The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-12-28
WANTS BETTER WATER
And More of It-MayOf RObeftsOn's
Special Message to the City
Council

Ocala, Fla, Dec. q, 1911.
To the City Council of the City Of
Ocala:
Gentlemen respectfully recon-
mend to your honorable body con-
sideration of the erection of an en-
tirely new water works system for
the city of Ocala, and express my
disapproval of the purchase of the
present water works system, for the
following reasons:
First. Because we have an excel
lent natural sewerage by the sinking
of deep wells. which is fully demon
strated by the many such wells now
in use, and which make it unneces-
sary and undesirable for the city to
maintain an artificial sewerage sys7
tem, and at perhaps much greater
expense to the citizens of Ocala.
Second. 1t would not be to the best
| interest of the citizens of Ocala to
prohibit them from enjoying the ben
efits and advantages derived and af-
! forded by these subterranean streams
or cavities.
| Third. The wells of the present
water works are located within the
| probable danger of contamination and
| pollution of the water furnished from
such wells by reason of the natural
sewerage system now in use.
Fourth. The present water works
system has been in use and operation
for great many years, and it may be
! that the underground pipes are con-
siderably worn. or are in defective
condition, and it would not be FEAST
| BILE to ascertain the real condition Of
same. 1t occurs to me that there
would be grave danger in purchasing
| the present water works, and to do SO
might result in extraordinary unfor-
| seen expense to the city in the way
of repairing and replacing same, or
putting same in proper serviceable
condition, an perhaps nothing what.
ever would be gained by the purchase
of the old works.
/ Fifth. The pressure of water and
| facilities afforded by the present wa.
ter works is dangerously inadequate
in case of fire, and should a conf1agra
/ ton occur in some sections of the city
it would be impossible to prevent a
complete demolition or destruction
thereof.
Sixth The water furnished from
the present wells is undesirable fol
domestic purposes, being what is com
monty known as hard water.
Seventh. The erection of an entire
ly new water works system would ne
doubt result in a great saving to the
city. AS an illustration: When the
city purchased the old electric light
plant, my understanding and informa
ton is that such action really result
ed in loss to the city, as the cit!
practically rebuilt and replaced tn,
old plant with new one, new ma
chinery, appliances, etc. do no
mean by this to in any way reflect OF
any former city officers, but merel!
allude to it as indicating the uncer
tainty of purchasing old works. an,
useless and worthless. 1 am of tn
opinion that an entirely new electri
light plant could have been provide,
at less total cost in the end, an,
greatly fear that the same situation
would confront us if the city shoul,
purchase the old water works.
| Eighth. Good, pure, soft waite
should be procured from some poin
!! sufficiently removed from the city t
insure against any contamination o
pollution of same by reason of tn
natural drainage and sewerage afford
ed by nature to the citizens of Ocals
/ Ninth. The new wells Or reservoi
should be located at some point higl
er than the city, and at such e1evatio
as to insure an efficient, sure and adj
= quate pressure, thus protecting tn
. city against the dangers of confagr'
tions which now confront us by re;
son of water facilities wholly insu
!. ficient.
The proposed issue of bonds ft
water works for the city of Ocala hs
been held by the supreme court /.
Florida to be legal, and l respectful
urge and impress upon your honor
5 BILE body the desirability for takin
some prompt action for the better pr
lection of our property, the securir
of soft, pure water for domestic pu
poses, and reserving to the citizens
Ocala the natural benefit and adva
= tage to be derived from the presel
underground sewerage system so ge
erously bestowed by nature.
Il Respectfully submitted,
]. D. ROBERTSON,
Mayor of Ocala
| nvyr,D a Nyrx