The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-10-19

they were not using 1t, they could
have put it out of the way in two sec
onds. They never put it out of the
way. 1t was across the sidewalk for
weeks. It lay there Sunday after
Sunday. The men finished that part
of the work. They went off and left
the plank there, and it stayed there
some weeks longer. The city authori-
ties were compelled to act and the
plank was removed after it had been
there six weeks. We are not certain,
but we are afraid the only way it was
removed was by policeman, and the
city has no right to tell policeman
to do any such work.
There was a big box to hold sand
built nearly half across the street
when the work began, and it stayed
there until a few weeks ago. More
than half the time it was there it was
not in use. After it had been filleo
with sand two OR three times, its
sides bulged out and the sand over
flowed into the street until it was inn
possible for two cars to pass at that
point. Several times the box was
empty and could have been straight
ened up. But it wasn't.
Many times, when in the course of
the day it was necessary to put a.
rope across the sidewalk, but not
necessary to keep it there at night,
the men have gone off and left the
rope up. The last time this was done, g.
a policeman was required to take the
rope down. That is not a policemans
duty. He should have been told to
find out who left the obstruction and
take him to Jail.
Some weeks ago, a plank was left
sticking out of one of the doors OF
the building. 1t stayed there for sew
eral nights, and we don't know but
what a policeman had to move it too.
Work has been quiescent on that
part of the building for over two
weeks. The workmen left a heavy
plank out on the sidewalk about
yard from the main door, just
right for people coming up the
street or around the corner to
trip over it. A lot of barrels ano
planks were left out on the sidewalk,
tho it would have been but a minutes
work to put them inside, where ey
would have been out of the way.
They are yet, except the big plank,
which some public-spirited citizen
has moved back couple of feet. Two
planks are lying lengthwise on the
sidewalk, covering nearly a third Or
it-just right for people to trip over.
There is never very good light
along there at night, and sometimes
it is entirely dark. ~as
Mayor Peek was informed of this
condition of affairs nearly two weeks
ago, and said he would see about 1t,
He evidently hasn't, altho he could put
an end to the entire nuisance in five
minutes. He is allowing a consider
able portion of the people of the city
to be imposed on and he is allowing
the law to be broken. It is against
the law to allow the streets and side
walks to be unnecessarily obstructeo,
and is against the law to leave OBJ
structions, even when necessary, with
out warning lights at night. There
may have been red lights on some
of these distractions since the work
began-it's been so long ago we canr
remember-neither can we remember
ever seeing one there.
This is much used street. 1t r.
one of the main thoroughfares to the
union station. Hundreds of people
walk up and down that sidewalk ev-
cry day and many at night. The man
responsible has no right to allow the
street and sidewalk to remain in that
condition, and the city authorities
have no right to let him do it. They
are both breaking the law and impos-
ing on the people.
We would have spoken about this
sooner, but we hoped either the build |
ing would be finished or the authori-
ties would do their duty. We are in
some doubt that we will live long
opourh RI COO oifhor