The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-04-22
MAYOR DAVIS
STANDS PAT.
Maintains Bond Trustees Alone
Are at Fault in Paving
Matters.
Editor PALATKA NEWS:

|
II is not my desire to get into any
newspaper controversy, but noticed by
last weeks issue OF your paper that Mr.
Geo. T.. Gay, Secretary of the Board oI
Bond Trustees, takes certain exceptions
to my message TO the council and says
that il is hard to credit the ignorance dis.
played on my part, considering the
knowledge ! should have of the city's
affairs. do not think the ignorance is
altogether on my side and if the Secre-
tary of the Board OF Bond Trustees will
carefully look into the records and con
slider the inactivity of the Bond Trustees,
| am quite sure he will concur with me
that the Board of Bond Trustees needs
to be severely criticised for the manner
in which they have failed to perform the
duties entrusted to their charge.
| note that Mr.. Gay, as citizen, ad-
mits that there is a delay in the matter
OF further pavements of our streets and
at the same time submits part of Section
4 Of An Ordinance, creating the Board
of Bond Trustees and prescribing their
duties. Also he submits a resolution
adopted by the Board of Bond Trustees,
Jan. 13, 1909, and letter under date OF
Oct. 10 '09 This is evidently submitted
with view of creating an impression in
the mind of the public that the Board OF
Bond Trustees should not be blamed for
the delay in paving our streets.
Section 4 OF the ordinance referred 10,
says that "A careful estimate shall be
made, in detail, of the cost of such work
or materials, and that the Board of Bond
Trustees shall transmit TO the Mayor and
City Council with its recommendation
an estimate of the cost, ETC."
desire 10 call Mr.. Gays attention to
the fact that only twice has the Board OF
Bond Trustees ever made a reCommen
daiion regarding the paving of any
streets, and that was in August, 1907
when they recommended the paving OF
Lemon and Water streets, and on jan
18th, 1909, when they recommended the
paving OF North Third street. Further
more, neither instance was careful eS
innate made in detail of the cost of such
work or materials and transmitted to
the Mayor and City Council
AS for the communication OF Oct. 18th
1909, while the Trustees transmit an eS
innate of the cost of paving certain
streets with Interlachen gravel, they do
SO without making any recommenda
ton.
Mr. Gay says: "The unexpended bal
ance of funds for paving has only been
available since Jan. 18th, 19O9," a period
of fourteen months, which in my opin-
ion is mighty long time TO be paying
interest and deriving no benefit.
The people who are paying the inter
est would like to know how long must
funds be available before the Bond TruS-
tees deem it advisable TO make a con
tract for the execution OF work under
their charger
The Bond Trustees know that our Cit
liens want the streets paved and | am
confident they are aware that the ma
jority of them are opposed TO any more
brick paving. In order 10 meet the J
wishes of our citizens, the council on
May 18th, 1908, adopted the following
resolutions:
"WhereaS, 1t is essential TO the pros
perity and general advancement OF the
City of Palatka that the paving of the
streets should be continued SO far as may
be practicable and,
Whereas, there is diversity of opin-
city as TO the most desirable material and
the best method TO be adopted for this
purpose for paving our streets,
Therefore, be it resolved by the City
Council of the City of Palatka that a
of three be appointed, con
SiSting of one member of the City Coun
Gil, one member of the Palatka Board of
Trade and one member of the Board OF
Bond Trustees, for the purpose of thoro
ughly investigating the merits of the var
iouS materials used in paving OF streets,
and the methods of constructing same,
together with all necessary data and in
which can be obtained in the
following named cities:
Jacksonville, Fla, DeLand, Fla,
Gainesville, Fla, Savannah, Ga, Way
cross, Ga, Valdosta, Ga, and upon the
of their investigation, that
said committee make a report of the
same TO the City Council, together with
such recommendations as they may see
fit to offer.
Be it further resolved, that an amount
be appropriated from the General Fund
sufficient to defray the necessary expen-
Ses of the members of said committee
while pursuing the investigation as above
described.
The committee from the Council and
Board of Trade inquired of the chair
man of the Bond Trustees as TO whom
their representative was and they were
informed that the Trustees, deeming