The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-06-22

guished men in the state. Attentlon
was called in one of these to the fact
that the internal improvement funds
had been voted for the purpose Of good
roads and that Gov. Jennings had signed
the bill. This law had not been carried
out This was referred for investiga-
tion to the committee on good roads.
A letter was then read by the secre-
tary from Congressman W. B. Lamar.
He wished the association much success
in doing this grand work for the people
of Florida. Enclosed was very in
structive treatise on road building, COM
prehensive of the whole subject. 1t
showed, using many of the States as
examples that good roads should be es-
tablished everywhere. And further
that, as in certain county in North
Carolina where, il was difficult TO Sc
cure rock roads, from a mixture of clay
and sand in correct proportion good
road was obtainable. 1t was stated
that experiments in BODYBUILDING ma
terial were being made daily, and with
flattering success. Oil and tar have
been tried favorably. Mixtures of
rocks of different compositions have
proved of advantage, and many others
were mentioned.
1t was voted by the assembly that the
secretary write Mr.. Lamar a vote OF
thanks for the interest manifested and
the information sent and that his letter
be filed for further information.
Several members Of committees were
absent and the chair was empowered to
fill the vacancies during the recess by
appointment.
Adjournment was taken until 2 p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
At 2.45 .. m. the chairman raped for
the house to come to order.
The committees had been filled out,
and stood as follows:
On Good Roads: j. w White, A. L
Russell, E. c. Smith. On Legislation
! H. H. Dickson, j. r. Steward, W. 7.
Weeks. On Poor Farms: A. l.. Russell,
| NJ. Holmes, Frank E. SaXton.
/ Reports on roads and paupers from
| the various counties were then received.
Mr.. Long, of Marion, stated that his
county had sixty miles of good roads.
Two miles of flint rock, twenty of lime
rock, FIVE of phosphate, and the rest OF
clay. All were ten feet in width.
Also Marion county had an excellent
poor farm, well conducted, comfortable,
and thus far very successful.
Mr. Dickson then reported from Or
ange that they had four miles of clay
road and two of mari; that several sat
isfactory experiments in road building
/ had been made; and that since the fire
had burned their poor farm they had
begun building another, more comfort
able, larger and better
Duval county, reported MIR. White,
has built nearly all of her roads in the
last ten years. Since the building OF
the ten-mile rock belt good roads has
been a live issue. For the past Two
wears the roads have been built Of shell.
The roads afford much pleasure to the
citizens and so enhance the value OF
property nearby that it is decidedly q
paying investment,
The citizens of Duval county all real.
ize the Importance of the. work ano
have taken it up, and in the next ter
years the county will build twice al
many roads as it did in the last.
They have no poor farm; instead
they have the county divided into three
districts, a commissioner at the head OF
each, TO give rations TO the paupers.
Mr. f G.. Smith then reported FOL
Leon county that the roads were WORKED
by free labor, unde l-mill road tax, anc
that the condition of affairs was depor
able; that a l-mill tax was entirely in
sufficient to keep up the roads anC
, bridges in the county He stated tina
we mad half mile of clay and sane
road from town 20 the depot, built at ;
cost OF $3.50! There are poor roads al
over the county, and the convicts are
/. nlred out by contract for only 81 pc
! head. They could be used advanta
geoIsly on the roads.
, II reported that the poor were givel
, an average of 50. Is per month, and tina
q Leon had no DOR farm.
, MIR. Heathcox, of Lake, was next
! Not much road building in the last yea
, IN that county only four miles. A
e present they have 81 miles Of clay road
and 90 Of pine straw; the latter make
2 a good, easy road, but not durabl
e one. The clay road costs about 500
r per mile and the pine straw about S32
= The assessment in Lake county 70
= good roads is mills.
The convicts are leased for Si7. l23.
They had a poor farm, but 1t was
10 failure II was sold, and now the pau
% pers cost from S. TO Sl5per month each
2 Attnis juncture several new delegate
2 came in: J. II Lee, Oviedo, Orang
E county; Jas. NJ Holmes, chairma
5 boaru Of commissioners Of Hillsborc
n sgd l. Carter. representing the cit
e GA Gainesville. Judge Carter is mem
; ber-elect TO State Legislature fror
= Alachua Chas. H. Bliss, mayor Q