The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-11-18

The Boosters" of Ocala met last
night in Yonge's building on Fort
King avenue, in response to the inyi-
tation sent out by Mr.. R. E. Yonge
the daddy" of the club. Possibly the
damp weather gave some cold feet
who would otherwise have attended
but for all of that there were twenty
real live boosters present and the
work of the evening proceeded.
Judge w. NJ. Gober was elected
chairman of the meeting and Mr.. J,
M. Thomas, secretary.
Upon being called on to state the
object of the meeting, Mr.. Yonge, in
a dozen words said that it was to
build railroad to Silver Springs
Judge Gober stated what he under
stood of the movement.
Considerable discussion followed
ways and means were discussed, ideas
advanced and a general discussion
followed to which most of those
present added something.
Mr.. Carmichael, Mr.. Thomas and
Mr.. Yonge gave some figures on the
cost of constructing a road from
Ocala to Silver Springs. They had
the price Of 35-Ib. rail per mile, de-
liyered at Ocala, and the cost of lay
ing it on level ground without grad
| ing. Mr.. Taylor was able to give the
price of crossties, so that it was
figured out that such road could be
built, probably including whatever
grading would be necessary, well
within $4,000 and for little more
than $4,000 or for S25, 900 at the
outside, an equipment of sufficient
rolling stock for present needs could
be bought. Mr. Seymour added some
valuable information, as did Col. Mar
tin, about right of ways, they having
each made up data on rights Of way
for different projects in the past and
in Mr.. Seymour's case three differ
ent routes had been laid out.
Many of those present thought the
road should parallel the boulevard,
using that right of way, and very lit
tie grading would be necessary. Yet
others thought it should be laid at
least a quarter of mile from the
boulevard, where land donations could
be secured TO greatly aid the enter
price.
On motion of Mr.. Meffert the name
of the club was adopted "The Ocala-
Silver Springs Boosters Club"
Mr.. Arthur Cobb thought that a
brick highway to the springs would
be worth far more to the city than
the railroad, but as this was digress-
ing and foreign to the object of the
meeting, Mr.. Cobb was promptly
knocked down and sat upon.
Mr.. David Welch gave some valu-
able information and with others,
spoke of the great increase in land
values that would follow the con
struction of the road.
Mr.. Martin thought that much
heavier rail should be figured on to
get recognition from the railroads in
the matter of lower freight rates that
we hope to obtain. Mr.. Thomas re-
piled that two-ton truck over a
lime boulevard had made them sit up
and take notice.
Mr.. Carmichael gave some tonnage
figures, based on what is now being
done by his boat line to the springs
and truck service to OcaIa, giving the
business at about 1900 tons an
nually. He said the road would pay,
from the very start, both is freight
and passenger earnings. Mr.. Carmi-
chael also gave the number of visitors
at the Springs during the past sum-
mer at over thousand on Sundays
and half as many on Thursdays, and
stated that this business had increas-
ed thousand per cent in one year
Plans to raise money, whether to
incorporate as an association or a
corporation for profit were discussed
and some committees appointed,
when the plans were all changed and
the spirit of the meeting branched
right off at a tangent and new and
entirely feasible plan was adopted.
Mr.. J. NJ. Mefert read part of his
recommendations to the city council
of year ago, in which he advocated
changing the charter of the city in
the Legislature, so that it could be
done, then bonding for sufficient
funds to build and equip a railroad,