The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-09-16
IS SETTING A
GOOD EXAMPLE
Mr.. Hall Takes a Cheerful View of
Business and Industrial
Matters

n
reporter, Mr.. Richard S. Hail, one of |
Ocala's anu Florida's most substantial |
citizens and business men, expressed |
himself in a most optimistic manner |
about the business prospects for this
section of the state.
Mr.. Hall said that it is very much |
to be regretted that several OF the
large phosphate plants in this terri
tory have seen fit to close their plants
without any previous notice to their
hundreds of employees. He thinks
that the loyalty with which many of
the men, both white and colored,
have laiboGed for these concerns
should have gained for them better
treatment at this time He believes
that they could with very little in
convenience operate these plants ON
reduced time, and in this way keep
their organizations together, for the
time when their products are bound
TO be in great demand, which is sure
to follow the great European war
now in progress.
Mr.. Halls plan in his enterprises
where he employs free Tree labor has been
to reduce the wages of his employees
temporarily and in this manner keep
together his forces, as he considers it
better policy to operate for a short
time without profit than have his en-
tire organization destroyed. He says
aside from a humanitarian stand
point he thinks this is the wisest
course to pursue, as it can only he
few months at the longest when these
men who are NOW being discharged
promiscuously and turned out into
the road, as lit were, will be sought
for in the REIMBURSEMENT of affairs.
Mr. Hall is heartily in favor of the
plan suggested in the Star several
days ago to turn the present condi-
tion to good account by building
good roads over our county. BY do
ing this inc county commissioners
can save the county many thousands
of dollars and at the same time meet
a condition that there is no denying
exists to a greater or less extent
throughout the state on account of
the closing down of rnnay of the
large public enterprises, especially in
the phosphate section.
He says that he believes the pres
ent conditions brought on entirely by
the European war will prove bless
ing in disguise to Florida and the
whole country. Heretofore we have
sold our naval stores IN Europe.
Since the European TROUBLES started
some weeks ago a market has been
found in South America for a consid-
cradle G55GGl7tiion of the present supply
Of rosin, and a large shipment was
made there three days ago. He be-
Iieves that the United States will In
the future manufacture millions of
dollars worth of goods that in the
past have always been Imported from
Europe And the thing that makes
this importation of these items look
more ridiculous is the fact that the
raw material for many of them is
shipped from this country. In fact,
we Americans, like Jones, ''pay the
freight" both ways and scramble TO
get the goods.
| Mr.. Hall has not closed any of his
enterprises but says he is conserving
his mater.is.fs as much as possible and
has reduced his running expenses TO
the minimum in every Instance.
| Present conditions" said Mr..
Hall cannot last long, and when
business does resume Florida will
come to the front in a manner that
will be surprising TO even the most
optimistic. .
Mr.. Halls opinion IS particularly
lworth having at a time like this. He
us not II the least given to whistline
to keep up his spirits as he passes
Thru a graveyard, or to boosting with
superheated atmosphere, but is Z
careful as we'll as enterprising bust
ness man, who always proves hi:
. faith by his works. The way he Il
) standing by his employees and various
! undertakings is splendid exampl'
, TO faint-hearted men, and one of tn
> greatest services man can do hi
: friends and the entire community.