The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-12-27
Essential to Civilization.

LEfluas MlaL I may say IN TINS con-
nsction win be from the standpoint Of
the practical r0adbuilder.
Essential to Civilization.
Good roads are absolutely essen
tial to a high order of civilization.
but we wiil never have them in
Florida Until the question is made a
political one. and brought squarciy
before the people. Every county in
the state should see to 81 that no man
represents it In the legislature who is
not pledged to work for a system OF
good reads
The roads of Florida as a rule are
discreditabls to the state, and do more
20 keep our intelligent Northern inn
migrants Than all other things com
bined. immisrsted from Kentucky
10 Florida in 1892, and my judgment
is that learned men who have never
been an immigrant. and don't know
how t would feel to be one. can
meet and resoiute on the subject; but
when the poor fellow comes from
Europe TO Florida and finds that a
horse or mule three times the size
and five times as costly as his little
European donkey cannot pull half as
much of bis produce TO market why
ne Just folds his tent. shakes the
sands OF the dessert from his feet,
drifts To- the nearest large town. be-
comes a political leader and CRATER
and proceeds to grow up with the
country.
A State Highway.
Il was my hope. and I believe the
. odd
that some member Of the late legis-
lature would immOrtaliDs himself By
at least intro1ucing bill TO create
state highway commission, with
clause something ike this:
said commission shall proceed at
once 20 survey. locate, lay out and
build a state highway, beginning at
Pensacola and ending at the most
practical point on the Everglades
said Highway TO connect whenever
practicable. the larger towns Of the
state
said road shall always have a uni
form grade of thirty feet in width
and the metaled surface shall be
twenty-five feet in width
rs the construction Of said high
way nothing bur Florida material
shall be used
Said highway shall be built with
county and state conVcts. and the
highway commission shall have pow
or TO draft a sufficient number Of
such convicts TO construct not less
saventy-fVe miles of road per annum
until the entire road is completed.
The selection of material and con-
struction OF said road shall be under
the supervision Of practical and eX-
perienced r0adhuilders.
Some Sample Bills.
Bu instead of such measure
the people Of Florida were treatea'
by the papers during the session of
this late lamented body with a daily
hurricane ofesuch gigantic measures
as
A bin to prohibit the taking Of tad
poles i'm the fresh water ponds OF
Florida.
A bin 10 prohibit the shooting Of
alligaOrs in the Oklawaha river.
A bin 10 prohibit the shipping of
Intoxicating liquors through dry
counties; while the more important
item, a biu 10 prohibit the shipping
Of unadulterated ignorance to the
Florida legislature. never seems to
have entered the back part OF the
heads of any OF these immortal. So
Ions. whose fame VIII 90 rumbling
Gown the rocky roads Of human his
tory Gin heaven and earth shall pass
away.
AID From Congress.
The national oonEress. about to as
semble, Win be urged 10 enact some
measure giving Federal aid 10 road
building IN the several states. but 81
Is perfectly plain 70 anyone who has
given the subject careful thought
that no part OF any appropriation by
congress VIII be available for such
purposes until the state has first
created a highWay commission. under
such laws and regulations as win pro-
tect the people from graft and give
them really good roads.
Under present conditions the work
Is slow. often imperfect. sometimes
worthless and in majority Of coun-
ties very little. IF any, system is fol-
lowed.
II as an very vel TO hold read con
4 ventions. Board Of Tra5e meetings,
/ appoint committees TO meet commit
tees. etc. but these do not build
the roads What we need is for such
F papers as the Times-Uuion 10 take
+ up the question, and make a fight
on it
E let us take Duval county. 10 illus.
trate the importance OF this question
f To put the county abreast OF other
=