The Ocala evening star., 1922-12-20

%NAAAISs OAN N2A~s o4C 1AOSCLs CusdRGu
with the present improvements, all of |
which they must thoroughly under !
stand before they are entered upon. |
Il is probably the most harmonious
council the city ever had, and it
works in harmony with the city man
ager. When it comes to high taxes. |
the aldermen are not trying to stand |
from under. E. H. Martin, president /
Of the council, who was poorly paid
school teacher twenty years ago, and
isn't rich now, has a modest home on /
the corner Of Lake Weir avenue and |.
Eighth street, and will have to pay
assessment on Lake Weir avenue is
S285. DR.. Henry lives on Oklawaha
avenue, and his assessment is S38154 |
Mayor Peek lives on Oklawaha and
has been one of the most insistent ad-
vocates of its improvement, which
will cost him S638.67. Alderman Ped
rick is member of the firm of Spen-
Ger and Pedrick, which has a garage
on Oklawaha. This firm helped the
city of Ocala by erecting a big build
ing on very unsightly piece of
ground, and at the same time filling
a dangerous place. 1t has frontage
of 166 feet and will pay $6S3.43. AL
derman Goldman pays 1915 on an
other street. Alderman Simmons lives
on street corner that has not been
paved, but he will get his and get it
heavy, when that time comes. The
people of Ocala hardly need to be told
that Oklawaha avenue is used by ev-
erybody in town, and every taxpayer
in town helps to pay for it. The big
fill across what was once a spring
branch on Oklawaha avenue was not
made to benefit the Spencer-Pedrick
Company nor to spite Ed. Clement. 1t
was made to help make a good street
for the use of the people of the whole
town. Mrs. Emily Green has more
taxes to pay than any other property
owner on Oklawaha. Her assessment
| is $191O.87, and she is not making
any complaint about it. All she wants
is good work and a good street in
front of her property. We might call
attention to Fred McAteer, who lives
on one of the lately improved streets
in modest home that has a dispro-
portionate amount of frontage. Fred
isn't rich, and every dollar he pos
sesses has been made by hard, hard
work. His assessment is 1920, which
he has paid in cash and made no COM
plant.
Our old friend, Mr.. Carney, is not
so much to be blamed for feeling
peevish and worried His assessment
is heavy. 1t is $1293.1S-a big dose.
But it is not the fault of the people
of Ocala or the council or the city
manager that Mr.. Carney owns one of
the best located pieces of residence
property in town. He bought it of
his own free will. Also, he is not the
only taxpayer on that street, and
other men are taxed more heavily
than he.
We have ridden up and down Okla
waha avenue many times in the last
week or two, accompanied by several
of our own citizens and some from
abroad, and they all agree that it is a
superb street and one our people may
we'll be proud of. We don't think
that anybody's property is hurt ex-
cept that of Mr. Clement. We think
the city should fill in the ground and
raise his house, or buy his property
if he will accept a reasonable amount
for it.
We regard the city manager as an
honest and competent man, and one
who does a great deal of work that
isn't good at advertising himself.
1t is only the other day we learned
that Mr.. Brumby has devoted many
weeks to the most necessary and at
the same time the most disagreeable
work in Ocala-cleaning out the sep
, tic tank. This tank has been neglect
: ed for years. 1t had fifteen feet of
slush in it, whereas it should never
| have more than eighteen inches. The
. stencil around it was fearful, and was
carried by the wind into houses nearly
half a mile away. Mr.. Brumby has
personally directed this work, remain
7 ing several hours every day in the
! heat and stencil and clouds of mosqui-
tees in that disagreeable spot. 1t
| would not have been much longer be-
, fore the tank would have overfowed
} and spread disease over the whole
l city. Mr.. Brumby, during most OF
his time since taking Office, has beer
attending to matters that previous
city officers have neglected. He is
2 doing good work. We can't get g
( city manager who will not be CRITICS