The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-07-06
IRON WORKS WILL
REMAIN IN OCAlA

hOSI InEOhl3NI btSINEEoo III
CISION IN MONTHS-IMNIENS
FIRE PROOF BUILDING TO BE
ERECTED.
A business decision that means a
great deal to Ocala that has been
hanging in the balance for several
weeks, was only decided this morn
/ ing.
/ Ever since the great fire that de-
Istroyed its huge machine shop build
ling and put on the junk or scrap
heap every machine and piece OF
material in the building, it has been
an even break whether the Ocala
Iron Works would be rebuilt and
continued here as an Ocala enter
prise, or would be moved TO some
other point. There were several
places discussed and all kinds Of in
| ducements were offered the company
| to move, notably Dunnellon and
Lakeland. Tampa and Jacksonville
were also considered. The stock
holders were divided on the matter
of the removal and it has taken all
this time to decide.
The matter was only definitely de-
/ cided at a meeting of the directors
this morning, and all announcements
prior to this that the company would
remain in OcaIa have been prema-
ture and without authority. Mr..
George MacKay, the president, and
one OF the heavy stockholders of the
company, together with his partner,
Mr.. d. z. McIver, told Star report
er Saturday that the matter would
be definitely decided this morning,
decision was favorable to Ocala, and
the big enterprise will be with us in
the future. larger, more modern
than ever.
Mr.. c. E. Simmons, the manager
IIspent a month in the machinery cen
tiers Of the East some time since, and
bought most Of the equipment for
the new plant, but it could not be
shipped till the location was fixed.
This machinery was ordered out
this morning by telegraph, and will
be coming in as rapidly as the facto-
ries can make delivery.
The new building will be commence
ed at once. 1t will occupy the site
of the burned building, and will be
60x16O feet. The floors will be Of
solid concrete, and the walls of
brick, with liberal openings, ike
modern factories are constructed,
which openings will be supplied steel
sash and blinds The roof will be of
iron, so that there will be absolutely
nothing to burn and the plant will be
housed in a fireproof structure. The
foundations for all of the heavier
machines will be made extra heavy,
built into the floor as the work pro-
crosses.
The rebuilding of the Iron Works
and placing of the machinery will
give employment to a great many
people, and when it is ready for the
n opening, full crew will be employ
ed, for the orders have been accumu-
dating and business will be lively
1 there
This company has one of the best
sites in the country for their plant
Right on the railroad with track into
their building, ample room and
slightly elevated above the surround
ing country. The directors will take
a great deal of pride in the modern
home for their business, and will
! have the satisfaction of knowing that
this portion of it, at least, will new
er burn.
The Star feels mighty proud that
the Ocala Iron Works will be re-
built in Ocala, it would have been a
sad piece of business news for us to
have chronicled it's removal to an
other city and indeed, would have
been almost calamity.
With modern building; the very
latest improved machinery that it is
possible to procure, operated by in
diyidual motors; and the profiting
over the experiences of the past few
years, the plant should and we be-
lieye, will make money for its stock
holders, and Mr.. Simmons the man
ager is going to devote his life to
that end.