The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1903-09-25
DON'T WANT THE COURT HOUSE
REMOVED.
To the Editor of the ocAla Banner.

The writer may be trespassing upon
sacred GROUND, but trust there are
DO Mark Hannas to become offended
because, forsooth, humbly desire TO
AK those who may know few SIM
| pie questions concerning the prOpos-
ed transfer OF the court house square
: to the United States government :Or
4 site for a government building.
! What i the true full valuation OF
! this plot of ground? l am Informed
price OF $4,000 mas been placed
upon the ground with the privilege
of removing the court house. Is
there man in Marion county that
would take 81, 90 for this ground. if
i, was private or corporation property,
and because it is public property is
| that al adequate reason 10 sell for LEES
than actual value when there is no
urgent reason 10 sell?
/ have been informed that the -four
corner lots are worth 5000 each. this
would still leave the court house and
the ground in front of each side for
county uses and purposes and if The
court house needs any repairs, aud
the four corner lots can be sold for
1000, which i reasonable vatua-
ton, this would give ample money
To do the work and have some money
left over.
1t may he barely possible that the
proverbial "uiggerr i concealed il
the woOdpil-, there are 30 many
about you know: if 30, when YOU but
fire 20 it, he will come out very hur-
riedly.
L am fully aware ofthe fact that a gov
eminent building upon this property
would very materially enhance the
! value OF some property but not all
the property in the county. In fact
the most of the property would not
be Increased in value any more than
1t IL now being il creased.
Again, when il is attempted to re-
move the court house the public will
realize very sharply who pays the
bills and how often they must be
paid.
The next move would be to bond
the county for $4,000 or 500. 900 to
build new court house on another
lot TO enhance some more private
property at the expense of the public.
We now have a court house which
seems 10 answer all necessary public
! purposes-a good vault for the safety
OF the archives and records and will
/ supply the needs for some time and
when the attempt is made to remove
the court house the records will he
placed in jeopardy with the chances
of being without 8 value for some
time.
The present court house compares
very favorable now with the most of
the business houses. Perhaps it is
much better than quite a number of
them.
That this county deserves a good.
commodious government building is
true. That one will be built, I think
Is also true.
That Marion county should sacrifice
her property to the United States
government, / do not believe is true
That the government is able and
willing to pay its bills, I think all
will cOncede.
80 why should Marion county give
away her own property, of which she
has u constant need? 1t suits the
county purposes and if the noise
sometimes interferes with the work
OF the court when in session this can
he easily remedied by paving the
street part of the square with some
material to lessen and deaden the
sound caused by the public travel.
This would cost much less than the
removal and a new building and
l0 41o;ooS Eoo