The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-09-10
ABILITY TO HELP OURSELVES

IT Is in the power of every nation.
every state, every community. TO con-
duct it's affairs so as 10 obtain the
greatest good for the greatest num-
Der. Bad laws, high prices, lack OF
public utilities, official corruption, and
all other evils the people suffer rom
are principally their own fault
The American people have a SYM
netrfcaI form of government from
president down to constable. They
have an efficient method of carrying
or business. they have unequaled enS
terprise and resources, and II thelr
country Is not as near genuine
Utopia as could be it is because the
disposition of the great majority 10
leave everything outside of individual
concerns to some one else.
Ocala is a good town, not so good as
some. better than many-on the whole
above the average. But it's people are
complaining about many evils that
they could remedy. and about slack
ness in enterprise in matters in which
they as a mass show a lamentable In
difference.
The most important matter to be
considered in the near future is the
Marion County Fair. only few weeks
off Some enterprising individuals are
doing what they can to promote 1t,
but complain with reason that the
vast majority are not thinking of 1t,
and will not until almost time for the
gates to open.
Probably the most powerful factor
for promoting the progress OF Ocala Is
the Board of Trade. Considering the
population OF the town and its volume
of business, this body Is ridiculously
small There have never been more
than rs or 30 members present at a
meeting, although this number has
represented a large per cent. OF the
membership. The board should nave
100 to $50 members, and at least fifty
should be present at every meeting. II
is claimed by some that the rates are
too high. If the membership was
larger, the rates could be lowered, and
we know several men not members
better able to pay the fees than ma
jority now on the roll; besides, the
benent to business resulting from the
work of the organization would repay
them in coin as well as a sense of duty
done The Board of Trade has con-
siderable expense. all of which is fol-
the public benefit, and absolutely nc
way Of raising revenue except by tax
ing the members. 1t is the duty OF
every business man who can possibly
pay the fees, and comparatively few
in Ocala cannot, to join the board and
attend as many meetings as possible.
We all complain and with reason, OF
high freight rates; but we are not do
ing what we can to bring them dowr
and hold them down. 1t is very true
the Oklawaha route cannot supply this
territory with anywhere near the
amount of freight it needs, but a great
quantity could come that way. and
would, If the merchants would make &
concerted and sustained effort to pat.
ronize it. We do not give the Rent;
-ra+ tfrrTT-rrrrt much business as WI
should. 1t is entirely practical to make
short freight and passenger line OF
this road to tidewater; it should BIZ
treated as Ocala's own road but it is
not receiving the support it deserves
and that it would pay Ocala to give.
The Tampa and Jacksonville, another
local road, is in Handwriting distance
of the city, but we lack the enterprise
to reach out and grasp it. There are
three independent railroads righ
around Ocala, two of them entering it
and a vigorous policy on the part OF
our people would make the city the
would bring money into the town.
In local affairs. the city needs a sew.
erage system, it needs n new high
school building, 1t needs more water
pressure, and it needs more sidewalks
and paved streets. Everybody realizes
the need of these things, and every
other body abuses the city government
for not furnishing them; but compare.
lively few do any more than complain
How many OF our people attend the
meetings of the council or have any
practical idea of the workings of the
city government?
We do not need, but we want, band
concerts at least one night in the weel
during the summer season. We have
fine band, and the people IL properly
approached. would give the small
amount necessary to pay it for it:
work, but no man has yet been found
who would devote the little time neces
sary to raising the funds.
Advancement of city. state or ma
ton requires effort on the part of it,
citizens. AS long as II Is left to tn,
comparatively few, the movement will
be slow and ill-proportioned. Ocala Il
not so slow, nor crooked. but sht
might be swifter and straighter
THEY WANT To M TEMPTED