The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-04-06
CHANGE THE CHARTER

people VI LAIS CITY " get LOSSIhSA 0iio
change the charter back to the old
twO-alderman to a ward system, with
provision to employ city manager
if a council of that size sees fit.
The five men on a council form is
proving a failure. The city is worse
governed now than for years. The
reason why is that five men are more
likely than nine to resolve themselves
into an autocracy. Our council, COM
posed as it is of honest men, is, like
any other small group of men in
pcwer-toe likely to be paternal, and
more likely to think it should do what
it wants to do than do what it thinks
the people want it to do. An instance
of this is the way it has evaded the
law on the most important feature of
the charter-city manager. There
have been other instances-the latest,
the Osceola avenue proposition.
The streets of town belong to the
people Of the town-are primarily in
tended for them to travel on. 1t is
necessary to run railroad tracks on
some of the streets; it is necessary to
build spur tracks out to factories and
warehouses. But this should always
be done by consent of the people and
with their full knowledge of what is
being done; and whenever it is at
tempted in the residence part of a
town it always evokes a strong and
generally successful protest.
The people of the second ward and
the town generally did not know of
the proposition to put another switch
and spur track on Osceola avenue
right on the most travelled part of the
street. Of course the council did not
conceal the proposition from them,
but it did not inform them of it.
And the council knew very we'll there
would be a protest if the people did
know it.
When the sidetrack from Oklawaha
avenue to Second street was laid near
ly twenty years ago, all the town
knew about it and the matter was dis
cussed for some weeks. 1t was recog-
nized as a matter of public benefit,
there was no particular opposition to
it, and so the council gave permission.
This sidetrack, even if it was useless,
would not be any of the danger and
| trouble to the people that the propos-
! ed spur will be. It runs alongside the
| main line. and the two leave enough
| room on the other side for two autos
or wagons to pass.
The spur that it is proposed to put
in will cut diagonally across the
street. 1t will make the worst kind
Of crossing, as the wheels of a car
or wagon will hit it at an angle-frst
one wheel will strike and then the
| other, instead of both at the same
time. On rainy day. it will make a
car likely to skid. and car that skids
at that point is going to get into trou-
bic, particularly if train should be
passing. 1t will make the Second street
crossing, already a bad one. worse
adding a third track to the two al
ready across it.
This stretch of street is one of the
city and county's most important
thoroughfares. People coming from
| down Orange avenue and the neigh
borhood in that direction have been
coming in and going out that way fol-
forty years or more. Several thousand
travel over it every week. If this
track is put in they will have to
change their route considerably, add
ing at least quarter of a mile dis
lance and three corners to their jour
ney in and out of town.
Several years ago the council re.
fused to allow the Coast Line to un-
load freight at the John Dozier ware.
house on the other side of the street
But the danger and inconvenience OF
having freight cars on that sidetrach
would be little in comparison with
putting in another switch and run.
ming a spur track diagonally across
the street.
And the switch-where will that be
put? It can't be put anywhere along
there without making danger and in
convenience for travellers both on foot
and on wheels.
Some people talk about how per
fectly all right everything will be il
the street is paved with brick Is any
body silly enough to suppose the Coas
Lire is going to pave that part of th'
street, or any part of the street, un
less it is compelled to? And who il
going to compel it. Since the Coas
Line took charge of the road, Their
has been only one council that woult
make the Coast Line do anything.
IF you want to know how the Coas
Line does things. look at or drive Owe
the crossings at Fort King, Broadwa.
and Oklawaha.
Mr.. Simmons is alderman from tn,
second ward. He was not on tn
council when the deal the Star com
plains of was made. He says tn,
street will not be massacred if he cal
help it. The mayor is also opposed t,
it, and its the Stars opinion that tn
project will be put to sleep.
And because of this, and some othe
things, its the Stars opinion that tn,
charter had better be changed back t,
the old form. Its a darnsite easie,
for five men than nine to get togethel
and put things over. Of course, tn,