The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-08-08
PEANUT OIL BETTER
THAN PEANUT POLITICS

Editor Star: In your issue of Aug.
9Th Mr.. L. S. Light gives some "fax
and figgers" that our voters would do
well to heed Also his closing remarks
regarding the need in this section of
some substantial industries, like a.
packing house for Florida meats, a
peanut oil factory, etc., ETC., are per-
tinent and sensible and there might
be added many other industries like
manufacturing our timber into axe
handles, hoe and pick handles and
furniture, that we now buy from
Grand Rapids. Mich.
1t seems TO. me far better to dabbleI
IN peanut oil than in peanut politics,
and unless we can do something. to es-
tablish this country upon sound eco
nomic basis, it appears that to talk
of further bonds and higher taxes is
about like a man trying to mortgage
his house after it had caught afire
and was burning up.
It is foolish for man with $4,000
in the bank to plod on foot when he
should have a divvle wagon to ride in,
and it is equally foolish for a $40 a
month clerk to honk around in an au-
tomobile and trust to posterity to
take care of his wife and babies.
We ought to have just as good roads
as we can afford. Anything less is a
mistake, but / do not believe that we
have exhausted the possibilities in the
economical building and maintenance
Of roads made of our own cheap ma
terial by any means.
During the few years have lived
in Ocala, taxes have been trebled, and
those who pretend to know, say we
have only tasted of what is to follow.
In that event why not inaugurate a
saturnalia of bonds, mortgages and
interest, make enough Offices SO that
everybody can hold Office, raise the
salaries, go on with the dance of
death and leave our children to pay
our debts.
It is considered pious to cry
knocker! soreheadi croaker! but be-
lieve a pessimism based on facts,
coupled with a methodical remedy for
the evil is at least as sensible as any
optimism based on bunk, hot air and
pseudo patriotism.
The Star quoted some statistics to
show the comparative cost per ton
for hauling products over poor road
and a good one. It is quite the thing
to say that Figures won't lie," but
like many wise saws it's mistake
Figures are about the most deceiving
things on earth, especially when you
get them in wrong. Take "a square
mile in the densely populated agricul-
tural districts of Ohio, Indiana or Il
linois. have no idea how many in
habitants it would contain, but we viii
say fifty, and over its highways daily
go great three-ton loads of wheat
corn, oats, barley, rye, wool, live
stock, etc., etc. The contributing ter.
ritory is worth $500 to $3.50 per acre
and the towns are full of factories. A
good road there is an asset, not a liza.
bility. Go out into the piny woods
thru which the most of Florida roads
run. How much is the land worth
Why, from nothing to $40 per acre
How many tax paying inhabitants Il
the square mile? About one and 3
half. And the heaviest loads, with
the exception of little timber, are
drawn by one 600-lb. mule and usually
consist of two or three sacks of pin
ders and half dozen old hens. Blu
you ask what about our AUTOMOBILES
and our tourist trade? Well, if thu
present prices on gasoline and thu
rate of taxation holds for year o.
so, nobody but editors and office hold
ers can afford to run a car. Every
one else will evaporate, or be in Jail
and so far as tourists are concerned
the only way to hold them is to or
ganize the city into a secret society
and keep our tax rate strictly to our
selves.
| Kansas in-well, suppose 1888
went thru a bonding craze. For tn.
succeeding twenty-five years she wa
penitent, poor and tax-ridden. Final.
she found herself and today, they sa.
she is prosperous. Colorado is nov
in spots is undergoing the experience
lof Florida trying to get somebody Il
stay-and pay.
It's only a question of few thou
sand years, which TO the Lord is onl.
a day, until this land of flowers vii
come into its own. Lester Warner.
i
WILL MY CHILD TAKE DIR.