The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-08-31
OCALA MUST FIGHT
HER OWN WAY OUT
SHE IS IN THE POSITION Of A BECIEGED CITY
IN THE OkLAWAHA RIVER, HOWEVER, SHE HAS AN ADEQUATE
FREIGHT INLET AND OUTLET

Ocala, in the center of what is con-
ceded to be the richest agricultural
county in Florida, is being crushed by
freight rates. 1t is in the position of
a besieged city. Jacksonville on the
north, and Tampa on the south, each
with deep water, are the controlling
factors in the freight rate situation,
and Ocala, half way between the two
ports, is being pushed" from both
directions.
Commodities brought into OcaIa
take rates from their points of origin
to Jacksonville, or Tampa, plus the
local rates from either of those two
points to this city; with the result
that the merchants of Jacksonville and
Tampa, and of the cities between, can
compete with, and even undersell. the
merchants of Ocala in Ocala territory.
They can undersell Ocala in OcaIa.
Nor is the responsibility for this sit
uation to be placed on the railroads or
the railroad commission The same
situation obtains in other states.
Ocala is responsible for the serious
position in which she is placed. She
cannot expect help from those who
are attempting to take such rich COM
merclal territory as this IS. The rail-
roads and railroad commission must,
if they are fair, remain neutral toward
ALL Ocala must fight her own way
out-and she has waterway to the
Atlantic, the same means given to
Jacksonville and Tampa to obtain
their advantage.
The railroads and the railroad COM
mission have shown a disposition,
lately at least, to grant exceptions to
the shippers of this city, where excep-
tions were justified. Special rates
were granted, for example, to the
Ocala Knitting Mill on its products.
This mill, however, is the only one of
its kind in the state. Some relief has
been obtained from the through rate
on flour and grain recently establish
ed.
With the exceptions, made because
of volume or for like reasons, the gen
eral fact remains that the merchants
of Jacksonville and Tampa, and of
towns and cities between, can success
fully compete with, and undersell, the
merchants of this city in this city's
territory; and, in order to do any bus
mess at all, the merchants of Ocala
must rely on quick delivery, on per-
sonality, and smaller profits, not one
of which is invulnerable.
AS for the use of the water trans
portation, it has been demonstrated
that a cooperative freight line, op-
Grated on a sound business basis, will
cut rates considerably, and in so doing
pay for itself in short time. This
cut in rates must have effect on rail
rates. 1t has had effect in the case of
cities situated as Ocala is. Leesburg
realizes this, and is working hard for
the development of the Oklawaha
river.
A freight line on the rivers, between
Ocala and Jacksonville, would reduce
rates, not only, but would give the
merchants an opportunity to cover a
greater field, reduce prices, and in
crease their profits.
There has been much said of late
about Gainesville taking trade from
Oeala. There is no reason why Ocala
should have better rates than, nor
even as good as Gainesville, if the river
is not a factor. Gainesville is over 40