The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-08-04
Mr.. MARTINS GOOD WORK
ON EAST FOURTH STREET

Ever since our younger business
and professional men were boys and
played baseball at the old diamond
on East Third street, where the pri-
mary school building now stands. in
the rainy season that location was an
overfowed and inundated area, the
water spreading out for blocks in
all directions and flooding private
property. Some years ago the school
building was erected and placing the
building in the center of the block
left the ground Immediately sur
rounding it slightly higher than be-
fore, and when heavy rains came in
stead Of the surplus water overflow
ing the school lot into Third street, as
formerly was the case, it was backed
up into the low places south of the
school building and overfiowed the
property abutting East Fourth street.
So much complaint having been
made to the council about the poor
drainage in this section, the city sew
eral years ago decided to open East
| Fourth street. Several of the property
owners abutting the street gave parts
loft their lots for the new street and
condemnation proceedings were insti-
tuted against others. After a long
and tedious legal battle, a right of
way for the street was secured from
Sanchez street to Watula street,
but there the matter was dropped. No
effort was made to open the street.
City Manager Johnson recommending
that an underground drain be install
ed, and sum was placed in the city
budget the year Mr.. Johnston was
here for that purpose. Engineers
viewing the situation differed as tc
the best means of remedying the trou.
bic.
Mr.. John Martin. the city's efficient
street superintendent. recently moved
his road force to East Fourth street
and has been busily engaged in grad.
. ing and hardening the street. Yes
terday Afternoon the heavy road roller
was put on the work and today tn,
street is as smooth and level as an,
thoroughfare in the town, with eartl
, entertainments along its entire length
to hold the water to its course whel
heavy rains come. Mr.. Martin is t,
be highly commended for the work h
, has done, and the property owners II
!. that section are extremely grateful
, for the results accomplished
i 1t has been suggested by citizel
! who has viewed the work and is inter
: ested in the school, as all citizen
: should be, that now is a good tim
: for the sub-school board to have tn
!. primary lot filled in. Just south of tn
building the lot is low and in we
, weather the water that falls on tn
: property will stand until absorbed
/ As it rains for days at time at Ger
tain seasons of the year, the schoc
! yard will not be fit place for tn
: small children to play, and it woul
3 seem that during the vacation perio
: this work could be done more conver
: iently than at any other season of tn
! year. Also. there are several building
: going up in the city, and the surplu
|earth from excavations made possibl
J could be obtained for the expense Q
hauling it away.
: The city has done its part, now le
Il the school authorities do theirs. tn
| primary school lot could be elevate
: somewhat after the plan carried OF
: at the courthouse and made plac
4 of beauty as well as decidedly NOR
! healthy.