The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1898-01-07
A GOOD SHOWING.
The Record Of the City Officials
For 1897.

The city's financial showing for
1897 as published in yesterdays
Evening Star speaks for itself
and every property holder and
tax payer who has read it must
congratulate himself on the un-
firing efforts of the cOuncilmen
Of the city for the unselfSh and
buSineSs-likc manner in which
they have conducted the finances
Of Ocala. No council in the his
tory Of our municipal govern
ment has made a better or more
satisfactory record, and If there
was a dollar OF revenue fritted
away no one has heard or is cog
infant Of it.
The city's business was at
tended to as each Of the council
men attends to his personal af-
fairs. There were no cliques,
hence no jobbing, and such a
thing as favoritism was unknown.
Again the Star repeats it is a
snbject we are all agreed on that
municipal reform is worth agitat-
ing, worth working for, for it
shows results that appeal to the
highest patriotism, the most
gratifying unselfshness, and
what is dear to the heart of every
honest and conscientious citizen
who pays his taxes is a reduction
of our city Indebtedness during
1897 to the amount of $4,85O.95.
These figures are more touching,
eloquent and convincing than any
words we can pen and must in
spire in our hearts thanks for the
excellent work done by the coun-
Gil of 1897, and in the name of
grateful people we tender our
thanks and those Of our people to
this body of honorable, able and
conscientious men.
Their motto was: "Let the city
live within it's income" A few
moro years Of such careful man
aSement of the city and it will
not owe one dollar of unredeemed
scrip and have no bills presented
for which it cannot pay cash.
Now let us see what the city has
to show for it's present indebted
ness. 1t has seven miles of paved
streets, 400 feet of stone and
monOlithic sewers, twenty stone
CulvcrtS and the following first
class city property: The city hall,
including city offices and jail, and
central fire station, at a low esti-
mate is worth $4,000; the city
pound and stables, 81, 800; city
market and lot, $1,000; mules,
carts, tools and street sprinkler,
$1,000; fire department horses,
trucks, hose, etc, $4,000; and the
furniture and fixtures Of the city
hall offices and fire station, $500.
A total of $23,OO0. These figures
demonstrate that Ocala is a long
way from bankruptcy and makes
a showing that will compare most
favorably with any town of it's
size in the state.
We cannot end these comments
without referring to the hearth
ness with which Mayor Bullock
seconded every effort Of the city
council to keep intact every city
Improvement made, and further
the completion of those needed.
That the mayor and council
could have figures at hand from
which to correctly understand the
situation and formulate plans tor
carrying them out, they have
had thoroughly competent and
willing subject in the person of
the atTable city clerk, Robt. @.
Blake, who has not only made
himself familiar with all the de-
tails Of the city's accounts as well
as it needs, but has demonstrated
the fact since he accepted the re-
sponsible and exacting position of
city clerk that none abler have
h, .l,,+ -