The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-11-01
Mr.. CURRY replies
TO "DEMOCRAT.
10 the Voters and Taxpayers of
putnan Cor1p+1,.

To the Voters and Tax-pavers Of
Putnam County:
Democrat" seems to be somewhat
disturbed over the prospect of NV
election to the office of county com
missioner. Without knowing who he
is (although | inquired at the Times
Herald office, l suppose he is the
white democrat who asked a promi-
nent republican to throw his infu-
ence with the negro voters of Putnam
county to Mr.. Moody. If so. his de-
mocracy is doubtful, very indeed, and
his attempt at criticism still worse
Perhaps he may be persuaded to turn
aside from criticising my poor efforts
at putting myself plainly before the
people long enough for that ponder
GUS and gigantic intellect of his to
make it plain to the people why he,
democrat, is supporting Mr.. Moody,
socialist. What particular benefit
politically, will he reserve if an
avowsd Independent and socialisa is
elected county commissioner? Does
he think Mr.. Moody, if elected would
use his influence officially ,or any spc-
cial interest when he had taken his
solemn oath to uphold the law impair
TALLY and without prejudice and that
he would be benefited financially?
This is the logical inference, and for
one do not believe it is just to Mr..
Moody, and | should think in Justice
to himself he would lose 10 time in
correcting such an impression. His
only defence of Mr.. Moody's stew
ardship ESQ to speak, is a feeble reit-
GRAFTON Of Mr.. Moody's letter to the
people, which appeared in the Times
Herald of Oct. 18th. From that let
ter which Mr.. Moody himself calls an
account Of my stewardship (since
Democrats rather uncalled for at
tack upon the writer) let us find out
if we can what of real benefit he has
brought to Putnam county.
He says, after reciting his promises
made two years ago: 81 feel that |
have fulfilled every promise then
made, so FAR AS MY ABli lTT
AND POWER WOULD PERMIT.
! do not challenge that statement. l
don't think anyone will. | believe
his abilities and powers have been
eXerted to their utmost, but his abili-
ty and power do not srem 10 have
been sufficient to have prevented the
useless expenditure Of the County
funds in the building Of an INDIE
STRUCTIBLE iron house on the St
Johns river bridge, and at point on
the bridge, which a passing steam
boat could and did knock down and
destroy a short time after it was
built His ability and power have
seemed TO COMPEL hin - sUarI I:lm-
ly for the law, which says that the
board shall advertise for bids on all
material to be used for the county F..
amounting to 100000 and more; /.
which law was ignored when the I.
board privately bought Il shell mound /.
from Mr.. L. j. Owens for $35O.OO and .
more recently from Mr.. Wright for
$4,000; nor did his ability and .
power seem to be sufficient to protect .
his county from a grave error in cal
culating the value of that last named .
shell mound, The report of Mr.. Ran
dali Wells shows the cubic contents
of the Wright mound to have been
S25S cubic yards, which would make
the shell cost the county Just frac-
ton over CSC per cubic yard Now
the mound bought from MIR. Owens
for $4,000 is reported in the records
to have had 1864 cubic yards of shell,
the cost per yard being little over
Toe per cubic yard, Now if Mr..
Moody knew what he was doing, how
could he bring himself as an impair
tial county dad, to make such differ
ence between Mr.. Owens (than whom
no citizen of Putnam is worthler or
more deserving of public favor) and
Mr.. Wright? If the purchase of the
Wright mound is justifable from an
economic standpoint, then Mr.. Owens
has been most shamefully treated.
The records seem to show that there
are in the Wright mound 675 carloads
of shell, when as a matter of fact ana
figures there are only 275 4-l5 car
loads, allowing 30 cubic yards to the
car of 10000 lbs. capacity. AS a
matter of fact, Mr.. P. J. BeckSs tells
me he has acres of the best shell IN
the county, which he will sell at l5c
per cubic yard, on such terms as the
county wants to buy, and the mound
is lust as well located so far as trans
portation goes, as Mr. wright s.
-, will oven leave it to such a