The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-05-07
Letter from Mr.. Camp
Ocala. Fla. Nav 6. -

pany was not In position to, and
would not make the city proposition
in regard to sale of electric current to
the city of Ocala. As this statement
is not altogether correct, / beg to cor
rect the impression which may have
been made on you, and the public, in
connection with this matter.
Over six months ago this company
rendered to the United States govern
ment its entire plant to be used in any
manner that those in authority should
determine. This tender has ever since
held and still holds good. The United
States fuel administration has full
authority to deal with this matter as
it is dealing today with similar situa-
tons all over the country, closing
certain plants, inter-connecting others
and in some instances building new
plants, and generally, doing what
those in authority consider necessary
in order to prevent all waste and nom
economic operations.
We beg to emphasize the fact that
the Florida Power Company is max
ing no proposition or overtures to the
city of Ocala, and that it will not
make any unless invited to do so by
those in authority, or unless the fuel
administration shall require us to
make one. We wish to state, however,
that the Florida Power Company has
a large amount of power now going to
waste, and that it would be glad to
sell its power to any city, person or
corporation that might be able to use
it advantageously, and at a fair price.
We particularly wish to impress
upon you the fact that this entire
question is in the hands of the gov
eminent, and that, so far as the Flor
ida Power Company is concerned, ev-
erything will be done to meet the
wishes of the fuel administration, ana
the national authorities, in order to
carry out any suggested economies,
or in any way to serve the public as
the authorities wish it to be served. If
these authorities so decree this COM
pany will supply electric current to
Ocala, or any other locality If neces-
sary to extend it's lines to carry out
such requirements, the Florida Power
Company stands ready to build the
necessary extensions.
We think it is due to you that this
statement from our company should
be made, and we trust it may set at
rest any misunderstanding, doubt or
question concerning our position in
this matter.
Very respectfully yours,
Florida Power. Company,
By R. c. Camp, President.
Mr.. Camp read our article some.
what carelessly. We did not say the
Florida Power Company was not in
position to and wouldn't make a pro-
position to the city. We said we didn't
think it was likely it would. We made
that statement after comforting with
Mr.. Camp. and we think his foregoing
letter confirms it.
The Star will be very glad to help
in bringing about an understanding
between the city and the Florida
Power Company, if such an agreement
can be made with mutual advantage.
If the power company can help the
city, we think it should have chance
to do so.' and if it can help itself at
the same time, we think every fair
minded person is willing. Mutual help
right now is needed everywhere.
We think, however, that the Florida
Power Company should make a pro,
position to the city. We do not think
it will sacrifice any dignity is doing
so. All business of that sort is almost
always begun by proposition from
the party who has goods to sell. We
don't think the city should make a
proposition to the power company.
There are several reasons why it
shouldn't, but one is enough. There is
not any member of the council who
has the technical knowledge to make
such proposition. They would be
like bunch of primary school chill
dren selecting text books for whole
county.
We do not think the fuel admins
tration is likely to make any demand
on the people of Ocala to take current
from an outside source unless they
are willing to do so. This isn't Prus-
STA yet. The fuel administration rec
ommends on general principles. It is
not going to make direct order with
out investigating. An investigation
will show that while our fuel situa-
ton is troublesome to ourselves, it
does not affect the country in general.
The fuel administration will have to
take into consideration that our wa
ter and light plants are combined;
that consequently, even if we do take
current from an outside source, that
we must constantly keep steam in the
boilers of the engines, or keep the off
engine in readiness to start at a
minutes notice, and this will call for
a considerable amount of fuel and
manual labor-maybe enough to make
the difference.
Let Mr.. Camp go ahead and tell the
city what his company is able and
willing to do, let the council, assisted