The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1902-01-17
Mayor FisheTs Inaugural ADDRESS.

Gentlemen With great pride and q
lesrt full 81 love for The people OF
O..ala ( ~taud befoT.. YOU 10 thank yOU
ai.d Ia -.- ~ 80 .re.' .-i'v ~
th- great honor again bestowed upon
ne by re-e.ectiuE me mayor OF Tia
city Of Ocala.
stand before you 10 thank you a.
the representatives OF our loyal town.
Words cannot express how grateful
feel for this honor.
shall now enter upon business du-
ties and will suggest such ways ana
means s. VIII in my opinion tend 10
ests of our city.
have been asked at different times
whether "r not favor municipal own
ership OF putlic utilities. would say,
20 some extent, Yes.
We own our electric light plant ser
vice, and IL mas proven a paying III
vestmeut. l see no reason why all
our public works should not be con-
tTolled bv the city.
think il wOIid Toe great saving Of
money 10 the taxpayers in a very few
years if our city would own and oper-
ate the water works. We pay out
thousands Of dollars every year 10 the
corporation for water. If the city
ewned and operated the plauts We
could in $ few years pay for them with
the profits arisinglover and above ill.,
terest and expense. They could be
self-sustsining. with a good sum for
ether Improvements for the city, and
we should be sble to get light and
water at 3 very reasonable price. My
suggestion is as follows:
The water compsny collects from
the city in scrip =, loo annually, with
interest 81 per cent We have TO
pay this amount under contract for
thirteen years, with sn option Of five
years more, making eighteen years.
Eighteen times A,l0O is...........s73, 800
Interest on same al : per cent. 5,l66
Total. SIS, 966
Tins amount We have to pay and
still do not own the water works.
Ny recommendation is to buy the
water works plsnt, take the 81, loo anu
eond the town and sell the bonds At
per cent interest. We can get $4,000
NJ that price. The taxpayers would
not hsve 10. pay cent more taxes
hAu they are now paying.
Tue profits To the city comes out of
the earnings, and although l DO not
know how much the water company
takes in annually do know it would
be . great saving if We would combine
both plsnts-electric light and water
and have one superintendent look
after both, and | know this can lie
done, and the tax pave should arise
st once aud take this matter up.
We also should try To make our
scrip worth lOO cents on the dollar, |
thereby saving the city the extra 10 |
per cent that We have to pay il we
bny anything in the way OF grain,
clothing or drugs, or anything that We |
secd for the city, besides the 5 per
cent interest that the scrip bears. All |
this could be done for less money than
We are now paying,
THE Taxpayers are standing in their
ewn light If they do not urge this
move. know there are parties here
Who do not encourage this policy, ~
they are masking money 10y buying up
the city scrip, but my recOmmeL dS-
ton Is; BOnd The town aud get ria 90
this extra l3iper- cent that We are now
paying. Bonds would not cost over
per cent, and our city would loom up
n everything were on cash basis Il
would cost the taxpayers not rs much
taxes as they are now paying.
Ia regard To the finances of our city,
you no doubt have seen the statement
IN the Star inside 10y the tinsuce com
mittee about sixty days ago. We have
shown how every dollar was txpeud-
ell, aud while We have paid out about
y, so more. in the past Year We have
u show for 1t. We have
expended about al ,ocO 10 the purchase
Of tiremeu's lmpiem ats. Ne have
built and put ia good order the follow
ing streets and avenues CURING the past |
year: I
Magnolia, Exposition, Main and !
Lime streets AID r. r. kiug aud Och e
ls~shs avenues ,ud few cross streets I
have teen and are being puJ ma good G.
and We can continue To do I
,he same good Nork 10y having capital :
aud an ateutiNe street committee '
Or course The street committee must
not forge; that the mSferItl Ne are .
putting on our Streets J. wearing OF
ana meet occasional atteulou, AID .
heretor- | reconsm. ud THAI the street e.
committee look after the repairs. =