The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-11-02

LcAS LAS Ddldlc6 III d Special 1u0Q LOT
exclusive use in Hamilton county. 1t
is true that the department has been
able to revise the federal aid allot-
ment, whereby Hamilton county, and
about ten miles of road No. north
of Lake City, in Calhoun county,
will not at this time secure such an
enormous amount of money, which
was practically one-third of all the
federal aid for the entire state, but
even now Hamilton county and the
few miles of road No. 2 north of Lake
City in Columbia county viii obtain
ard has already obtained together a
grand total for expenditures on this
short stretch of road the sum of
SA70, 23320 Does this look like tax
ing Hamilton county's S165, 900 and
giving nothing in return?
Now, what has been done with the
federal aid allotment taken from this
particular piece of road? In criticism
Of one particular member of the de-
partment especially, it was charged
by the Jasper News that the depart
ment was only interested in the con-
struction of road No. /. This charge
is not well founded. No part of this
sum was placed upon road No. L The
present department has placed but
three federal aid projects, one in
Nassau county, an outlet north into
the state, one in st. Lucie county, on
the east coast, which section certain
ly deserves consideration, and the
other in Alachua county on road No.
2. The department simply took a large
part of the federal aid from Hamilton
county, which was not entitled to such
ar enormous amount at this time, and
placed large part of the same on
road No. 2 in Alaehua county. Not
one dollar was placed by this board on
road No. /.
The department desires to further
state that of the eonvicts now work
ing on roads Nos 1 and 2, totaling
400, that 260 of them are now at work
on road No. and $50 on road No. 1.
Now, let's examine the case of CO.
lumbia county. Two or three individ-
uals from Columbia county, who essay
tc speak for the citizenship of this
county, but who the department does
! not believe fairly represent the peo-
pie, have also stated that the de-
partment was taking their bonds and
now is diverting their money. This
is absolutely untrue. What are the
facts Columbia county did issue
bonds for 100000. They had many
and serious disagreements among
themselves about the issue. Finally
/ they were validated, but the county
did not, or could not, sell, them to
advantage. They then delivered the
tissue to the road department. We
lhave them now and have been unable
to sell them. They bear only five per
cent interest, and we cannot utilize
any money from them except at a
great discount. We have received in
cash from Columbia county the inter
est on these bonds. This county by
reason of it's stragetic position
(roads Nos. and 2 crossing at Lake
City, has received and will receive
more road building in the near future
than probably any other county in
the state. Surely it cannot be heard
to complain, and we do not believe
the fair-minded citizenship of Column
bia county is doing so.
We want to issue a word of eau
tion to the people on road No. 2 down
through the central part of the state
not to permit themselves to be used
as a cats paw by Hamilton county in
an effort to wiring from the depart
ment the enormous sums above re-
ferred to for use at this time on such
a short stretch of road.
Now, what is the result of this
change in type of construction made
+on this road through Hamilton coun-
ty. We are building four bridges on
this road, and we are making the
road fit for travel as we go. In a
comparatively short time, the road
will be ready, while if we had been
tied up with the old schedule, there is
no telling when this road would have
been made passable. We have given
our pledges to the bureau of public
roads that we will maintain this road
in condition for travel and that as
soon as we can, we will complete it as
hard surfaced road.
1t is a mistake to say that this
change was made because of the views
of any one member of the board. The
chairman of the board had more to
do with this matter than any other
8 member, and he stands ready to as
sumo full responsibility in the prem
q Uses.
The department realizes that No.
8 is one of the great roads of the state
& and we intend to see that it is built
We are not going to be influenced OF
8 turned aside from the performance Of
q very plain duty by any former con
! ltvoversies or the petty jealousies OF
\ individuals or sections. We have kept