The Ocala evening star., 1915-09-14

People of OcaIa at Mass Meeting Last
Night Opposed Moving City
Works to TaylOr's Pond


water plant from its present site to
site on Taylor's pond was unani-
mously condemned by mass meeting
of citizens at the court house last
night, after the failure of those pro
posing the removal and voting for the
recent resolution in council TO state
why the water works should be locat-
ed on the pond
The meeting was one of the larg-
est public gatherings recently held in
Ocala, was well attended by the con-
servative, and there was not a vote
against a resolution offered by Mr..
z. C. Chambliss. The resolution, as
adopted, reads:
Resolved, That it is improper to
remove the water plant from its pres
ent location to the Taylor pond lot"
Mr.. Harris, editor of the Banner,
stated during rather heated speech
favoring removal, that the additional
equipment and building that have
been provided for at the water plant
were not authorized by council. Pres
ident Meffert, of the council, said
that the records at the city hall
would show authorization, and he
called upon Councilman Roess to
verify this. Mr.. Roess did so, saying
that he had presented a resolution
providing for the new equipment and
building.
The chief reason given by those
favoring the removal of the plant
was stated by Mr.. Harris. He said
that the plant on its present site was
Objectionable to the property owners
and residents of the immediate
neighborhood. He read copy of the
petition recently presented to the
council by citizens of the water
works neighborhood. Mr.. Harris did
not think that the plant should be in
the residential section of the city 1t
should be placed in Taylor's pond, he
argued, because the earliest settlers
of Ocala got their water from a
spring in the pond, and this spring,
he said, was known to- have pure wa
ter. The editor denied ''in toto," as
he said, that the pond was eesspool,
receiving the swiIl and garbage of the
city. He ignored the fact that the
city is at present, and has been for
years, dumping garbage in the pond,
filling it in.
Mr.. w. K. Zewadski, in a vigorous
hut 4Io4
the very reputation of Taylor's pond
was enough to condemn the PROPOSE
ton, and the placing of the water
plant there, he contended, would ut
terly destroy the good reputation of
Ocala. 1t would make no difference
as Mr.. Zewadski, Mr.. G. S. Scott, Mr..
B. H. Seymour, and others pointed
out, whether we'll could be drilled
deep enough to get rid of the surface
filth in the pond. The fact that the
wells would be driven through filth,
if only part of the depth, would do
the city untold harm.
Mr.. Zewadski said, by way of diver
sion, that he could not understand
why it was that the city could not get
at least par if not premium for its
bonds.
Mr.. Chambliss said that he had at
tempted to get the reason for the re-
moval of the water works, the reason
of the councilmen for voting for the
Smith resolution. He said that he
had gotten no reason, other than that
the present site was too small, all of
the present wells were not being
used, and that an opportunity would
be given the city to sell some of its
property. He thought that the coun-
cilmen who voted for the removal
should give the public their reasons
for the removal and for locating the
plant on a dumping ground.
Mr.. Roess responded, and said the
real reason was one that he was re-
luctant to make public. 1t had been
kept a secret, he said. He said that
since the real reason was asked for
he would give it. Mr.. Roess said that
the real reason for the removal was
that one of the wells at the present
plant is defective, and gave forth for
eign substance of an Objectionable
nature. The well is not used, the
councilman added.
Mr.. Chambliss pointed out that the
defect of this we'll might be easily
remedied by repairing the casing. Mr..
Roess gave no definite reason why
the water works should be located in
Taylor's pond. He also stated that
the council had not taken any action
that it could not rescind if the people
so desired.
1t was said number of times that
there were numerous good sites to be
selected if the plant had to be moved.
There was every reason, it was said,
against placing the plant in the pond.
Mr.. Seymour pointed out that, for