The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-07-13
STRONGER MATERIAL WANTED
FOR THE CITY STREETS
coUNCILMEN LAST NIGHT USED PAVING y1rs Rrppp
SENTATIVE MEETING OUR CITIZENS

The city council chamber was CON-
fortably crowded last night with citi-
zens who turned out ia response to
the councils invitation to address
that body and express their views on
the contemplated paving of our streets
with some permanent form of mate
rial, asphalt. asphaltie concrete or
what is known as the Finley method,
penetration asphaltic style of paw
ing.
Finding it impossible to get a
quorum of the council together, and
realizing that the people are vitaIly
interested in the paving question, Mr..
D. E McIver, president of the coun-
ell, suggested that the meeting dis
cuss the matter in an informal way.
Thereupon, Mr.. L. w. Duval moved
that the gathering resolve itself into
citizens meeting and that Mr.. Nc
lver act as chairman, which motion
carried.
On taking the chair Mr.. McIver
called on Mr.. J. NJ. Thomas, who has
taken the initiative in pleading the
case of the citizens, to address the
meeting. Mr.. Thomas stated that he
could not understand why the city
had made contract with the Finley
Method company for an untried type
of paving at approximately 80 cents
per square yard, when another con-
Germ had offered bid for a known
quality of sheet asphaltic paving at
s1.09 per square yard, and that in his
opinion the contract had been let to
the Finley people without competi-
tive bid being offered IN opposition to
them.
Mr.. Young, the city engineer, and
Mr.. Thomas then entered into a series
of questions on the part of Mr.. Thorn
as and answers by Mr.. Young, which
brought out many interesting points
in reference to the various types of
paving. 1t is impossible to give de-
tailed report here of all that was said,
as much as the reporter would like to.
The gist of the argument was, how
ever, that Mr.. Thomas thought the
city council had not received the ex-
pert and efficient advice from its city
engineer that it had right to expect,
and Mr.. Young on his part justified
his position and action by stating that
he did not consider the contractors
offering the bid of $1.O9 a yard for the
sheet asphalt paving responsible and
he was only endeavoring to avoid ex-
pense and long drawn out litigation
in which the city might become involy-
ed in the event the contractors fell
down on the job.
Mr.. John Taylor stated that in his
opinion the interests of the city had
not been fully protected by the engi-
ner, and made motion to the effect
that those who felt as he did, should
arise and be counted. and those taking
the opposite view also stand against
the motion. The ayes were consid-
erably in the majority.
Col. r. F. Rogers, who always has
! some apropos remarks on all public
questions, then made a short address,
stating his position in the matter He
said that in the beginning he favored
100000 bond issue but when the
majority ruled $4,000 would be suf-
ficient he voted with them and wanted
the streets paved, the sooner the bet
ter, and suggested that the council
proceed with its program as outlined
in the local press before the bond
election
Timely suggestions were made by
different citizens, all Of which it is
impossible for the reporter to set
forth here, but one of the most peril
nent thoughts brought out was that
expressed by DR.. J. E. Chace. DR..
Chace stated that it was all right for
the council to ask the citizens for sug-
gestions and advice in this or any
other question coming before it, but
the counciImen should not lose sight
Of their responsibilities; that We did
not have a democratic form Of gov
ernment whereby the citizens acted on
matters of public policy in open meet
ing, but that ours was a representa-
tive form of government and the
councilmen as representatives Of the
citizens should not shirk their respon-
sibilities. Dr. Chace stated that the
| citizens individually or collectively
We're not paving experts and not in
a position to give expert advice on
the matter. That the council could
obtain expert advice on paving and
suggested that it do so and proceed
with letting the contract. He com
plimented Mr.. Thomas on having Sc
cured IN a few hours more informa-
ton on the subject than had beer
available in the two years the ques-
ito nhas been agitated.
Mr.. McIver stated that at the tins
the paving question first came up thI
| price of asphalt paving was prohibi