The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-01-12
A MONUMENT TO UNTIRING AND
ENERGETIC EFFORT


board, as its chairman, feel that the
people of this city are entitled to an
accounting of the boards steward
ship.
The board was created in January
1914, and entered Immediately upon
the discharge Of its duties.
The lot on which the library build
ing is located was purchased for the
city by Mayor Robertson in March
following.
1t was purchased because OF it's
nearness to the center of the city
with the expectation that it would be
utilized for library building, city
hall and fire station, but the election
to bond the city for said purposes was
voted down so we have only one
wing of what could be made in my
judgment a beautiful civic center.
Had the mayor and the then city
council been sustained in their laud-
able aspirations Ocala would today
be possessed of the most unique and
imposing public buildings-in the
most CONSPICUOUS locality-of any city
in Florida
The board of trade would have had
a spacious, permanent home; the
clerk, treasurer, assessor and collec-
tor, and other city officials, supberb
quarters; the rentals from the aban-
dOned buildings would have paid the
interest and the final disposition of
the property would in all probability
have cancelled the bond indebted
ness.
| am not yet without hope that
''consumation so devoutly to be
wished" may not in time materialize.
AS already stated the members of
the board appointed early in January
entered periodically and enthusiastic
ally upon the discharge of their
duties, but their labors failed to bear
fruit
Stumbling blocks were thrown in
their pathway for what purpose and
by whom the members of the board
were then and are still largely ignor-
ant but their progress was not only
impeded but their efforts along all
lines were thwarted.
Things dragged their slow length
along" for full years an a half.
Patience ceased being a virtue and
an effort was finally made to bring
matters to a crisis.
The following correspondence will
show under what irritating disad-
yantages the board labored:
Ocala, Florida, May 4th, 1915.
MIR. James Bertram,
Secy. Carnegie Corporation,
New York City,
My Dear Sir:
| have the honor OF being chairman
of the Carnegie Library Board of this
city. To let you know the interest
! have taken in the erection of Car
negie library buildings | have but to
state that l offered several years ago
to donate an eligible site for the cree
tion of one in Ocala
When Mr.. Carnegie first wrote his
triumphant Democracy a copy of
which happened to fall into my
hands. | was so greatly pleased with
its contents that | at once became an
admirer of its author, and | do not
suppose that there is a newspaper
within the bounds of the United
States that has so persistently and
continuously said so many pleasant
things about him.
said these things without the
thought or the hope of reward for
have never written him a letter or
sought an interview with him al
though have visited New York many
times and have been frequently taken
for him.
AS you seem to have formed an un-
favorable and unjust opinion Of our
board | beg 10 give you a brief
sketch of its membership.
Mrs. c. l.. Bittinger was president
of our library association which has
been in existence for many years.
She is half owner of the Ocala Even
ing Star; she is president of the
king Daughters" and is a woman
of influence and great probity of
character.
Mrs. NJ. H. StovaH was secretary of
the local library association. She is
a native of the city. belongs to one
of the oldest and most esteemed fam
lilies, has won encOniums in the field
of journalism and has been a contribu.
tor to some of our largest newspapers.
Mrs. Dan Morgan Smith is the wife
of one of our oldest and most esteem
ed physicians and enjoys the reputa-
ton of being very fine business
woman. and has made personal sacri-
fees in order to facilitate the cree
ton OF the library building
Mrs. William Hooker is, without
exception, one of the most cultured
women in Florida She has held the
office of president of the Woman'S
Club of Ocala, and has also been pres
ident of the State Federation of Won
ans Clubs. which is justly regarded
as very great distinction.
Mrs. Jack Camp. still another men,
Der of the board, is likewise a cultur-