The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-09-26

Dunnellon. Fla. Sept. "a, 1919.
TO TIE Editor Ocala Banner:
Hard roads are more expensive
than automobiles at present, both to
build and maintain.
We built In May. with the hard
road crew and the help Of the repair
crew. 1899 yards at a cost of s5071.0c
o. s2is Ia per running yard, equal
% = cost Of sss5sso per mile.
IN June We built 1850 yards, cost.
inn ss2os.os. or Sass % per running
yard. equal 20 s5sf1.3O per mile.
The above expense. was in the city
llmlts Of Ocala. being only a portion
~ the expense Of hard road surfacing
done h the city limits.
/ believe in the city OF 0cala do
ing her own work. as Dunnellon and
other corporations do. and I. for one,
win assist IN finding out the entire
expense the county was put to in the
neN addition 20 0cala, preparing it
for the city and recovering it for the
county. a. / believe II is unjust for
q board or a member Of the board to
spend the peoples money in this way.
I Niil be able. a little later, to say
hoW much was spent in Ocala, and
this d Justly due to the county by the
town. or the party causing it to be-
toll 0d
BY this work.
o. course Il Is nice and comforta-
Die 20 those having lots or property
on and near the river. but we people
living Ia sand-as most people do in
district No 2-desire this money put
on roads that will Accommodate the
producers.
District No. has about twenty-five
miles Of so-called hard roads, and has
more population and pays more road
tar than several counties that could
~ menti0ned-Citrus. for instance.
Districts Nos. ?. 3. and 5 have
given up their road money for years
past. until district No. 1 has made al
most every foot OF her public roads
hard surfaced. at the enormous cost
above mentioned.
I think that the commissioners and
the people OF districts Nos. 2, 3, and
s should now demand value received
ZOE their money and get themselves
some Rood roads. While ocala, dis
tFict No !. sits back. and enjoys her
roads. Ne build our hard roads at a
coat Of $500 20 $500 per mile.
TIE total amount OF roads built in
Nay and June was 2s50 yards, at an
average cost Of s2.77h per Iineal
xara The total cost. including 20l
eonpieta and teams, at a leased
prtcn. i ss27fi2. and this being less
IAN / "a miles OF road. Two miles
81 rad a. this rate would cost slO,-
its.
n Jnly the hard road crew built, as
per report. $50 yards on the Sharps
Very road. and $40 yards on the Lake
Weir read. making 1890 yards. at a
eoss % si7i2.7T. or si.23h per lineal
yard. A mile Of road at this rate
wouid cost s2i6e.20.
~ the three months we built 2l2
mllss less 80 yards. Cost over all:
Salaries. sso07i2: 20 convicts, per
menfh. flE0o. teams. at $3.50 per
cas- for work days. ssSe-or a total OF
afeAf9ta Three miles at this rate
would have cost sii.Ses.3O
would guarantee TO build. by the
das. wlth hired teams. or contract la
be-. fer sios2 per mile. The cost to
wofk convicts Il as follows:
Twenty convicts at SIS per month
lie leased price-without any care
er expense whatever. would be. per
manih. $500. ) double teams. at $3.50
peF aay. s8i2. four guards. at s25
each. kiaa. one superintendent. 800:
provisions. per month. $50. Making
= total 81 si062
feel sure the board and the peo-
pie. almost a. 4 whole. viii favor
CLEANSING our convict system of build
tnx roads. and build them by contract.
kome claim that because the Dunnel-
Ben and Ocala road Is no good, that
cantrsrtink - a failure. But this was
dae 90 the poor specifications and TO
sac commissioners then In charge. II
We wlii have good plans and speciti-
cafiens. and have the contractor or
eeutraclors under sufficient bond. as
3 ahile. and inspect the work. as it