The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-06-28
WOULD Be- MONEY WASTED
To Issue Bonds for Improved Reads
Under Existing Conditisns-specia
Legislafion Needed, and How 10
Obtain Ii

Editor Star: As requested. 1 give
you my views on bonding the county
10 build and repair the public roads
and highways, bridges, etc. I beg TO
say that under existing conditions 4
am opposed to an issue of bonds for
the purposes above named To make
my position clear that | may not be
censured for pessimism or be misun-
dersteod as opposing public improve
ments at any and all times, 1t is nsc-
essary that I give my reasons for OPP
posing bond issue now. And here
they are in the following order:
One. Our state road laws are the
most complicated and conglomerated
compilation of extracts from the var
ious acts of the legislatures of Florida
for the past fifty years.
Two. No provision OF the general
road law to authorize the county COM
missioners to employ and contract
with a competent civil engineer, an ex-
pert road building and construction
work.
Three. When the county does issue
bonds, / want every dollar of the
money placed to lasting advantage of
the county and in order to have this
done, the law must authorize the
county commissioners to contract with
road builders and an expert engineer
to see that the work is done accord
ing to contract and specifications. just
as an architect whose duty and bond
is to see that the building is put up ac-
cording TO specifications and of the
material designated.
Four. a bond issue under the pres
ent road law would mean hundreds
and thousands Of dollars expended in
building roads by men who have had
but little if any experience in such
work and the result would be, the first
heavy rainfall would cut the road and
wash away several hundred dollars
worth of work, only to be repaired by
the same men, with the same kind of
material in the same old way.
Five. The present road law allows
the county commissioners $4 per day
and mileage at 10c per mile from their
homes ito the court house, provided
they shall not be allowed over s40o
per annum in counties of twenty-five
thousand inhabitants or more. Be ii re-
membered the law makes them. the
bosses TO watch and look after the
roads, hence the blame attached to
them for the bad condition of every
piece of road Where is the man COM
petent to serve on the board of COM
missioners who could afford to give
his time and his horse or conveyance
and do his duty as the law directs for
four hundred dollars per year and then
be blamed for drawing such a big CD
salary from the county.
The above are the outlines of my
opposition to a bond issue for road
purposes.
Now the remedy!
Have our egislators-Messrs Car
ney, Light and Spencer, meet with our
board of county commissioners and
draft a bill for a special road law for
| Marion county. Advertise as the con-
stitution directs that such special
| legislation will be passed at the next
session of the legislature. Let that
law provide everything that is needed
| in an issue of bonds, If the voters want
| them, the expenditure of the money
ETC., the letting out by contract of the
building of the roads, the hire of the
county convicts to the contractor OF
| builder, the employment, of an expert
engineer and what his duties shall be
the employment of road commission
er or overseer in every election dis
trict in the county to repair and how
repair, drain and keep up the public
roads and bridges of the county.
| / deem it needless to mention all the
details of such special law. Our legis.
lators and commissioners can call te
| council with them such men and tax.
payers as they think best in framing
| such a law.
1t may be necessary to say that Or
ange county of this state has been act
/ ing under special road law for tina
county for several years past and it!
system of public roads, highways and
bridges will bear inspection with an,
| county in the state.
| I hope I have made my position cleal
and whether accepted or rejected,
believe 1 am right and shall stant
| fearlessly by my opinions until / an
| convinced that 1 am wrong.
| Without controversy or contention,
am yours for better roads and more Of
| them. r. F. Rogers.
Lynne. Fla, June IS, 1912.