The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-03-10
1T BEGINS TO LOOK
LIKE AN AGREEMENT


1endent of the Atlantic Coast Line,
and Mr.. w z. Kay, one of the lead
ing attorneys for the system, were
in the city Monday, and met the city
council in a called meeting at the
council room Monday night.
Present were President C. w. Hun
ter, Aldermen NJ J. Roess, E. E.
Robinson, E. c. Bennett, and J. \.
Tolar, Messrs. Brand, Kay, r. A
Burford and two Star reporters.
The object OF the meeting was to
discuss the effect Of the ordinances
now before the city council, demand
ing the removal Of the Coast Lines
freight warehouse from Osceola ave-
nue., and paving part of the avenue,
and putting all of the crossings in
good shape.
The result of the meeting was
more encouraging than any held be-
tween The city and the railroad in a
long time Mr. Brand, who has
worked his way from the very bot
tom of the railroad ladder, seems to
be better aware Of the rights of the
people than his predecessor, who not
so many years ago told the council
that it could take what the Coast
Line chose to give 1t or do without.
On the other hand, the railroad men
found that the council knew what it
wanted and the members were stand.
ing together.
The result of the meeting was the
agreement of the railroad to send
engineers to Ocala to decide on the
best site for new freight ware
house to be built in the most prac-
ticable position for the business Of
the road and the convenience of the
city. 1t is probable that it will be
built on the company's lot south of
South Eighth street On the other
side, the council will delay the pend
ing ordinance one reading, and of
course if work begins it will not in
sist on any unreasonable hurry in
carrying it out.
The Star hopes this meeting will
be the beginning of better under
standing between the city and the
railroad.
Mr.. r. A. Burford, local counsel
for the road, said that the disagree
ment had worried him greatly. He
also said that if the Star, which has
been fighting the road steadily on
these points for the last two years,
would tell just what it wanted, the
road would grant it.
The Star is afraid Mr. Burford
promised more than the railroad is
willing TO perform. However, the
Star has never wanted anything un-
reasonable; also, it has not been try
ing 10 create sentiment against the
road. 1t has only expressed the SEN
timent the road has created by an
overbearing and treacherous policy.
The Atlantic Coast Line property
city is a part of the Coast Line sys-
tenn, and If the road will do it's part,
the two can work together for the
common good
The trouble is that the high Off
<cials of the road, riding around in
private cars, and seeing the town
mostly in maps and time tables, are
too far from the people and their
just grievances.
If Mr.. Brand would come to Ocala,
leave his car and get out of sight of
the right of way, and let somebody
who knows show him how We are try
ing to build up a nice town here, he
might help US instead Of opposing us.
If he looked over the ground, he
would understand why we don't want
a railroad yard in our residence sec
ton or a shabby warehouse in one
OF our principal streets. He might
look with us twenty years ahead and
the city We want to leave to our
children. He might understand thai
we are asking of his road less thar
we demand of our citizens. He
somewhat ashamed to know tina
such wretched things were on tn,
line of his road. He might stop gu
ON the Gainesville road when a lin,
OF freight cars at the track scale
has the crossing blocked, and reafiz
how irritating such a thing is to PEG
people of both the city and tn
county He might stand o.
the platform some time when No.
or SO arrive in a hard rain and fee