The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-02-07
OCALA NEEDS A BIG BOND ISSUE

The Star had an interview Friday
evening with Mr.. Chas. W. Hunter
president of the city council, in
which he spoke of the needs OF
Oca1a and it's resources, and the
plans that the members of the coun-
Gil had for the improvement of the
town.
There are some improvements
that Ocala must have and some that
it should have, and the only way TO
obtain them in proper time and
quantity is to issue bonds in suffi-
Gent amount to cover the expense.
The most necessary improvement,
as everyone knows, is an up-to-date
system of sewerage. The system,
aided by nature, which has been in
use in Ocala up to this time, has
done fairly we'll, but will not much
longer meet the needs of the grow
ing city, and beside it is contrary to
the law passed at the last meeting of
the legislature. The Star published
the law some weeks ago, and unless
1t is soon complied with the city will
have to put in a bucket system
very inconvenient and expensive.
There are no two ways about this
st will have to be done.
The next most important improve
ment as to consolidate the water and
electric plants, and while this is be-
ing done it would be best to remove
them to the city property in the
northern part of town. The expen-
diture of a reasonable sum of money
would not only put up these plants
on scale to meet their growing
business, but improve the property
SO We would have pretty and useful
city park with a small lake in the
center. The city needs this park
and the expense would be compar-
atively small. Enlargement of both
water and electric plants will have
TO be made soon-the latter is hard
it now has, and new calls for cur
rent are made every day.
The present electric plant is not
only worked to its full capacity,
it is badly situated. Every time
there is a heavy rain, it is threaten
ed with flood, and several times in
the past few years it has been put
n,,f of h11cjpacc tom norari1v Inv water
rushing into the boiler room.
We do not name the tramroad to
Silver Springs, among the necessi-
ties, because while it is one of the
first on the list, there may be ways
of securing it without the city build
ing it.
The streets are the next necessary
improvement, and we all know the
need in this regard. Only a few Of
The most used streets are paved, and
Others are hardened, but most of the
side streets are yet deep in the prim
tive sand. A bad street is handi
cap to any neighborhood, and the ag
gregate is Of course clog on the
city.
Among the street. necessities is {
broad, well-payed boulevard to Sill
yer Springs, shaded with trees anC
ornamented with flowers all the way
according to the plans of the Won
ans Cuba convenience and lux
ury to our own people, an attraction
to visitors, and a certain agency tt
the development of the city.
The fourth improvement is the 10
and new city buildings that Their
has been so much dispute over tn
last few days. 1t is rather unfor
tunate the way this matter has beef
introduced. Nevertheless, the lot i
an excellent piece of property, tn
last. piece of unoccupied land left il
an eligible situation. The price ha
been mistakenly withheld from tn
public, but if it can be secured 70
d reasonable amount now, the cit,
will make a good business deal t
buy it. We presume the city cal
scrape up cash enough to purchas
1t, but it cannot put up the necessar
buildings without bonds. Mr.. Hun
ter informs the Star that the pric
Of this lot is So, 500.
The present city buildings are nov
inadequate. They are too cramped
and valuable records have no pro
lection other than the vigilance o
their custodians. While this i'm
provement is not as vitality necessar
as the others named, it is one tina
should be made if possible. TIL
present city lot is a good one. but i
AS not as good for the purpose as tn