The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-12-01
10 WE PRACTICE
WHAT WE PREACHs

WHAT WE PHEACHS
The seatimsnt for good roads grows
III over the country. Much Of this IL
luO 70 - campaign Of education which
sas bssa going ON in the past ten years
- u never was urged and conducted
before. The effectiveness Of the work
ID seen In the larger and better senti-
ment Il has developed among people OF
III classes. With this education more
work Is being done to prop
Dfly utilise the immense appropriations
made In the various states OF the I'm
lon ana the more money contributed,
the more thorough and systematic the
adopted.
This applies to Florida as well as to
Union. and In this connection we de-
sire to say . word In regard to dispo-
sition made Of money collected from
the taxpayers Of Marion. We have been
building good roads to some purpose
for the past fifteen years. True. our be-
ginning was modest; we only INDUCED
In limited millage. but as the demon
stration work went on and education
followed. the feeling for more grew.
Then came the proposed four cardinal
roads-0ne 70 each point Of the COM
pass. The IDEA was all right. but as
the work progressed. neighborhoOds be-
came impatient. They desired that not
only greater speed be made, but that
more roads be inaugurated, and SO In
sistent became these people in their
demands that the board Of county COM
missioners in fatal moment needed
the clamor and granted four or five
more lines into various neighborhoods.
The result can now be seen. that both
time and much good money has been
squandered, even in good old conserva-
tive Marion, whose people seemingly
are good roads boosters, II they do not
believe In bonding the county to create
good roads moro rapidly.
We say. because the county commits
sioners yielded to this unreasonable
clamor. Marion Is poorer by many thou
sands Of dollars and short of many
miles Of good roads, for the simple rea-
SON that had the original plans been
adhered to, we now should be connect
ed with the border lines Of the coun-
ties that adjoin us on the north. south,
east and west and from nearest points
to these roads lateral roads would have
been built into communities. which
would have served all the purposes that
the many extra miles OF roads since
constructed and costing in the aggre-
gate thousands Of dollars would have
been saved.
To illustrate and emphasize and point
. moral and adorn this tale Of good
roads. you need but recall the two roads
leading north. the two roads leading
south and the three roads leading west
when one and Aferal to each would
have served the purpose.
II the policy ad6p3ed and. inaugural
ed*when r. l. Carney Wes chairman OF
the board had been adhered to you can
easily see how the good road PROPOSE
5tton would stand today.
= Another feature Of good road build
ing should now be considered. Marion
Is spending 1T the rate Of nearly $780,
900 . year now In making good roads
1t least IN most cases an Improvement
on roads built in years past and in re-
pairing those built. Now. how is this
being done? A road overseer In charge
Of the county work with the supervis-
ion Of . county commissioner in the
district he rsprsant and mostly with
improvised labor. True. some convicts
but In the main With labor supplied b,
localities. Here b where the new de.
parturs should come in All work
should be done BY convict labor. 70,
the reason that there must be mighty
poor business material on our board Of
county commissioners who cannot Sc.
cure - much available and valuabl.
service out Of q convict as the man wht
hires him. often sub-letting them ant
then makes q profit out Of them on tn,
price Daid tho county.
Secondly. the county should have it!
roads laid out. supervised and materia
selected by one who has made the bus
mess . study: has been educated to tn,
work. Is thoroughly competent ant
knows by education and experienc,
what Il all means Not guess at mos
OF II % has been and is being done un
der the present system. 1t is true TIT
services Of such a person are wortl
something. but do you know Of a bust
ness proposition in which $4,000 o.
$4,000 il spent annually and growing
more important from year to year. tina
IL not supervised and promoted by jus
such ability, education and brains
Such . man should be supervised eacl
month by one Of the county commits
sioners. who should devote at least on,
day to seeing that all the plans beint
worked out are the results Of MONTH!
reports. scanned. discussed and promot
ed by the whole board And each montl
. different member Of the board shoult
take his turn at showing his opinion o
the work being done by the man in con
troll
We believe, on a plan like this, will
county convict labor as the basis Of tn
tabor supply. and a determination o
ths board to outline a thorough sys
TEN Of progress in creating a road t,
q given point, connecting with SOM
neighb0rfng county road. that With,
the next ave years Marion would SCI
the economy and wisdom Of the plan
This Is something Of an outline we re
spectfully suggest to the honarabl
board. The past ten years Of roa'
building in Marion warrants a consid
GRAFTON Of more cohesive and effectiv
basis OF work. Let US drop old meth
DDS and take to the ideas OF the pres
ent day.
Frank Turner. the Brady Pond far
mer and stock man, has been busy al
week sowing oats and today was tn
frst time he had a chance to come t
town. when he learned Of the death o
~ Ia A.