The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-18
FLORIDA's CONVENTIONS.
Tobacco and Coast Defenses to BE
Discussed.

Orlando, Fla. Nov. 16.-Ocala is to have
a National Tobacco Growers convention,
commencing Jan. 70 next. On the follow
ing week, at Tampa, will be held con-
vention in the interest of the improve
ment of the defenses of the South At
lantic and Gulf coast. 1t is intended that
both of these shall be national, and wise
men are to be invited from every part
of the union. Both meetings are already
being advertised, and are attracting at
tention of the country.
Orlando will come one week later in
date, but not behind in Importance, with a
National Good Roads congress and bicy-
Gle meet.
Orlando has always occupied advance
ground in the work of road and street inn
provement. Size considered, she has in
vested more money in the improvement
of her streets than any other city in Flor
ida. She began early in her history, and
has kept pace with her own development
and those of the state. Her enterprise in
this respect has been imbibed by the peo-
pie Of Orange county, and initiatory meas
terment of the highways of the entire
county. Before the date of the proposed
congress two routes between here and
Winter Park will have been improved by
a coating of six inches deep of native clay.
Not such a clay as would make brick and
which would become a bed of adhesive
mud in the first rain, but material which
seems to have been specially provided by
the Great Architect with which to cover
roads ha I'd md
firm as an asphalt pavement. This mate
rial, the existence of which was unknown
or overlooked until within the past few
years, is found at intervals all over this
part of the state. 1t is sort of hard
pam" and was regarded as something to
be avoided rather than otherwise until a
use was found for it. b
Between Orlando and Winter Park lies
a chain of pretty lakes. One of the inn
proved roads runs to the west, the other
to the east OF these lakes. One line is
practically completed already. The other
is more than half done, and the work is
being pushed The streets of Orlando are
improved by a coat of the same material
and a bicycle track of a mile has been
laid around Lake Eola, near the center
of the town.
1t is upon these streets, roads and track
that the wheelmen will find just what
they are looking for. They will be
special attraction to draw them to the
proposed gathering.
Orlando having taken the lead In street
and road Improvement, it is proper that
the Good Roads Congress be held here.
The matter is in the hands of the board
of trade and committees are vigorously
at work preparing printed matter, send
ing out invitations and otherwise promot-
ing the enterprise in every possible way.
This meeting will have a special inter-
est to residents of the South Atlantic and
Gulf states, where the existing conditions
are similar to those which exist here, and
it is confidently expected that large num-
bers of public spirited citizens from these
states will be in attendance. The papers
which will be read by men who have
made road Improvement study, will be
full of information which they can take
home with them and disseminate to ad-
vantage among their friends and neigh
bors. Through such channels an interest
In road improvement can be awakened all
over this southern section, untold good
may come of it.
1t is specially desired that every town,
county ami bicycle club in Florida be rep
resented here, that practical knowledge
gained from experience may be thorough
ly disseminated in our own state.