The Ocala evening star., 1915-09-18
TO
THE RECORD
Mr.. Meffert Proves the Authenticity
of His Statements in Regard to
Location of the Water Plant

Editor Star: In the Ocala Banner
of September 10th, Mr.. Harris head
ed an article, "Was Our Statement
Authorized.
This being addressed to the public,
we will let the people be the judges.
At Mondays mass meeting, Mr..
Harris made the following state
ment, "that no official action had been
taken in permanently fixing the loca-
tion of the water works and electric
| light plant on the water works lot,
hence any step taken in that direction
was unauthorized" Soon after some
one in the audience asked for infor-
Mr.. Chambliss was this: "Did you
make contracts to have the present
work done, building the electric plant
without authority from the council ?"
This was emphatically denied, and
proved by Councilman Roess, who was
present and stated that the work was
authorized, and furthermore said he
| offered the resolution, which was
unanimously adopted by the council.
Mr.. Harris further says: Before
making the above statement he con-
suited the city clerk and members of
the council, who voluntarily told him
| that no official action permanently
| fixing the location had been TAKEN"
| As to official action, there are COM
plete plans for the combined light
and water plant, also for the electric
pumping plant, accompanied with a
| full set of blue prints showing every
thing in detail, location of every ma
chine, receiving well, new well and
water tower, including building and
the exact spot where it is to be placed.
There is also a full written report
prepared by Mr.. Twombly, which was
carefully explained by him and unani-
mously accepted by all councilmen
present. Just recently, at a meeting
of the council, for the purpose of GO
ing over the specifications with Mr..
| Hanney, who was called here to ex-
plain to the council in detail, after
doing so the specifications were ac-
cepted by all members present, with
out one dissenting vote. The council
has even gone as far as to instruct
the finance committee to have seven
| ty-five copies of the specifications
printed and date fixed to receive bids.
Is this no official action?
No objection had been made to the
location of the light and water plant
until l advocated the purchase of the
Converse mill site. Advertisements
were placed in the local papers, ask
ing for bids on the proposed electric
driven pumping plant. Such were re-
ceived and opened by the council. Nc
Iver & MacKay were the lowest bid
ders and the contract was awarded
them. The council instructed the city
attorney to draw up the contract be-
tween the city and McIver & MacKay
lunder Mr.. Twombly's direction. The
new well was also contracted for and
located within a few feet of the side
walk in plain view. No objections
were made to the work being done al
the present site. Machinery for the
pumping plant is on the ground. Nc
liver & MacKay will soon complete
the work. In all, the expenditures
contracted for will be close to $1,000
All of sudden opposition develops
When / advocated the purchase of the
Converse lot, the editor of the Ban
ner took up the fight at once, and ii
no uncertain terms proclaimed to the
public that the present lot was entire
ly too small, objecting to the water
the Converse mill and many other
things. Soon after petition was pre-
sented to the council objecting to the
lplant being located on the present lot