The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1903-12-18


To the Honorable ". 5. Bullock. Judge
presiding:
The grand jury for Marion county re-
specially submits 70 your honor this.
their final presentment.
In the discharge OF our duties we
have endeavored 10 weigh al the evil
dence presented 20 Us carefully and
have presented 10 your honor such vio-
lations Of the law a. seemed 20 us
clear.
Justices
We encountered great confusion in
the papers OF the various justices in
the matter OF binding over witnesses
10 attend court. II 4 great number Of
cases the witnesses were sUbpeonaed 70
attend upon wrong dates. thus entail
ing delay and expense il getting them
before Us.
To Obviate this trouble. As well a. 10
TX the responsibility where il should
rest upon any future delinquents. We
recommend that the legislature OF the
stare enact a law requiring every JUS
tice 20 furnish 20 each witness bound
over a slip Of paper designating the
date upon which he shall attend court.
and properly signed by himself
Public Roads
We visited the public road known
as the Anthony road. and va fee. that
w state il mildly in saying that our
worthy commissioners Numbered both
a. 10 the selection Of the route a. well
q IN the means Of construction. The
first. IN that il was a departure from
the system already put in operation by
themselves. q failure - utilize a good
road already constructed and in use
part OF the way: abandoning a route
already cut ont that had been carefully
selected by TWO competent men. select
Cd by themselves, and a route lined
with good material for its cOnstruc-
ion the entire way. and selecting
rOuCe that presented great physical diff
fculties and with building material &C
cessible only at a great expense. The
second blunder, We think. was in buy
ing the road machinery. We find the
traction engine and roller in what ap-
pears 10 be a chronic state Of decrep-
utude and needing another trip 10 the
foundry for repairs. We think it
faulty in design and unfit for the pur-
poses for which il was intended. a.
evidenced by the wear OF its parts and
the breakages in usage. We earnestly
advise its permanent retirement from
service and a return 20 the system
known as the Mcleod system.
We find that the water Is supplied
TO the boilers in use and TO the hands
by a hired wagon al an expense of
$3.50 per day. This is a proposition
that would not be entertained by any
mill man for five minutes. They had
better dig a well
County Clerks Office
We find that the same admirable
system of handling the public records
obtains in this office that has marked
the occupancy Of the present incum-
bent.
Sheritf's Office
We find the few books pertaining TO
this Office neatly kept by the present
very efficient officer.
County Superintendent of Public In
struction
We found this office ably administered
by the present incumbent. He and
the county school board are TO be con-
graduated for the economic handling
OF the school funds. For the year 1902
there were enrolled 2432 white and
1864 cOlored pupils. and the expense
amounted 10 S34.S50.70. The enroll
ment this year is greater still. and the
school fund, FOR the first time in many
years, equals the warrants drawn
against it
County Treasurer
We found the books of the county
treasurer neatly and carefully kept,
and tne treasurer himself an urbane
and Obliging officer.
The county assessor being absent
from his office, we did not examine the
Office.
The County Judge
This Office, like ali others that we
visited, sadly needs some freproof re-
ceptacie for the papers. and we would
most earnestly call attention 10 this
fact, in view Of the incalculable loss