The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-07-29

days issue does not correctly lay the
matter before our people, in that
you say il will result in the loss of
much travel that comes from the
northern and western portions OF
Alachua county. This is hardly TO
be expected, as there is no material
change on trains from that direction,
and we fail 10 see by what method
you figure out a prospective loss. The
schedule provides for the Wilcox
an hour earlier and leaving about
one and one-half hours later than the
schedule now existing. The same OPP
portunity to come TO Gainesville is
and no right of the people in the
northern and western part of Alach-
ua county is invaded. On the face
of it, it will be inconceivable that
any business organization or set of
business men in Gainesville would
attempt to enforce a schedule that
would inconvenience trade from the
west or north.
The proposed schedules seek pri-
marily to provide easy and conyen-
lent means of travel between Palat-
ka, Ocala, Gainesville, and points in
termediate, and in addition, to pro-
vide ways for the people of Alachua
and Marion counties to reach beach
resorts in our own state. Briefly,
the proposed schedule will effect
Gainesville to this extent:
1t preserves one of our existing
and quite satisfactory schedules from
the north, west and south.
1t adds to our trade territory all
of the points between Rochelle and
Palatka, and makes it possible for
the people in the east end of. our own
county to come and see us and to
trade with US; provided we carry a
larger variety Of merchandise than
they can find at home. Under the
existing schedules this territory can
not by any possible means be called
our own, because we are not within
convenient reach of those people.
The proposed schedule does enable
Ocala to compete on an even footing
with Gainesville for the trade be-
tween Rochelle and Ocala, situa-
ton that few, if any, can view with
alarm or regret. Our own view of the
matter of this kind is just this: the
community or mercantile establish
ment that cannot compete on an
even footing has absolutely no ex-
cuse for existence; instead of being
creators of wealth, they are in that
class that must have subsidies in
order to drag along, and they never
get far.
The proposed schedule will make
it possible for Gainesville to hold
the fifty odd travelling statesmen and
their families who reside here now,
and will very likely add to that
colony.
Mr.. Brand and Mr.. Macarthur, Of
ficials of the Atlantic Coast Line,
we're invited and urged to participate
in the conferences when the pros and
cons of this matter we're discussed.
Both declined, and not until the Pa
latka hearing did they suggest any
relief Mr.. Brand, general superin-
tendent, admitted in his argument
before the commissioners that the
present schedule was inadequate and
that it did not satisfactorily serve
the people who pay the bills. They
graciously admitted that the sched-
ules proposed were gotten up in the
interest of the people, and did serve
them, but based his objections on
added cost of operation solely. The
Atlantic Coast Line officials were too
sagacious to attempt a denial of our
allegations, and contented them
selves with the special pleading of
expense-that alone.
AS a matter of fact, the Florida
railroads view our train service from
! the angle of how schedules on local
trains affect through travel; the peo-
pie who pay the bills every day in
the year have a right to expect local
schedules that will enable them to
conveniently do the necessary trav-
cling between their neighboring
cities.
And would it not be we'll in con.
sidering the petition against the pro
posed addition to our trade territory
to bear in mind and give due weigh
as to where this petition was borr
and what it seeks to prevent?
Respectfully,
w. B. Taylor
B. F. Williamson.
George P. Long.
F. NJ. Runnels.