The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-09-19
WHY DISMANTLE THE
OKLAWAHA RAILROAD?

lin several recent issues the Ocala
Star has assumed the position that
the Oklawaha railway has forfeited
its right to operate as railway, that
it was being operated for the benefit
of few individuals while owing the
state thousands of dollars in unpaid
taxes. The Star also charges that
the News is worried about what the
sheriff of Marion county proposes to
dc with the road. It says:
1.-The Palatka News is worried about
what the Marion county sheriff is GO
ing to do with the o. V. railroad. For
its particular information, we will
state the sheriff doesn't seem worried
at all. We suppose the road will
raise the money to pay its taxes, but
II should not be allowed to resume
running trains until it makes ar
rangements with the men who adj
vanced the money to build the road.
The Florida railroad commission has
acted like Lenine and Trotzky regard
ing this road, but now that Mr.. Wells
is on it we hope its. behavior will be
different"
The Stars assumption as to our
mental attitude is of no moment. This
is the first line printed in this paper
other than news stories chronicling
the efforts of the comptroller to col
lect hack taxes.
But if it will do the Star any good
we viii admit that we are very much
concerned as to the final disposition
of the road. We are concerned to the
same extent that we are concerned
for the operation of other railroads
in the state to serve people who ac-
copied their promise to service and
established homes and business de-
pendent on these roads for transpor-
tation. The Star remembers, perhaps,
that the Seaboard Air Line wanted
to quit serving the people who had
granted franchise rights, but the
courts stopped it and told them that
they couldn't stop operating, re-
ceiver was named and certificates is
sued to pay off taxes and Indebtedness
and Immediately the road began to re-
coup some of its losses and is still
operating to the benefit and profit of
Ocala, as well as other points.
The Stars reference to "the road, !"
is vague as to meaning, but we as
sumo that he means Receiver H. S.
Cummings, who is operating the road
for the creditors and has succeeded IN
putting it on a paying basis, whether
it has been through serving his own
private business interests or not. He
must account to the court for earn
ings, and if he can demonstrate that
he has managed the affairs of the
road so that it will pay its indebt-
edness and be turned back to 'the
men who advanced the money to
build the road" he viii have rendered
a special service, not only to those
who have purchase dfarms along the
line, and who have established timber
camps for. supplying manufacturing
enterprises.
We believe the road should pay its
taxes, and if it cannot operate at a
sufficient profit to keep out of debt
it should be put on the block, but I'M
til this is proven, and while claims to
the contrary are made by the re-
ceiver, we hope that the courts viii
permit an issuance of receivers Ger
tifcates. pay the state its due, and
continue to serve those dependent or
its operation for a livelihood and the
business enterprises which are con-
venienced by it.-Palatka News.
About the best answer we have fol
this is that if the Oklawaha Valley
pays its back taxes, makes the proper
provision to pay its debts, and its
train win be given a schedule to serve
the people, instead of being run prin.
cipally as convenience for the Rod
man Lumber Company, we will bt
very glad to see it continued; but W.
don't think any business has a right
to continue when it won't pay It's