The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-09-16
STAR STIRRED THEM UP SOME


to a special meeting of the CONNER
cial body that will be called as soon
as the report is ready.
DR.. Chace said it appeared to be
quite evident that there is something
very wrong in the conditions that OBJ
tain. He thought that there should
be an investigation, and that, should
the investigation warrant it, the
board of trade, as the proper organi-
cation to do so, should undertake to
put things right. DR.. Chace said
that he believed the Star was actuated
solely by good motives, and he
thought it probable that the stimulous
given by the recent articles in the
Star was needed,
The concensus of opinion expressed
at the meeting was that the Ottawa
ha river, and the development of nav
igation thereon, is the key to Ocala's
freight rate problem. 1t was stated
that the amount of freight brought
up the river last winter had been felt.
Mr.. David S. WEIGH said that with the
proper cooperation the freight line
between Jacksonville and Ocala could
be made a success.
Mr.. Arthur C. Cobb called attention
to the articles that have appeared in
the Star, and began the discussion Of
them. He thought the statements as
to Gainesville encroaching on the ter
ritory of the Ocala merchants bad
advertising for Ocala. Mr.. Cobb
thought, however,, that the board of
trade should look into the matter. Mr.,
Cobb, Col. Rogers and Mr.. B. II. Sey-
mour followed Mr.. Cobb's broaching
of the subject, byssaying that Sea ISL
and cotton is bringing lower price
in Ocala than it is in Gainesville, Live
Oak, Lake ButleE Raiford and other
places north of here. Sea Island cot
ton, it was said, is selling for 9, 912
and 10 cents in the towns and cities
named, as against cents in Ocala.
Editor Frank e. Harris, of the
Banner, thought that Marion county
people living north of this city go te
Gainesville because of more conven
lent train service. ut was stated thai
just as convenient service is main
tanned into Ocala.
i Mr.. Harris said that the abandon
ment of the boat liz was the yer!
worst thing for the kity.
i Mr.. Hilbert Weathers did not thinl
that the facts justified the Statement
that Gainesville is taking so mucl
business from the Merchants of Ocala
He said that his firm the II. B. Mas
tiers company, got business from Mic
, anopy, which is in gainesville terri
/ tory. He referred. p the publishes
article about Marion county farme
buying wire fencing from Gainesville
having it shipped toIone of the sta
5 tons between this city and that, an,
: then hauling it in wagon five miles
. and saving money! Mr.. Weather
thought it probable That the wire wa
bought in large lpt and the buye
obtained a lower price in that way
Mr.. Weathers said that he was no
fully informed on Che conditions ex
I listing between this city and Gaines
vile. He expressed doubt as t
, whether, after the haul of five mile
in the wagon, the purchaser of tn
) wire really saved as much as stated.
Mr.. D. E. McIver said that he udi,
: not think the newspapers gave tn
! merchants of the city fair deal.
"Mr. Benjamin viii print anything,
said Mr.. McIver, referring to the edi
tor of the Star.
The representative of the Star ask
ed Mr.. McIver what fparticular articl
; he had in mind. Mr.. McIver said tina
; the paper had this week printe
: things it should not have printed. III
> was understood as referring to tn
f Stars editorials on the filming of tn
5 women in the restricted district.
| The Stars representative state
! his papers sole pufpose~in printing
t the articles about trade and freigh
t conditions under discussion was 70
E the good of the city, and not for tn
purpose of advertising Gainesville a
the expense of Ocala. He told tn
t members of the board of trade tina
E the first step to be taken in correcting
an evil is to recognize the existenc
!, of an evil. The Stars Representative
said that before prescribing physic
= ians diagnose the ease in hand, an
D that the newspaper had published tn
articles named with no idea in vie,
except that of presenting a malad
from which this city is suffering wit
q view to finding ascure for the same
: Mr. David S. WEIGH said that h
thought the reason why Gainesville
, could get into OcAla territory wa
5 that the former city has better freigh
t rates. The Stars Representative sal
3 he thought that Mr.. Welch had hit tn
E nail on the head, and said that
: there were no other evidence the fac
that Gainesville has better rates is
/ very good reason TO think the merch
5 ants of that city are getting bushes
[ out of this Tertiary.
! Mr.. McIver said that years ag
. Gainesville had been made a basin,
! point for freight rates. This was
surprise to many4of the members o
| the board of trade.