The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-04-20
BUILDING OF
SAMPLE ROADS
TO CONTINUE IN FLORIDA TOWNS.
SUCCESS CROWNS EFFORTS
OF ORGANIZER MANN.

OF ORGANIZER MANN.
Writing to the Jacksonville Times
Union from Chattanooga, State Good
Roads Organizer A. S. Mann, says:
Editor Times-UEion:
1t viii be remembered that several
weeks ago the expert government
sample good road builders were ad-
vised by the department in Washing
ton, ID. c., that as the entire winter
had been spent in Florida, the work
should be taken up further north, and
Col. w. L. Spoon was ordered to 60
to Union, s. c., and prepare for sam.
pie road work as an object lesson.
This would cut out the work arranged
for at Fernandina. Tallahassee and
Pensacola, which / considered Sc
rious blow to the work Of education
| had planned should cover the entire
state in such way that all would be
able to get knowledge of up-to-date
methods employed in road building,
and TO secure, If possible, a compile
tion of the work as outlined, / visited
Washington, and succeeded, as the
Following from Senator Dodge, TIE
director of the department, shows:
| United States Department OF Agri-
culture, Office of Public Roads InQuir-
les, Washington, D. c., April 5, 1906
Senator A. s. Mann, Windsor Hotel,
Jacksonville, Fla: Ny Dear Colonel
I have not replied to your last two
letters, urging me to continue the
good roads work in Florida, because
was uncertain until now whether I
would be able to spare the men long
enough toscomplete. our work original
ly laid out by you, that is to say,
an object lesson road in each of the
following places: Jacksonville, Gaines
vile, Fernandina, Tallahassee AMI
Pensacola, with expert advice also
given by Mr.. Spoon, at your sugges-
ton, to the commissioners of Hills
borough county, OF which Tampa is
the county seat, and where they are
spending about s400.0 600, raised by
bond issue, for building macadam
roads in the county. On account of
the very great enthusiasm manifested
on the part of the people, the hearty
cooperation by the good roads officials
In all the places where we visited,
and the liberal concessions by the rail-
road companies in giving us free trans
portation for men and materials. |
have been able 10 get along with the
work rather faster than I had expect
ed. and | am very glad to say to you
that | can now see my way clear to
leave the men in Florida until this
work is finally completed. | desire
to say In conclusion, that have the
highest appreciation of your work as
an organizer appointed by the State
Good Roads Association in Florida,
and hope you may be equally as sue
cessful as national organizer for the
National Good Roads Association,
operating in all the states.
Having the highest appreciation
OF your work as leader in this
great cause, and wishing you con-
tinued success, | am, yours respectful
ly, MARTIN DODGE,
Director"
This insures completion of all the
work / hoped to have done.
Many beds of splendid material naya
been located, and Florida has of the
very best material enough for all Vi
her own roads and to spare. It win
take some time to open the mines.
but the many deposits insure not only
good material, but cheap as well.
These beds are found~so regularly
scattered over the state that roads
Will be built In Florida cheaper than
anywhere else In the world In West
Florida some sections were supposed
not 10 have good rock, but where ma
tural beds were wanting the great
lumber trade of Pensacola covering
many years has brought to that gree:
sea port millions OF tons of granite
as ballast, which we are told is most
excellent material all ready to be
crushed and applied cheaper than any
where else in the world, and enough
for the roads OF. several counties. 1t
seems Providence has been looking
after every section Of Florida. Il now
remains to be seen what we can do
for ourselves. and the meeting called
for April rs viii. hope, open the way.
Those who seek the best interests of
our fair state will not only talk. but
act and frame such measure as will
meet the views OF the members of our
Legislature.
They only want to know what the
people desire. and they stand ready
to pass the law. No one man possess
es all the wisdom necessary TO cover
this question with q proper enact
ment- Yet I am confident wnen the
students Of the question from all parts
OF the state meet and confer. nearly o.
quite the proper course ID be pursued
win be formulated in a bin which l
am confident our Representatives wiz