runs the
Inference, supported in some places by
almost direct allegation. that the Star
has a grudge against the Coast Line,
and seeks to arouse public prejudice.
1t would be quite as just for the Star
to say that Mr. Burford is trying to
sell the rights of his fellow citizens to
the corporation We shall not do so,
for we respect Mr. Burford's position
as a counsel, as well as his character
as a man, and we hope that in future
argument he will respect the position
of a newspaper that stands up for the
rights of the people without any pay
except their approval
1t will be observed that Mr.. Burford
does not explain, let alone defend. the
action of a high official of tho A. c. L.,
who some years ago told the members
OF the city council, in the presence of
several citizens, that they could either
accept his terms as to closing the
streets, or take just such service as
the railroad chose to give them He
does not say why ordinance after or
dinance to that effect has been gum
shoed to council after council, giving
everybody acquainted with the matter
the impression that the railroad was
waiting for a council that it could
dupe or bully--or buy. This idea did
not originate with the Star. 1t was
expressed by members of the council
and by other welI-informed citizens
many times before the Star referred
to 1t. Mr. Burford says the members
Of this and preceding councils know
absolutely that this charge is without
foundation. Mr.. Burford evidently
didn't consult all the members he re-
fers, to, or perhaps some of then
didn't want to hurt his feelings, but
the way their committee reported the
ordinance without recommendation
and then let 1T lay under table, might
have spoken to him louder than words
Mr.. Burford is entirely satisfied
from the standpoint of a citizen o.
OcaIa, interested in it's progress ant
development, that it would inf1ict nj
injury whatever upon any individual
property owner, and would redount
greatly to the development and pros
perity OF the city at large"
Mr.. Burford lives in a fine, larg'
residence on Fort King avenue, almos
a mile from any railroad. If he wa
one Of the less fortunate citizens who's
window panes are daily dimmed by tn
smoke of the engines, he would view
the matter in another light.
Mr.. Burford explains the failure o
the railroad to keep it's promise mad
in 1904 to move it's present depot on
of Osceola avenue in consideration o
the council allowing it to close Soutl
Fourth street by saying it was mad
perfectly apparent to every REASONABLE
and sensible person that a mere re
moval OF the old depot to an adjacen
site would not furnish adequate facili
ties either to the railroad company o
tbs shipping public"
The Star doesn't think Mr. Burfor,
can produce any reasonable and sensi
BILE person outside of the railroad EN-
xryhN -
matter.
Once upon a time, a man made
contract, and found when the tim
came for him to fulfill 1t that he couI
only do so at considerable loss to him
self, which said loss, he not having tn
resources of a great railroad corpora
ton, meant a heavy financial burden
to him. And he went to Mr. Burfor,
and showed him the circumstances
and asked him If he could not withou
wrong to the other party, and in jus
tice TO himself, obtain some alteration
of the terms And Mr.. Burford replied
"a contract is a contract" and tn
man took heed to Mr. Burford. an,
carried out his contract, tho it COS
him many a hard earned dollar to d.
so.
It's a lawyers business to show al
ordinary individual that he canno
break a contract, and to advise
wealthy corporation how it can; so w
must not blame Mr.. Burford for hi
seeming Inconsistency.
The railroad company, composed o
reasonable and sensible men, and abb
to employ the most competent OF en-
gineers. made a contract with the cit.
OF Ocala, nine years ago, in considera
tion of the use OF a little used stree
to remove its depot out of a much need
ed avenue The railroad has had tn
use of the street for over eight years
The city has not yet the use of il
avenue. "a contract is a contract,
Mr. Burford. Your railroad has broker
it's contract If it won't keep is wor,
In regard to a little matter. what RICH
has Il to ask the city TO believe it in
sreater-one?
There is little use in Mr. Burfor,
telling any reasonable and sensibl
man that the A. c. l. could not hav
used it's own land for its depot a
well as the site it has used since i
bought the property AS a matter o
fact. the railroad did for several year
keep its freight office in the old BIO,
factory on the corner of South Third
and the only reason why it didn't bulk
as good or a better warehouse adjoin
ing it, according to its promise whel
it secured the use of South Fourtl
street, was because it was lookinl
ahead for another grab. and though
it could in the meantime disregard it
promise with impunity.