The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-10-14
BOARD OF Trade
Well Attended ard Interesting
Melting of the Commercial
Body


Friday night was the regular
monthly meeting night of the board
of trade. There were about fifteen
members present when the president
called the meeting to order, and the
number rapidly increased to twenty
five or more.
The question of Ocala making an
effort to secure the Masonic home and
orphanage was fully discussed, with
the result of committee of five be-
ing appointed to make Investigations
and get offers of contributions of land
or other things of value as induce
ments toward having the committee
from the grand lodge locate the insti-
tuition at Ocala.
Organization of the Central Florida
chamber of commerce was discussed.
No action taken.
Correspondence concerning the es-
tablishment of business college at
Ocala was brought before the meet
ing, as information, and the secretary
was instructed to handle the matter.
Committee appointed at the last
meeting Of the board to look into the
freight rate question, comparatively
between Oca1a and Jacksonville and
Gainesville and Jacksonville, for the
purpose of ascertaining whether any
Irregularities or discriminatory rates
existed, made its report showing that
the difference in freight rates was
due to greater mileage to Ocala and
that no discrimination was discern
able.
Secretary called attention to the
fact that he had received forty letters
asking for information, booklets, etc.,
from parties who had stated that the
name of the Ocala board of trade had
been seen in the Florida First adver-
tising, and that it was likely that a
good many more of the inquiries had
also secured our address from the
Florida First ads. who did not men
ton that fact.
Tampa's trade extension tour, its
objects, purposes, ETC., was taken up
and discussed at length. Some were
of the opinion that it would possibly
tend toward taking business that
might otherwise be given the whole
salers of 0cala, and that the merch-
ants and wholesalers of Ocala should
have their attention called to the tour
before this body takes any steps to-
ward getting meeting for the men
of the tour. A committee of one was
appointed to call on the 0cala mer-
chants and get their views and senti-
ments regarding Tampa's trade tour
and make report to the board before
taking further steps in the matter.
Owing to number of important
matters that will be coming up fre-
uenqtly during the winter, it was
moved and carried that during the
winter we have two meeting nights
each month, and the second and fourth
Friday nights were named as meeting
nights.
The question of making an effort to
get the delegates who attend the
farmers union at Palatka in Novem-
Der to come to Ocala was taken up
ard the importance of the opportunity
was forcibly brought to the attention
of the meeting. 0cala will have a
large delegation in Palatka during
the meeting in November for the pur-
pose of bringing them to Ocala. Spe-
cial low rates on the railroad have
been assured. The fair association
has and is giving its cooperation to
get the delegates here during the fair
Mr.. Barritt, president of the farmers
union, has assured us that he would
use his best efforts to assist US in the
matter, and it looks good for a big
crowd of the farmer delegates to be
headed this way.
The meeting was interesting and
several questions of Importance were
discussed.
Meeting adjourned at 1915.