The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-12-18
STRENGTHENING
LINK BETWEEN
The CITIES
Motor Driven Train on Oklawaha Val
ley Railroad Will Improve Passen-
ger Service for Ocala and Palatka.


With the arrival in Ocala at eleven
O'Clock Wednesday morning of the
new motor driven cars of the Okla
waha Valley railroad. a new and bet
ter passenger service between Cen
GTal Florida and the East Coast, was
inaugurated. On their first trip the
motor cars brought from Palatka,
Rodman and Fort Mccoy. Mr.. H. S.
Cummins, receiver for the Oklawaha
Valley, and prominent officials and
business men of these places. The
cars were met at the union station by
u delegation from the Marion County
Board, of Trade. the Ocala Rotary
Club, the Ocala Retail Merchants 5
Credit Association. and others.
After warm welcome and hand
shake all around, the representatives
o. the Ocala organization joined the
visitors on board the cars. and run
was made out to Silver Springs, where
the visitors had an opportunity of see
ing that wonderful body of water. On
the return of the cars to Ocala, the
visiting officials and business men
were driven around the city in auto
mobiles, and then to the Florida
House, where a luncheon was served.
At the luncheon talks were made by
LEGAL and visiting men. Mr.. II. S.
Cummins, receiver of the road, was
especially spoken of in the talks
made, for the greatest credit is due
Mr.. Cummins for putting the Okla
W&ha Valley railroad on it's feet again,
after the recent efforts made to have
the road scrapped. The new car SER
vice brings Ocala ands Palatka in
closer relationship and the luncheon
proved to be very happy event.
Among those here to see the en-
trance of the new cars into the city
was Mr.. E. P. REM, who was the
builder of the road from Ocala to
PaIatka, which was started as a log
glng road by the Rentz Lumber Com
pany.
The luncheon was presided over by
Mr.. w. I. Gary. representative of the
Marion County Board of Trade. Talks
were MADE by Mr.. John H. Taylor. OF
the Ocala Manufacturing Company;
Mr.. G. E. Simmons, Of the Ocala Iron
Works; Mr.. Frank Harris. editor of
the Ocala Banner; Mr. G. w. Chase,
Of the Florida Soft Phosphate & Lime
Company; Mr.. H. S. Cummins, presi-
dent of the Rodman Lumber Company
and receiver for the Oklawaha Val
ley railroad; Mr.. T. p. Bernard, gen.
eral manager of the Oklawaha Valley;
Mr.. II. N. de Montmollin, president OF
! the Palatka Business Mems League;
MI. w. j. Wilson and Mr.. Brabham
of Fort Mccoy, and Mr. w. L. Martin
of Citra. Others who were in the
party were DIR. E. w. Warren, chief
surgeon of the railroad, DR.. L. w
Warren, c. L. Hudson. j. j. Murphy
secretary of the Palatka Business
Mems League. and Mr.. Carswell.
The coming together of the Palatks
and Ocala business men served also tc
bring out another connection between
this part of the state and the East
Coast, and this is the proposed build
ing of good road between Ocala anC
Palatka by way of Orange Springs
Tnis road if built will not only be g
connection between the two cities, but
will be short road between Centra
Florida and East Florida and between
South Florida points and Jackson
vile. Marion county has a new bono
issue under way and it is hoped that
this road can be included among thost
to be constructed. This matter ha!
already been taken up with the Put
nam county commissioners.