The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-04-11
To GET ROADS
OVER FLORIDA
Novel Plan to Secure a State
SyStem-WOn't Increase
Taxation.

| \ :. Mann. state organizer for
I good roads, is sending broadcast over
/ the state the following letter on how
| TO get complete system of roads
/ without increase in taxation. The
] letter is as follows:
! TC Whom it May Concern
Section TO- OF the proposed bill for
/ the laying of Il complete state syS-
! tenn OF highways, provides that any
money advanced by the counties. to
the state. in pushing rapidly to COM
pIotlOu the system within said county
/ shall be refunded by the state II is
wei, therefore. at this time. TO con-
slider how this can be done. The
bonds Of any county i'll this state can
| be sold at par, drawing 41-2 per
cent, and the law has provisions made
whereby counties can bond at once.
/ The state, if it could issue bonds.
could easily float them, drawing three
per cent. at. if not above par Ii.
therefore, occurs TO US that the money
/ should be raised on state bonds, but
like in the state of New York, where
1ifty millions OF state bonds were au-
thOrized TO complete the road sys-
tenn in the state. the constitution had
10 be and was changed so as to per
nit their issue.
The next Florida legislature should
pass 4 constitutional amendment to
/ be submitted to the people. at the
next general election. which | am sure
would authorize the issue of state
bonds
Suppose then. ten million of state
bonds Of say, fifty years. were author
lied, bearing interest at = per
cent, which would amount, annually.
TO 100000, and the state were TO set
aside the convict lease money to- care
for same. which. at the present time.
amounts to about $3.50 900 annually.
and. as our population increases each
year, increases, and would not only
care for the interest. but provide Il
sinking fund TO relieve the bonds In
1883. We were paying eight thousand
dollars annually. TO have them kept
II the state, just coming out OF car
pet bag rule. could do without this
money surely, as badly as We need
improved highways now, il would be
IViSD-to spend it for the health.
wealth and comfort of all our people
Hnd to develop parts of the state
1t must occur 10 those in charge OF
our affairs in ANY county and city IN
this state. that they should see TO il
that their people are represented
when p matter of so much importance
is being considered. No county should
send less than one delegate. but
should send more, and every incOr-
pOrated city. one or more. II is i'm
pOrtant. that We have a list of dele
gates as soon as possible. so that
suitable provisions may be made to
secure a reduced rate of fare on all
lines, but this takes some time. and
before We are given a reduced rate.
we must be able TO state about what
the attendance viii be
Get up petitions and send them in
as rapidly as possible. The adYan-
tages are so plain. argument is I'M
necessary If we do our duty, we will
soon have the grandeSt system or
roads to be found in the world, cost
ing our citizens nothing as d direct
tax Florida will, by reason of her
climate and splendid highways. be by
far the greatest winter playground in !
the world. which means much: but
the development of the wealth Of our |
splendid soil means much more.
The machinery for use upon the |
improved public roads has developed
a greater speed than can be made on |
any other lines of travel, and many |
predict thai the present great speed !
VIII be exceeded. The most import
ant feature of the proposed state SyS-
TEN should be TO make il an air line" /
between important points, as any
curve in such a line creates a danger |
point
The state roads should have a right
OF way not less than 1G0 feet. and.
where possible, 200 feet, as no one
can tell what new uses the future
may have and. today. when, in most
cases the land viii be cheerfuIIy do
mated, 200 feet when possible, should
be taken. All lateral or county roads
should be laid. when possible. 100
feet, and never less than 20 feet No
road. either county or state, should
be improved until a deed 10 the right
OF way has been secured.
The present session will no doubt
pass such a Law. as the people de-
sire. and that they may have the ex-
preston correctly, send your views
by letters, petitions, and your most
active and best informed as delegates
TO assist in framing a proper bill
YCurs.
\. =. Mann. State Organizer,
County Commissioners and Good !
Roads Association
To County Commissioners.
To the different Boards of County
Commissioners in the State the fol- /
lowing letter IS also being sent:
To the Chairman of the Honorable /
Board Of County Commissioners in |
and for county, State OF /
Florida
Dear Sir. Under and by virtue of /.
the authority given in d resolution |
which was unanimously passed by the |
Jacksonville Board of Trade at its |
last monthly meeting, viz, March the |
10th, 1909, we are sending you a CODY
OF the proposed bill. and inviting your
assistance in passing this or simi- |
lar measure. The resolution is as
follows:
Resolved. That the chairman and
.e.rataf-r- Of rhe. Streets t-nade md /