The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-05-05
BIG BOOST FOR FLORIDA
The Editor Of the Manufacturers Rec
ord Says That Florida IS Blessed
BY Nature-TsI<s Interestingly Of
Good Roads Movement

ord Says That Florida IS Blessed
BY Nature-TsIks Interestingly Of
Good Roads Movement
After q delightful motor trip along
the east and west coasts Of Florida.
Richard Il. Edmonds, editor Of the
Manufacturers Record, published in
Baltimore. reached Jacksonville from
ST. Augustine q few days ago, says
the Times Union
Mr.. Ednaonds made the tour through
Florida by automobile for the purpose
Of studying the good roads movement
in the state and also with a view Of
enjoying the climate Of the Land OF
Flowers, which he thinks cannot b.
eQuaEled anywhere in the world. When
seen At the Windsor by a representa-
tive Of the Times Union. Mr.. Edmonds
said: wherever I have been on the
east and west coasts I have seen evil
denceg Of the amazing possibilities Of
Florida. Thiz IS destined 70 b. one
Of the richest states in the Union. and
the more I see OF Florida the more en-
thusiastic I become about It, Il has
been narvelously blessed by kind ma
ture and it's development has only
commenced"
Question is Accepted
In speaking OF the good roads move
ment, which is sweeping the country,
Mr.. Edmonds said in part:
To-day. more than ever before, the
good roads question is accepted as
the greatest economic problem before
the country. The building Of good
roads means more for the general
prosperity and advancement Of any
section Of any state than any other
economic development which can be
made. II win lessen the cost Of haul
ing farm products to the point where
the farmer win make more than he
can possibly realize under present
conditions and will bring about con-
ditions enabling the better distribu-
ton Of the farm products, thus giving
a wider and better market
Building good roads not only ena-
bles him TO market everything he pro-
duces to better advantage. but II
would make country life 50 much
more attractive to the young people
and to farm Iaborers that the drift OF
population away from the country to
the cities would be changed. The
young people on the farms are Tow
practically forced to city life by reason
Of the loneliness Of farm life. Farm
laborers who can get the benefits Of
good streets by moving to the cities
are now no longer content as in for
mer years to put up with the incon-
veniences Of sandy or muddy roads.
considered from every point Of
view the building Of good roads in
Florida would do more 10 enrich the
state than most people who have
studied the problem would care to pre-
dict for fear that they would be called
visionary enthusiasts.
Magnificent Climate
With F'lorida's magnificent eli |
mate and almost limitless attractions
for health an pleasure seekers during /
the winter months it is entirely posi- |
BILE to double and TO quadruple the
number of visitors TO this state dur
ing the next few years. With a sys-
tenn Of GOOD roads down the east coast
from Jacksonville to Miami and
through the center Of the state and
across to the west coast, believe that
within five years there would be ten
motor cars with touring parties trav-
cling up and down Florida for every
one than travels that way today.
Such system would increase the
growth of the cities and would thus
increase the demand for everything
that the farmer produces and would
thus benefit every interest in the state.
One cannot study the question Sc
riously without becoming enthusiastic
over the possibilities Of the good roads
movement for the whole country. And
there is no state in the Union in
which these possibilities are greater
in this respect than in Florida"