The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-12-02
TO CUT FREIGHT RATES IN TWO

At the meeting of business men at,
the Board of Trade room Tuesday
night, Mr.. C. ED Carmichael made
the most solid and practical PROPOSE
ton to secure better freight rates
for this city that has yet been sub
mitted.
As has been noted in previous issues
of this paper, Mr.. Carmichael has
built and put on the river, to ply be-
tween Ocala, Palatka and Jackson
willie, the biggest and swiftest freight
boat, the G. A. Carmichael, that has
ever been built on this line. This
boat arrived Tuesday at Silver
Springs, having made the trip from
Jacksonville, 80 miles or more up
stream, in twenty-five hours, includ-
ing stops.
When the meeting of the Ocala
Transportation Co. was called to
order Tuesday night by the president,
Mr.. Carmichael, about forty of our
business men were present.
Mr.. Carmichael explained that he
had tested his freight boat and found
he could cut the freight rate in half,
and that the meeting was called to
suggest to the business men of Ocala
that if they would give him the as
surance of their support he would be
willing to give the use of his boat
and also operate another boat which
the city of Ocala would purchase.
Mr.. F. E. Harris asked what the
result would be after this plan was in
operation if the railroads reduced
freight rates. Would business men
be bound to continue with Mr.. Car
michael.
Mr.. Carmichael: Absolutely no."
Mr.. Harris: "Then this is not for
personal gain, but to reduce the
freight rate to the business men of
Ocala."
Mr.. Carmichael: at is not for per
sonal gain, but to get better rates"
Mr.. Harris '"Then in that case Mr..
Carmichael is to be commended"
Mr.. Hooker said he had been talk
ing with Mr.. Carmichael and explain
ed that as he understood it Mr.. Car
michael would put on his boat, but
did not care to go to the expense OF
another boat; if the city would fur
nish the other boat he would agree .c
run both boats and cut the freight in
half, but did not want to pay interest
on money invested in a boat or pay
rent for same.
Mr.. Carmichael said: 81 will fur
nish one boat if Ocala will furnish
the other and cut rates in half
freight laid down at Silver Springs
and furnish agents at both ends Of
the lire, and when the railroad com.
panies come to the rates will tie both
boats up, for all I am working fol
is reduction in freight rates."
Mr.. McIver: 81 have seen lots o.
things started in Ocala and go down
and ] would like to see it proved oui
before go into it."
: Mr.. Carmichael: "Mr. McIver,
will turn my boat over to you and tn,
city will get boat and turn over t,
: you, if you will manage them and Gu
: the freight rate in two"
! Mr.. McIver: mo; / am not in tn
: freight business and l haven't a rive
|, to haul it over"
: Mr.. Carmichael: Neither have ]
3 for the river belongs to the govern
: ment, but will turn this over to an
5 business man or any set of men, an
: turn my boat over to them in tn
h same way the city turns its over,
S they will reduce the freight rate b
half. If the merchants of Ocala wan
cheaper freight rates, here it is fo
It you and if you don't want it, lay
= down. Again, l say I will turn owe
+ to any merchant or set of merchant
4 my boat if they will do what l hay
n offered to do. And the only conce
it sion / would want is that | would M
s, want to pay interest on the none