The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-06-29
SITE Of STATION
MAY BE SHIFTED
High Official of the Seaboard i'm Con-
sultation With Council on the
Union Depot Matter

W. L. Sedden, assistant to the pres
ident of the Seaboard, came to Ocala
this afternoon with a special mes
sage from President Harrahan with
regard to the union station. Mr.. Sed-
den appeared before a called meeting
Of the city council at 2 o'clock and
said that President Harrahan regret
Ell exceedingly the dissatisfaction
over the station site, and had, since
the objections recently raised by coun-
Gil, made strenuous effort to obtain
from the H. B. Masters company,
through its president Mr.. Clark, in
New York, the site on the south side
of the Seaboard tracks, but without
avail. Mr.. Sedden stated that the
best offer obtained from Mr.. Clark
was a $4,000 bonus over and above
the present site of the station, which
cost the railroads about ST., 900.
Mr.. Sedden said that he was au-
thorized to say to the council that
the railroads would give the present
site of the station and bonus of S15,-
900 for a site on the south side of the
tracks. He said that he was ready to
stop work on the station, If such a
proposition could be put through.
Mr.. Sedden told council that Presi-
dent Harrahan had had the work on
the station slowed up, while the effort
was being made in New York to OBJ
tain the Masters site.
Asked by representative of the
i Star if the railroads would improve
the approach to the station on. its
present site, if retained, Mr.. Sedden
said that the approach would be paw
ed and parked. He told council that
the express company would erect a
building on the site, and spoke of a
restaurant. These buildings, or any
Iothers, he said would have to conform
to the specifications of the railroads
and be in keeping INTELLECTUALLY with
the station itself.
j 81 think when all the changes have
been made" said Mr.. Sedden, "you will
find that the result will not be so bad
las thought. We sincerely regret the
misunderstanding in the matter. We
realize that the facilities we provide
are to be used by you, and we want to
| do the right thing by YOU"
In answer to a question put by
Councilman Weathers, Mr.. Sedder
said that the station being built here
was better than any station in any
city of this size in Florida.
!. Councilman Weathers asked if there
had not been an offer to have board
fix a price on the Masters property
Mr.. Sedden said he knew of no propo
sition of the kind. It was then thai
he said that he would stop work now
if site on the south side of the
!: tracks can be obtained in exchange
J for the present site and a bonus OF
SIS 900.
u President Nash at once talked tt
: Mr.. B. A. Weathers, vice president OF
the Masters company, on the phone
! and Mr.. Weathers said he would com,
. to the city hall to discuss the matter
Further discussion brought out the
fact that the $4,000 would be put vi
by the Seaboard alone. It was stated
5 that if the Atlantic Coast Line would
Put up $4,000 the deal could be pu
through. The Coast Line, it wa
stated, refused to put up this amount
$ taking the position that the moving
Of the station would not effect its roat
to that extent. As the Star goes tt
press the matter is still being dis
! cussed, and it seems entirely possible
S that the change in the site of tn,
q station will be made.
Il