The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-07-20
NOW twill HAVE TO GO DOWN

Editor Star: In your criticisms on
my letter to you, published in your
last issue, you seem to miss my point
that the receiver of the o. V. has not
actually put to the test his contention
that there is not enough travel over
the road to maintain a passenger serv-
ice. You say that anyway he is not
in a position to do so as all the loco
motive power is out of repair and that
he has no funds available to put any
of it in running order. That is a
reason for not maintaining a passen-
ger service, but it is not an argument
that a good service would not pay. AS
you say that Mr.. Christensen is really
working night and day to keep the
railroad alive, maybe he can find
some way to provide enough money
to put some OF the motive power in
working order, say the motor train,
and test the matter out: "Where
there's will there's way"
The people living along the line do
not believe that there are enough of
them alone to make a passenger
schedule pay, but they do believe that
with the through traffic between Ocala
and Palatka that a paying business
could be built up.
AS exhibit A / produce in evidence
the paragraph in your last issue con-
corning Mr.. Pillans' stage line be-
tween Ocala and Palatka, in which l
read: "That he is doing well, running
on a good schedule and carrying
many passengers" If the o. V. had
been running on a good schedule it
would doubtless have had most of
these passengers as the trip by rail
would take a shorter time and the
travelling would be more comfortable.
l have heard it said that Mr. Pillans
is already contemplating putting on
a second bus to meet the increasing
traffic.
Exhibit B is part of a paragraph in
your issue of the 23rd ultimo, regard
ing Orange Springs. The words are:
"Orange Springs is a pretty and
healthful place, with good country
around it and the people there now
should not neglect any improvement
that will attract more settlers" Quite
so, and that is one of the reasons why
we are so anxious to have a good train
service, because would-be settlers alb
solutely will not remain in the dis
trict when they find the transporta-
ton service is so poor. They come,
stop sAort time and then leave, dis
gusted. Given good transportation
facilities the district will gradually
be built up, as l said in my previous
letter, and be as fine as any in the
county.
am sorry that was $50 ignorant
as to think that Mr.. Christensen had
anything to do with the sale of the
land here. l made the mistake as
there is affixed to the deed to my land
here, and which deed is dated 22nd
October, 1919, the signature of ga
Christensen" as vice president of the
Florida Farms & Homes Incorporated
and the document was signed in Put.
nam county. l apologize
Yours truly, A Robertson.
Orange Springs, July 10.
As a matter of courtesy, we print
Mr.. Robertson's letter, but he vii
have, to close, for there is no use il
trying to enlighten man who know.
so little of his subject and is so littl,
acquainted with railroad affairs tina
he thinks the business equivalent t,
keep up a passenger bus would Gu
much figure with a railroad train.
Mr.. Robertson is partly excusable
We had supposed he was an old set
tier, but he says his deed is dated DC
tcber %, 1919, less than three year
ago, at which time the status of tn
o. V. had been decided for severa
years. The land swindles he refers t
began before 1909, let alone befor