The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-03-25
BONDS OR NO BONDS

affirmative.
People are not talking much, which
may or may not be good sign. Of
those who express their feelings, it
is noticeable nearly all who were
against bonds the last time are now
for them. If all who were for them
last December are standing by the
faith, the election is as good as won.
But we can't be sure of this until the
votes are counted.
1t is generally conceded that the
second proposition is better than the
first. It is for but a third of the
money, and tho it will cover less
ground, the roads it is to be spent on
arc those of the most Importance.
And the federal and state aid is the
same as for the more expensive plan
that me defeat last December. For
success in that election, the county
was promised Ia per cent assistance.
For success in this one it Is promised
so per cent.
The indications are that the pre-
cincts along the Dixie Highway will
give a greater majority for bonds
than they did last December, that
Dunnellon and the northwest pre-
cincts, Anthony and Spar, will give
smaller majority against, while
those east of the river will give about
the same vote. It is prophesied that
Belleview will do better for bonds
than last time, and some fear that
Summerfield will do worse. on ac-
count of the decision to run the Dixie
Highway on the east side of the lake
instead. We think, however, that
Summerfield voters are better sports
than that.
We hear that some former bond OPP
ponents will vote for bonds or not
vote against them because, they say,
the good roads people are going to
keep on calling elections until they
win, so it will save trouble to quit OPP
posing them.
This is about the truth. The coun-
ty must have as good roads as other
counties. They may be STAYED off
awhile, but their coming is inevitable,
and the only result in keeping them
out of the county will be to put the
county behind the rest of the state.
| Meantime the county must go on pay,
ing the road tax with the other coun-
ties. Roads or no roads, we must
pay. Taxation we will have-if we do
not have representation. it will be our
own fault.
Just look at Eastern Levy, which
since our refusal to bond in Deem
Der has walked right by US with $780,
900 to build road along our western
border-a road which whole lot of
Marion county travel will take if we
don't match it with the Dixie High
way. And there is little Sumter, who
has come up to our southern border
holding out her hands and crying
saw, come in, big Sis; the water is
fine!"
How can we fail to keep up with
the one, and how can we snub the
other?
| Now, as for our northeastern pre-.
cincts, which talk about making g
separate district and building roads
OF their own-because they say they
haven't been treated right and the
Dixie Highway is for Ocala only.
| We admit they haven't been treated
right, and they will admit that the
Star and a good many Ocala people
have tried to have them treated bet.
ter. But if they will study the MAP
and reason the matter out, they will
have to admit that the Dixie Highway
is nearer being an all-county road
4 ~ L. r.
thru the thickest areas of population
and it is on the route that serves the
most travel. Also, when they vote
bonds for the Dixie Highway, they
are voting for the state road to the
west, and none of their homes are
more than a dozen miles from one OF
the other.
Also. if they try to build separate
road district, they will find they
haven't the money. They can't built
forty or fifty miles of the best roac
by themselves. When they go to pull
the load, they will miss Ocala's sturdy
shoulder at the wheel. Say what yor
please about Ocala. she pays hel
share and then some when it comes tt
footing the bills.
And as for Dunnellon, if the bono
issue is defeated, there will be a GAP
in the state road that would other
wise come to her limits, and she viii
be up in the air. Dunnellon is too
progressive community to be con
tent as broken link in a good road:
chain.
The people east of the river fee
that as they won't got any road any
how, they might as well try to stav'
eff the taxes. But those who live neal
the river are close to the Dixie High
way and need it. Also, their grea
section of the county needs develop
ment, and the nearer Transportation
comes to them the sooner they vii
have it.
AS for the friction that has ariser
between the east and west sides o.
the lake. the people of Summerfielt
should remember that they have {
fairly good road oyer which will pas:
| fha hulk of the travel batwaan Deal.