The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-07-12
LIGHT ON COUNTY DIVISION

Editor Star: If county division is a
real good proposition for our neigh
bors living in the proposed new Biloxi
ham county, let us help them get it. |
If the creation of Bloxham county !
will hurt our neighbors let us do our
best to show them the hurt there is in
the proposed plan. Above all, let US
be honest and truthful in all of our
actions in this matter.
l, having aided in the creation of
Bay, Seminole and Pinellas counties,
and aided in the defeat of others,
ton and assessed wealth will guar
antee successful county administra-
ton, and am opposed to new counties
where the hardships connected there
with will outweigh benefits received,
having given this class of legislation
much study, beg of the voters in the
proposed new county to carefully and
honestly consider the true facts in this
case.
/ beg Of you, good people, in the
Judge Willis word against county
division, nor Attorney Duval's, nor
Alfred Ayers, nor Mr.. Crosby's nor
my own word. Nor for county divis-
ion, Senator Bitch, Jasper Willis,
Sheldon Phillips nor any others, but
accept the proposition Mr.. Aver put
to the county divisionists at the Flem-
ington picnic, namely: To have a COM
mittee of reputable men meet in
Ocala, go over the assessors books
and find out the total assessments in
Marion county that will go to Biloxi
ham county, at present millage, find
out the available funds the new coun-
| ty would get from the portion taken
from Marion. Then all make oath as
to their findings. A committee to do
likewise with the portion of Levy
county that would go to Bloxham;
then the true facts would be shown to
the taxpayers of the proposed new
Bloxham county, truly proving if it
| would be or would not be best.
The published statements of the
advocates for county division have
said the assessed wealth of the pro-
posed county would take from Marion
nearly $1,2OO,O00. Mr.. Aver, our tax
assessor, in a letter to our county pa
pers, says not including railroad
wealth it would be about 100000.
The statement of the Levy tax as
SCISSOR made before the Senate COM
mittee says the portion taken from
Levy county to go to the new county
is much larger than the county divis-
ion advocates publish it would be.
County division advocates and our as
SCISSORS figures on assessed wealth do
not agree.
Voters in the proposed new county
should be rightly informed. That is
why Mr.. Aver made the proposition
he did to the division advocates.
At Fellowship there was a strong
expression from the voters for the
true facts connected with county divis-
ion. At Pennington, the cry was,
"Give us the truth! So we, the voters,
may be better informed as to how to
vote on this matter"
/, with such facts as / have secur-
ed, believe with all the power of my
soul that the creation of Bloxham
county will hurt nine out of every ten
of the taxpayers in the new county;
and not wishing the people among
whom / have been living for the last
thirty years to be harmed, / beg of
you to insist on knowing the truth and
the whole truth and let these good
people in their calm moments solve
this proposition.
l will give, if the county papers
permit me, number of articles tell
ing why / believe the creation of
Bloxham county will hurt nine out of
every ten persons living therein and
for every statement | make my au-
thority will be given, and / shall in
no way try to mislead or deceive a
single person.
Again | say, if the new county is a
good thing, give it to them; if it is
hurtful, do all you can to prevent the
law. L. s. Light.