The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-08-07
AGAINST AN ELECTION
But the Delegates to this Mornings
Meeting Seemed to Have Been
Misinformed About Bonds


tended the good roads convention here
this morning. The circuit court room
was crowded, many standing or sit
ting in the windows. The delegates
from the various precincts having
been seated, an expression of senti-
ment from >each precinct was asked
for, and when it was seen that the
sentiment was going against bond
ing the county at this time, resolu-
tion was offered by Col. r. F. Rogers,
instructing the county commissioners
not to call the proposed election,
which resolution was adopted unani.
mously.
1t was evident from the talks made
that there was a general misunder-
standing of the bond issue as it was
proposed. The large attendance show
ed interest, and certainly there was
no expression against good roads. A
wide difference of opinion on good
roads, their construction, and the
financing of them, was evident.
Mr.. A. R. Griffin of Citra, was elect
ed chairman of the convention, and
Mr.. 0. Fl. Rogers of Lynne, secretary.
Nearly every precinct in the county
was represented. In several precincts
no delegates had been chosen, and
citizens from these precincts were al
lowed seats as delegates.
Mr.. w. D. earn, speaking for the
Ocala delegates, stated that the senti-
ment of the city was greatly divided,
but he thought that majority fav-I
ored a bond issue. The Ocala delega-
tion was not instructed. Mr.. earn ex-
planned that the county was now
spending $4,000 for the up-keep of
the present road system and for in
debtedness, and he pointed out that
in thirty years that would amount co
S2,100,000. He did not see how it
would be possible to spend less than
the present system. A bond issue he
believed would give the county a per-
manent and economical system of
roads, provide for their maintenance,
and for the maintenance of other
roads in the county, without an in
crease in taxes. He said that the
boards of county commissioners, upon
which had sat some of the most prom
inent men in the county, had failed to
accomplish anything under the pres
ent system of building and maintain
ing the roads,. He said that next year
it would be necessary to spend about
SAC, 900 on up-keep alone, without
building any additional mileage of
hard roads.
Mr.. M. L. Payne, of Fairfield, made
a vigorous speech against the propos-
ed bond issue. He said his precinct
had voted to against the issue. He
contended that the bond issue would
increase taxes IN spite of the conten-
ton of those promoting the issue, and
took exception to the contention that
the valuation of property in the
county would increase three per cent
a year.
G. R. Curry of Flemington, said
that his precinct favored good roads,
but was opposed to bonding. He said
that his section had been paying taxes
and not getting roads it should have,
and said that the roads mapped out
by the promoters of the bond issue
would not be satisfactory to Fleming
ton precinct.
Mr.. Newcomb Barco of Cotton
Plant, made plea for more and bet
ter roads, in order, as he said, that
the people of the county might be bet
ter able to get in touch with one an
other, and he said that he thought his
precinct would vote for bonds prop
erly handled. He said he was not as
pessimistic as some of the others, but
that his precinct was unanimous
against bond issue as proposed.
At this juneture Mr.. Carn explain
ed that there semed to be misunder-
standing as to what had been pro-
posed. He said that the roads that
had been outlined were merely sug-
gestive, and not at all definite He
said that the location of the roads
would be matter for the people TO
determine. He said that the sugges-
tions had been made simply to start
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