The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-01-08
ladies and Gentlemen:

ny SANSN NASt-AStLOu conferred on
me by the people il electing me eov-
ernOr Of Florida is highly appreciated.
Someone viii say that thu great bo~-
81" is highly appreciated 1t has lons
since been learned that honor and
shame from no conditions rise. act
well your part, there all honor lies"
The French put il 'noblesse oblige -
meaning nobility imposes obligations
The position of governor imposes the
obligation Of being true TO all the
people in the state, and to all the in
dustries in the state. It requires Ia
Dor and attention and executive abil-
ity. 20 manage successfully the affairs
OF any business of any nature what
ever. Much more labor and atten-
ton and executive ability is required
In the executive office of a great and
growing state like ours.
NGne might shrink from assuming
the obligations if he were not mind
ful of the fact that they were not
thrust upon him. II has been said
that some men are born great, some
achieve greatness and some have
greatness thrust upon them. The Of
nee Of governor was not born to me;
the Office Of governor was not thrust
upon 10; tho CHce CT governor was
jus wanted by me and the people
gave il TO me-that's all. Besides.
governors OF this and other states
have assumed these obligations and
are stil alive. There are gentlemen
who would like to assume these obi
cations and they still live. 1t is
therefore natural for me 10 think
these obligations can be well assumed
by myself. Besides, the governor is far
from being the whole thing. There will
be associated with me experienced
gentlemen who have filled various Of
ices. Like myself. they have at heart
the best interests of the people.
Yorr attention is Invited 70 the fact
nat in many states the governor is
inaugurated cOincident with the as
sembling Of the legislature. His re
marks al the inaugural paTtake large
~ OF the nature of a message to the
legislature. In our state the constitu-
ton provides for the inauguration en
the first Tuesday after the first Mon
day in January. being three months
prior 10 the converting of the legisld-
ture. on the first Tuesday after the
FIRST Monday in April This is a wise
provision, as it gives the governor an
opportunity to become better posted
as TO his specific recommendations.
No one. unless he has been govern
or, or has been elected governor. can
possibly imagine the great diversity o.
opinions, and the diversity of sub
jecrs on which the diversified opin-
ions are expressed. Riding on trains.
In letters. in every and from every
portion of the state come expressions
on numerous subjects. A governor is
fortunate in having obtained these va
rious expressions. They manifest,
however, an absolute impossibility of
anyone carrying out the many diverg-
ent views expressed.
But a few of the subjects will be
touched upon.
Many are specially interested IN
good roads. Everybody should favor
good roads. They would all favor
them if they did not cost money. The
following data, compiled from infor-
nation obtained from the clerks OF
the circuit courts Of the various coun-
ties will convey some idea of the in
terest taken in good roads by the peo-
sple Of some of the counties:
Number of Miles of Graded, clayed
and Hard Roads in the Different
Counties of the State
Baker-Graded, none; clayed, none;
hard, none.
Bradford-Graded, so; clayed. none;
hard, none.
Breyard-
Calhom-Graded, none; clayed.
none; hard, none.
Citrus-Graded, none; clayed' 35.5o;
hard. Z.
clay-Graded, none; clayed, none;
bard, 6.
Holmes
Jackson-Graded, none; cia!eu'
none; hard, none.
Columbia
Dade-Graded, none; clayed, none;
hard, 203.
DeSoto-Graded, CSC; clayed, none'
hard, Is.
Duval-
Escambia-Graded, us; ciayeu'