The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-02-15
REPAIRING THE ROADS
Members of the Legislature and Rep
resentative Citizens Discussed the
Matter with the County Commits
siOnerS.

|. matter with the county COmmlS-
sioners.
A body of representative citizens
met with the county commissioners
Friday and good talks were offered
by several of the members. Legisla-
tors Fort and Folks and State Sena-
tor Crosby were present.
The convict lease system of the
state and the operation of the prison
farm at Raiford were thoroughly dis
cussed from all angles. Mr.. T. T..
Munroe offered motion that the tax
payers approve the action of the COM
missioners toward the abolition of the
state convict lease system to corpora
tions and individuals and urge our
senator and representatives to do all
within their power to effect legisla-
tion that will release convicts to work
only upon the roads and highways of
the state, under the direction of the
state highway commission and the
boards of commissioners of the sew
eral counties of the state, which mo-
tion was seconded by Col. r. F. Rog-
ers and unanimously carried.
Our representatives made talks to
the assembly, expressing themselves
as being in favor of the legislation
requested and promised to do their
utmost to see that the needed legis-
lation is enacted.
The matter of remuneration now al
lowed by law for free laborers to
work the public roads was discussed
froolu and If xvoc Voooporoapdad 70 on.
representatives that legislation be
passed allowing pay of more than 15c.
per hour, as s1.50 per day for labor is
rot sufficient remuneration and if
necessary legislation is passed to re-
ieve this condition it will relieve the
board of commissioners from embar-
rassment from lack of labor and will
be conducive to better maintenance
of roads throughout the state.
Upon motion of w. d. earn, second
ed by w. j. Folks, and carried. the
assembly decided to invite the mem
bers of the state road commission to
meet with the county commissioners
and the general public to discuss the
future road program and that notice
be given the public through the med
ium of the newspapers upon receipt
of advice as to what date is conven-
lent to them.
The matter of bonding the county
for the construction of roads was
discussed and the assembly appoint
ed Messrs. T. 7. Munroe. N. Mayo,
c. A. Vaughn, S. H. Bitch and J. K.
Christian committee to present the
matter before the commissioners at
their next session. The assembly
passed resolutions expressing approx
al of the state issuing bonds to meet
federal appropriations, which matter
is now being agitated throughout the
state.
The expenditure of $65,000 this
year on the Dixie highway was then
taken up, and the chairman of the
board said that acting upon the advice
Of the state road engineer the matter
had been voted on by the board, and
$4,000 had been allowed to the part of
the road north of Ocala and 5000
allowed to that part south of 0cala.
Mr.. r. L. Martin asked for the read
ing of the resolution passed by the
Marion County Board of Trade, which
was read, and a request was made for
the county board to open up the ques-
tion and give more equitable divis-
ion of the $1,000. Mr.. Nathan Mayo
asked that $4,000 be expended on
making several Gniles of good road on
the northern part of the Dixie high
way and $4,000 for the same purpose
on the southern part of the Dixie
highway and the other $4,000 be ex-
pended in putting the whole balance
OF the Dixie highway in fairly good
repair, but this was declined by the
commissioners.
The following parties were among
those present: Messrs. S. H. Cats
kill and E. L. Price. Mcintosh; DIR.
Klock and Mr. Lee. Eastlake; Mr..
Priest, Anthony, Mr.. J. w. Crosby,
Citra; Mr.. L. S. Light, Reddick; Mr..
N. A. Fort, Lynne; Mr.. w. ]. Folks,