The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-04-08
WILL MAKE A DRIVE
FOR A CITRUS FUND
Petitions Are to be Circulated as a
Result of the Meeting of Growers
Monday Evening

1oy
AS a result of the meeting of citrus
growers at the board of trade room
Monday night "a petition will be cir
culated throughout Marion county,
urgently requesting Senator Crosby
and Representatives Fort and Folks
to do everything in their power to Sc
cure an appropriation for completing
the work of citrus canker eradication
in the state.
Altho' Monday nights meeting was
calledson very short notice, there waA
a good attendance of growers and
others interested in the citrus indus
try from various parts of the county.
Mr.. A. R. Sandlin, former manager of
the sub-exchange in Ocala, now of
Orlando, took charge of the meeting,
and explained what the citrus inter-
ests of the state hoped to do in their
effort to get an appropriation. Mr..
Sandlin said that general state ap-
preparation would be asked for, to the
amount of 100000 a year for two
years.
eve don't want to leave any stone
unturned in our effort to get this ap-
preparation" said Mr.. Sandlin.
Mr.. Sandlin explained further that
100000 has already been spent in the
state in the eradication of citrus
canker, and that so far as it known
the disease appears to have been
wiped out. The state plant board,
however, says that the germs some
~ kA.k
is a possibility of the canker break
ing out again. The plant board esti-
mates that it will take 100000 year
to make the eradication certain, and
to prevent it breaking out again. In
other words, as Mr.. Sandlin stated,
the new appropriation is asked for in
order that the investment of 5000
may not be Endangered, and will not
have been spent in vain.
There has been some difference of
opinion as to the proper means Of
raising the $500, 900 needed; some
have favored the tax on boxes of
fruit; others have favored tree tax,
land others have favored the legisla-
ture making a general state appro-
priation. The Florida Citrus Ex-
change interests and the independent
growers, who had some differences at
the recent meeting in Orlando, are
now working in harmony In the drive
to get general appropriation, ac-
cordingeto Mr.. Sandlin, who has given
the past two weeks entirely to this
matter.
Mr.. Sandlin stated that SIS 5y000, 900
had been brought into Florida this
year through the sale of citrus fruits.
He stated that the citrus belt Of the
state contributed 20 per cent of the
taxes of the state. Accompanying
Mr.. Sandlin to Ocala was Mr.. o. p.
Conroy, of Orlando, who will make
tour of Marion county in the inter
est of the proposed appropriation. Mr..
Sandlin and Mr.. Conroy are stopping
at the Harrington Hall.
The petition which the people of
Marion county will be asked to sign
is as follows:
"To the Senator and Representa-
tives of Marion County: We, the un-
dersigned citizens of Marion county,
most urgently request that you do
everything in your power to secure
the passage of bill providing an i'm
mediate general state appropriation
for completing the work or eradica-
tion of citrus canker in Florida"
The petition was signed by all
those at the meeting. Among those
who have copies of the petition and
will circulate the same are Mr.. j. M.
Thomas of Ocala; Mr.. z. c. Albert
son of South Lake Weir; Mr.. w. r.
Lee of Eastlake, and Mr.. II. L Bor-
land of Ocala and Citra. Every one
will be asked to sign the petition,
whether grower or not. as the cit
rus industry benefits every one, either
directly or indirectly.