The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-01-05
RoRERTsoNs MESSAGE
Ayor Robertson has begun early

making HIS neutrality-suspicious. "
lie city council, but none too early.
The message was printed in our
Thursdays edition and deserves and
should receive the thoughtful atten-
ton, not only of the city council, but
of the citizens generally.
We desire especially to call atten-
ton to the following suggestion Of the
executive head of the city:
Fifth. The pressure of water and
facilities afforded by the present wa
ter works is dangerously inadequate
in case of fire, and should conhagra-
ton occur in some sections of the
city it would be impossible to prevent
a complete demolition or destruction
thereof"
Mr.. d. w. Davis, one of the oppos-
ing candidates for the mayors office,
speaking along the same lines in his
admirable address the night before
the election, said:
"The question of good water is one
that deserves the attention OF every
city, first in point of health, next for
the protection against fire. AS an in
surance man and citizen, I regret to
say that our water pressure has been
found deficient, and immediate atten-
ton should be given to this important
matter for the protection of the prop
erty of citizens, as well as to prevent
a possible increase in the rates or IN
Surance."
A. Too,;, ;a - 6ro incuranco AGENT
and is in a position to know whereof
he speaks
With adequate water protection
and proper equipment Mr.. Davis says
that an enormous sum would be saw
ed to the tax payers of the city.
Speaking of the quality of our wa
ter, the mayor says:
Eighth. Good, pure, soft water
should be procured from some point
sufficiently removed from the city to
insure against any contamination or
pollution of same by reason of the
natural drainage and sewerage afford
ed by nature to the citizens Of
Ocala."
On the same subject, Mr.. Davis
said:
1.-The quality of our water has been
criticized and complained Of Moth
ing is more essential to the health of
a city than pure, good and healthful
water, and this matter is of such vi
tai importance that immediate action
on the part of your council should be
taken to give the citizens the purest
water obtainable. Expense should not
be considered in protecting the
health of the people OF Ocala."
Commenting on the mayors mes
sage, the Ocala Star says:
"The mayor is about as well posted
as any man on the topography of the
country surrounding Ocala. The Star
hopes he will advise the council
where to find a natural supply of pure,
soft water The nearest soft water in
any quantity to the city is the Okla
waha river, but the Star doubts its
purity. The next, so far as the Star
knows, is Lake Weir. Apart from the
fact that the people living around the
lake show a marked indisposition to
let us have the water, the cost OF a
powerful pumping station and piping
the water nearly twenty miles is al
most prohibitory. Perhaps Mr.. ROD
ertson knows of a nearer source OF
suppl, and if he does he will inform
the council of it at the proper sea-
SON"
This paper suggests that Silver
Springs might furnish copious sup
ply, though we do not remember to
have ever seen an analysis of the wa
ter.
Blue Sink, where the young Aiken
boy was drowned, would also furnish
an inexhaustible supply.
There is also sink on the old Rog-
ers place. near the city, that might
also furnish sufficient supply.
None of these places are very dis
tant from the city