The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-02-06
BUYING AND SELLING
PROPERTY FOR THE CITY

The Star regrets to find that the
Banner is somewhat peeved because
the Star tore down its little play
house in regard to buying and sell
ing city lots yesterday.
The Star might not have said any
thing about the matter, but the Ban
ner's article caused considerable
criticism of the mayor and council
for trying to put thru such a large
deal in a gumshoe fashion. We all
know that such things won't do in
city. If the mayor can buy and sell
public property for a good purpose
he can do the same for a bad pur-
pose. So far from the citizens of
Ocala en- masse approving such
deal, they would certainly get out
half dozen injunctions against it.
Now, the Star is not fighting the
proposition to buy one lot and sell
another. 1t thinks it would be a
very good thing to do, if it can be
done on good terms. The lot opposite
the Coast Line station is much bet
ter for city purposes than the pres
emit city lot We need a new city
hail. fire station, etc. At the same
time, it is ridiculous to say the may
or can buy lot for the city without
even telling the tax payers what the
lot will cost.
The mayor can't buy a dollars
worth of property for the city with
out the consent of the council. The
council cannot make any such a deal
as has been outlined in the Banner
without due notice to the taxpayers.
IL anybody doesn't believe this state
ment of the Stars they can go to the
city hall and look at the charter.
Certain it is that before any such
a trade is put thru, the people will
have to be fully informed on how
much the new lot will cost and how
much is offered for the old one.
They won't stand for any gumshoe
or star chamber business, and this
paper has the word of every member
of the council it has consulted on the
subject that nothing of the sort is
intended.
The lot in front of the Coast Line
station is assessed at $4,000, which
under the present system of assess
ments means that it is worth at least
$4,000. To put up the necessary
buildings in the proper style would
cost not less than $4,000 The city
lot would not sell for enough to buy
the new lot. Of course, if the city
buys the new lot, and sells the old
one, it will have to put up the new
buildings at once. And every body
with the faintest knowledge of city
affairs knows that the city hasn't the
money.
The city is now bonded for $780,
900 for water works, and the school
district is bonded for $4,000 for
school houses. Something over $50
600 of the water works bonds, ow-
ing to the good business sense of the
city council, have not been expended,
and are yet available for improve
ments. There are three improve
ments that We need much worse than
we do a new city hall or fire station.
One is a sewerage system, which We
are obliged to put in at once, or the
state board of health will compel US
to put in bucket system. Another
is street paving, and the third is the
electric line to Silver Springs. Be-
fore the electric line to the springs
can be put in, the water and light
plants must be consolidated at an
expense of several thousand dollars.
1t must be apparent to the taxpayers
of Ocala that by the time all these
matters are attended to, if another
$4,000 is piled on them, the city
will be carrying load of taxation
that will make it very undesirable
as a place of residence.
All of which is submitted in the
best of good humor and after an
earnest and successful attempt 10 Sc
cure the views of many prominent
taxpayers.
1t may not be out of place to add
that the Star does not question the
mayors honesty or public spirit in
the action attributed to him by the
Banner. 1t only maintains that he
has no such power and that such
power could not be safely delegated
to any public officer.