The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-03-06

In Mr. Hilands' Office in this city
are great many maps, plats and
data of the preliminary surveys. The
route of the railroad has been careful
ly laid out by engineers who, them
selves, have been over the ground
and know it to be feasible and the
best one to adopt. The preliminary
maps the Star reporter went over
with Mr. Hilands and knows them to
be authentic.
Mr.. Hilands has associated with
him men Of great influence in the fl
nancial world, with their millions be-
hind them. They have known him
for wears and have implicit confidence
in his ability and integrity. A good
many of these people have visited the
proposed roads terminals and are per
fectly willing to back the enterprise
with their capital.
1t will require over two millions of
dollars to complete the road with its
docks and terminals and the money is
available for the work from eastern
and Chicago capitalists.
The engineering end of the work is
in charge of Mr.. w. B. Clay of Ar
cadia, said to be the most experienced
civil engineer in Florida and certain
Iy possessed of the best knowledge of
the southern portion of the state. Mr..
Clay has two engineer assistants with
him and is getting together his crew
of men. Mr.. Clay has tramped over
81 counties of the state and has made
and had published large maps of these
counties from his own and govern
ment surveys, and there are few places
in these counties that he or his as
sistants have not seen.
On the goth of this month, Mr.. Clay,
with his assistant engineers and sur
veying crew, will start out on the
permanent survey from Fort Myers
He will have 20 men, three double
mule teams and all camp and survey
equipment that is necessary. Bases
of supplies will be provided along the
route as the work progresses and the
survey will be pushed as rapidly as
possible. He expects to have the
work completed in two months OF
three at the outside, and will make
most elaborate profile maps and from
his detailed reports the contracts car
be let for the actual construction Of
the road, for the condition of every
yard of the route, the material under
foot, the grades and fills, the water
encountered, etc., will be shown.
The route decided on for the roaC
and the survey will be from Fort My
ers, almost due south to Naples anC
Marco Bay, thence straight across TIL
state, east, two-thirds of the distanc,
and then taking southeasterly direc
ton to Miami, a total distance of 15'
miles.
Mr. Hilands and his associates hav,
already spent many thousands of dol
lars on preliminary surveys, rights o
way and terminals and have been a
work on the matter for eight or tel
months, so that they know thoroughly
what is to be done, and propose to d
it.
Through the section the road wi
pass, to show the vast interests tina
have investments there, two com
panies alone own over a million an
a quarter acres of land, timbered wit
pine and cypress, and the timber ha
not been touched as yet. These CON
, panies have gladly given the right c
: way for the railroad and, in fact, eN
cry other land owner along the rout
has welcomed the project and very Iii
II tie difficulty was experienced in secul
ing the right of way. This right {
way is now completed from coast
coast and the people whose propert
it will touch realize that it will el
nance the value of their real estat
many fold.
At Fort Myers there is now a goo
harbor and reasonable depth of waite
At Marco Bay, one of the oldest ira
ing points on the coast, with ric
country surrounding, there is ma
y ural harbor, unsurpassed in the stat
u large enough to float the battleshil
81 of a nation and give them maneuve
ing room, with from % to 80 feet
water and II feet over the bar at 10
tide. A small appropriation f
dredging and jetty work and the lar
q est ship can come over the bar al
right up to the terminals of the roa
A spur road will also be built fro
I'd Fort Myers southwest to Punta Rass
the oldest cattle shipping point in t
state from which cattle were shipp
to Cuba a hundred years ago and st
an important point for this gre
South Florida industry, as well as +
"A fruit and vegetables.
From this point south, some Of t
country IS swampy but tens of tho
sand cf acres are available for cul
walton and very fertile; much of I
swamp land is denseIy timbered wi
cypress, only awaiting transportati'
facilities. At Miami every eHcourag
ment and inducement should be Civ
the enterprise and the road shou
have most desirable terminals. T.
advent of this new translate ra
road will mean great things for t
Mao-ic Ci+v and will nav IN rasaurc