The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-12-18
FROM A POOR MANS STAND.
M POINT
To the Editor OcaIa Banner:

OuI ISCcul AuuAlCipdt clcCIlous
Did you ever. Mr.. Editor. stand
near Castle Garden in New York City.
and watch the tide of immigrants pass
through its gates?
If you. have you witnessed those
with pinched features carrying their
bundles and bags and all their world.
lily belongings on their shoulders.
Why are those people leaving the
congested districts OF Europe TO bet
ter their fortunes in the more thinly
populated districts of this country
among a strange people. even whose
tongue they cannot speak?
If population is good thing. why
are these people fleeing from Il?
Do you see farmers and artisans.
contractors and builders. going from
America to Europe? Why not. II
population is good thing?
| You do not have to be told that in
congested districts in all cities
whether in Europe or America--that
there is poverty, squalor and suffer
ing in all its excruciating forms. and
that it requires all sorts of benevolent
societies to fight back the gaunt wolf
from the door. ,,e-kra
So, if like begets like, why do we
want more people in Ocala and in
Marion county? 4a.r-... ..I.-..
When, Columbus discovered this
country did he not find the Indians
happier than the millions OF poor he
left in Europe? basr
But some people-you among the
|number-are trying to have our state
vastly populated, and even build mp
a big city here in the interior.
To this end sixty-five thousand
dollar school building has been erect
ed, and two other brick school build
ings, making the entire cost reach
something like one hundred thousand
dollars. ~ o ~
Bonds have been voted on for the
enlargement of the water works and
the putting down of sewers. Bonds
have also been voted on for street
paving and for a seventy-five thou
sand dollar electric light plant. The
citizens are required to put down ce-
ment sidewalks. You are seeking 10
establish boat line from Silver
Springs to Jacksonville, the object of
which is to lower freight rates one
half, the ulterior purpose being to
build up a big city here in the inte-
rior, like unto those so many poor are
fleeing from in Europe.
The latest thing in this direction
is the proposition of the Florida Pow
er Company to furnish electric cur
rent to the city for the low sum of
two cents per k. W. h., delivered at
the switchboard, and for less sum
delivered at Dunnellon.
Millions were spent to harness Nj
agara, and the result has been the es-
|tablishment of manufacturing plants
for a thousand miles away.
Millions have been spent in North
Carolina and Georgia and other plac-
es in order to be able to furnish cheap
power for manufacturing purposes,
the purpose of which is to coax
dense population to the south, and
have her become Europeanized.
Do we want it? - s
The sympathies of the good women
of the south are already aroused be-
cause of the child labor in the cotton
mills of the south.
Do we want this power plant, and
its concomitant, big city here in our
lovely interior? N,t n
Go to London, Berlin, Paris, New
York, Chicago, or any of our big cit
les, and You will find want and power
ty and gaunt suffering, and thousands
of men out of employment.
The bread line on cold winter nights
tells, it's own story. -
Little communities. with sand
streets and sand sidewalks, little log
or wooden school houses. wooden
churches and old-fashioned store
buildings, the old kerosene lamp. and
the rude furniture Of other days. may
not be as convenient and comfortable
as electric lights. automobiles and
other things OF modern city life. but
they do not produce the sqnalor and
amount of suffering that we find in
the more populated districts OF the
new as well as the old world.
The prices OF lots in ocala are now
almost beyond the reach OF poor
|men-where viii they be IL all these
things are to be brought about?
We would have city here In a lit
tie while as big as Tampa or Jack