The Palatka news and advertiser., 1913-12-12

class attraction under which they he
lieved. and we thought it probable,
that the initial Fair could be put
over" without loss to them or Putnam
county.
Second. We thought if there
should be any lass in conducting. a
far for the exclusive benefit of Put
nam county, as this will be, the coun-
ty should be willing to meet any citj-
zen or body of citizens one-third the
way on any purely public proposition.
The LEGAL right of the board to do
nate public moneys for the purpose of
holding a county fair or for any 9th
er purpose exclusively public, is in
ferential rather than statutory.
don't recall any law authorizing
county board to offer a reward for
the apprehension of dangerous an
imal, yet it is often done on the ground
of public safety.
A county fair is generally recor-
nized as the cheapest and most eff
ective way of advertising the corn-
ty's resources; of uniting the various
sections and factions of a county, anc
is the only way of showing the stran-
ger what can be done in the county
It appeals in special way to this
farmer, manufacturer, and merchant
so much 50 indeed that the fair is as
much patronized by one class as the
other.
If there is any law prohibiting the
board from donating public moneys
for the benefit of the public, would
be glad to have ]. F. indicate it and
| assure him so long as | am a mem
Der of the board will never violate it
Now in reply to J. F.'s unkind crit
icism of the board, | wish to assure
him he need have no fear that any
member of the board will "fy away
either with or without his money.
am sure not one of us could be in
duced to even try to "fy away" and
I am equally sure that there is not
one on the board who would not be
Just as far from flying away with
what did not belong to him as the
sanity J. F. himself.
Only Judas complained of eXtrav-
agance when the most beautiful art
of devotion recorded in history was
performed.
Only an educated northern gentle.
man has publicly complained of ex-
travagance, inefficiency and probable
graft at the feeble attempt of the
commissioners to help Putnam county
citizens to hold the first fair ever held
N the county, and yet he is ever ready
o sing his little song of cracker ig-
}orance and inefficiency and southern
1arrow-mindness in general, and right
lere is the trouble with Putnam coun-
y and Palatka.
Our best citizens-those blessed
With education and wealth will not
md do not give their time or money
'owards promoting purely public en-
erprises.
Mention municipal dock and you
IRE told that there is not enough bus
ness on the river to keep up the pri-
vate docks. A public dock is the only
hing in the world that will break IL
combination between private dock
owners and the railroads and for this
lone cities are paying millions of
dollars to get them. East Palatka
farmers are being charged $1.25 on
their fertilizer when a public dock on
the river and hard road therefrom
% the depot would give them the
same rate as Hastings or Palatka.
The difference in the rate on ferti-
izer and potatoes would in two years
)uild the dock and the road.
Mention fair and the biggest men
n our county are the last ones to take
lold.
Mention city ownership of the
Electric light and gas plant and some
will Immediately proceed to put in
private plants and the public may go
Putnam county and Palatka in pro-
portion to the intelligence and capital
possessed by its citizens, are just as
!ifferent to their highest public in
.ereGts as the verieSt backwoods set
slemCnt in the most backward state
n the Union is to the ordinary con-
yeniencies of life.
A dozen men in Putnam county !
'ould easily finance public projects
hat would double our population in |
sen years and increase their business
100 per cent.
l don't believe 1t is due to any lack of /
owe for Putnam county, certainly not |
o any lack of energy or character in
he individual. 1t seems to have be- ,
'ome habit to knock everything in
he nature of public Improvement and
progress. Our board of trade is re-
yarded by some as a nuisance; our
)oarG of county commissioners are
veil. not to be mentioned in the best
ireles; our city dads perhaps mean
veil but have been the objects of anx-
Gus silicitude by some of our best
itizers.
]. F. wields facile and ready pen.
lie knows times have changed and
nen must change with them. He
nows this is day of mutual coop
ration and mutual benefit.