The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-27

Some Remarkable work That Has
Been Accomplished.

Been Accomplished.
Orlando, Fla. March 26.-The State Good
Roads Convention, which convened here
on March %, has closed its labors. The
attendance was gratifying. and the fact
was clearly demonstrated that the move
ment for good roads in Florida is gaining
ground.
In February, 1897 a National Good
Roads Congress was held here. The seed
sown at that time has certainly borne
good fruit. Many of the counties of Flor
ida have entered upon the work of road
| Improvement in earnest
1t has been found that in every part of
the state where systematic explorations
have been made, material well adapted
to the purpose of road building exists in
abundance, and can be cheaply obtained
At the convention just held, Volusia
county reported that since the Good
Roads Congress, held in Orlando, seventy
| two miles of good roads had been built
| in that county. Orange has fifty or more
miles, outside of the towns and two hun
dred miles of bicycle paths. The east coast
from ST. Augustine to Miami, including
intermediate points, has constructed about
three hundred miles of improved roads
Polk county has twenty or more miles,
against five miles one year ago. Hills
temptation hundred or more. BreVard
has undertaken TO build shell and clay
road through its entire length from north
10 south, distance of a
hundred miles. Much of this is
already an accomplished fact Duval did
not report. But it is well known that
much work has been done there and that
the vicinity of Jacksonville boasts of as
good roads as can be found in the coun-
try. Lake county made splendid report
Ill mas accomplished much. The railroads
throughout the state are cooperating.
The Clyde Steamship Line had repre-
sentative at the meeting, who stated that
his company contemplated a test of auto
mobiles from St. Johns river points to
the interior, especially such points as
were not reached by railroad lines. They
are now having machine built for this
test. 1t will carry five tons. They pro.
pose to give il a thorough test next fall.
Thus far none of the counties repre-
sented At the convention has issued bonds
for road improvement The money for
the work has been raised by TAXATION
and the work is paid for as it is done.
The most expensive work in the state
reported is in Hillsborough county where
stone was used, some of it being hauled
long distances. Then the cost approx
mated 5000 per mile. The cost in other
portions ranged from that figure down to
5000 per mile according to material used.
me material employed is stone, shell,
phosphate rock, phosphate screenings
clay, mari, all of which material exists
in Florida, and seems to have been plac-
ed in the geological arrangement at just
such points as are best adapted to it, or
when the conditions are such that the
material at hand is most desirable to meet
the conditions
one of the chief attractions advertis-
eel Tor the convention was an illustrated
lecture on good roads by Hon. NJ. O. Ed
redge acting director of the division of
road inquiry of the agricultural depart
ment Owing to the fact that the trans
portation furnished this gentleman took
him far off his direct route and caused
him to miss connections. thereby entail
ing loss of twenty-four hours time, he
did NOT reach Orlando until the conven-
ton had adjourned and most of the dele
gates had left for their homes. But he
gave the lecture to those who had not
left and to the people of Orlando. 1t
proved valuable feature, and W II be pre-
served and published.
Plans for a permanent organization
were reported, and committee of five
consisting of William Comm of Lee, II.
II. Dickson of Orange, S. j. Drawdy of
Hillsborough, A. B. Harrington of Polk
and w l.. Palmer of Orange was select
ed to formulate and promulgate such
plans as they deemed most likely to sue
coed.
The delegates were treated to a drive
over the improved roads between Orlando
and Winter Park, and receptions were CIV
en- them by Mrs. w. C. Comstock and
Hon. Isaac Homer