The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1903-06-19

maximum provided for except when
two or more counties unite to build
base line road, etc. The senate sub
stitu,ed bill for the Parrish bill pro-
viding for the division of counties into
road districts and for the election
biennially of three road trustees, pre-
scribing their duties and powers and
for levying, collecting and disbursing
district road taxes has been enacted
into law and is an excellent law. il
being equitable and right that those
getting direct benefit from ali i'm
proved road should pay more taxes for
its construction, than those who re-
ceive only an Indirect benefit. Other
good laws were passed, out as yet
have not seen them as finally enacted
into law. While we have not received
the support of some of the members
of the legislature that we felt We had
a right to expect, and while we did
not get what we from distinguished
standpoint asked for. when we take
into consideration that only about
| one third Of the several boards of
county commissioners of the state
| had actively connected themselves
| with our organization, and that your
! representatives before the legislature
with a limited support from you,
stood almost single handed in their
| efforts, | feel that our efforts have not
been for naught, and that az a whole
We have accomplished perhaps as
much as We should have expected
under the circumstances. The men,
bers of the legislature and the news
papers of the state, who Loyalty stood
| by us in our efforts to increase the
facilities to supply the demand of our
people for improved roads, are EMIT
led to our thanks.
Our efforts for good roads should
not he relaxed. Our organization dur
ing. the next two years should be
made more effective and a good roads
move should be formulated and
promulgated among our people that
will cause them to rise in their might
next year and see to it that no man is
nominated and elected To the legis-
lature that does not stand fiat footed
upon a just and equitable platform in
the interest of good roads.
My expenses for printing, station
cry and postage has been $1,000. Hon.
H. H. Dickson, of Orange, the good
roads nestOr, sent me $500, which l
recommend be placed to the credit
of the dues of Orange county.
Gentlemen of the convention, with
this meeting my term of office as your
president expires. have served you
as such nearly four years to the best
of my ability. You have overlooked
my mistakes and l thank you for the
uniform courtesy you have at all
times extended to me as your presi-
ding officer and will in years to come
look back upon our association with
feelings of pleasure and as a green
spot in my life.
In view Of the fact that you have
younger men who are competent 10
perform the duties more efficiently
than l, and our organization being on
a solid basis and finding the official
cares and responsibilities of the po-
sitiOn too heavy a tax upon my time
and purse, l respectfully decline re-
election
My interest is your success will not
relax, and you may rely upon me
standing shoulder to shoulder with |
you in your efforts to elevate our or
ganizatiOn upOn a higher, broader and |
more useful plane. Let us keep the |
band wagon moving, the music play
ing, the good roads flag unfurled to |
the breeze, and let us see to it that it |
does not trail in the dust until every |
locality of every county of the state |
has been supplied with an improved !
road commensurate with its necessi- |
ties. Respectfully submitted,
II. w. LONG.