The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1912-04-18

In the aggregate making a volume OF WA
ter that gives pause when one c0nten-
plates the possibilities in these same WA
ters n properly utilized for enriching thr
country. The Oklawaha river Is the out
let OF these lakes TO the st. johns river.
This stream Is OF such Importance that
the government has already espend, i
considerable sums OF money from time t.
time, for improving It's navigation.
may say here, however. that what has
been done, on both the st. Johns and the
Ccklawaha rivers. by the government has
not made these streams navigable for df
ferent craft. nor opened them for naviga
ton Ia any different season, than was :hH
carrying powers OF the streams before the
government began its work of improving
them, which IN my judgement Is due 10
the fact that the work Oflmproving these
streams has never been gone at on sui
ticIently large scale nor In such manner
as their merits and possibilities as water
ways for the country demanded. 1t is not
difficult for the average man to under
stand that S2OO.OOO may be expended on
such an enterprise and result in no ap
precable benefit, while million or two
millions Of dollars expended on the same
enterprise will not only bring lasting
benefit but will In the long run, be far the
cheaper to the government Such sys
tenn OF improved waterways as 1 advC-
cate, would BRING under the dominion OF
man vast area Of land, for orange grow
ing and trucking purposes, and give ac-
cess to the markets of the world by u
cheap mode of transportation, that are
now as wild as when the red men roamcd
the forest
The practlcabilIty of utilizing these
lake waters 10 now abundantly shown In
the fact that the Ocklawaha river is al
ready naVigable for inferior craft and
which can be made into o stream that
will carry large enough craft into the st.
Johns river, bearing the products Of the
country, for the loading of ocean going
vessels. Not only so, but such develop
ment would mean the dotting of the lips
of these great takes with beautiful homes
and country subdued TO mans will, pay
ing tribute from the soil to the genius
and labor OF man, In rich reward.
The Same Reasoning Applies to Roads.
What have said about cheapness in
improving waterways applies equally TO
highways, II one will stop to think that
In all the affairs of life, the cheapest
things are the durable things. he will be
convinced that the first cost of road
should be sufficient to congregate an
abundance OF good road material and that
II should be used with generosity sufli-
clent to insure permanent results.
A system of great roads from Pensacola
to Jacksonville, from Jacksonville to Mi
ami and to Tampa, or any other section
tIon Of the State, can be built by simply
grading and throwing up the bed from
tho soil along the several routes, aud
brick laid upon such foundation would
make roads which would stand for an
hundred years, and would be Of sufficient
strength 10 carry the traffic of the cOun
try. The foundation of these aoads would
never be In danger Of destruction from
frost, nor would the cold ever cause the
soil TO form "muck" so that the brick
would be submerged In mud Along such
a system of roads and of from such high
ways, thousands OF those seeking for plac
and opportunity for making living. un-
der Gods law OF making their bread In
the sweat of their faces, would build
their humble dOmlcils. This latter class
Is now recognized Of more value to the
South, In her present agricultural and
development than an In
IL - ~ II.
who are under no necessity OF laboring In
order TO live, and thus contribute Of their
hare labor for the subduIng OF the lan0 10
mans Will, The crying need OF the New
Ssuth is not more money, but more poor,
honest. upright, manly men, under the
necessity OF laboring In order TO live,
with opportunity 70 enjoy fully the re-
wards OF honest toll. In my judgement
no one thing will contribute more TO this
great end than thoroughly we'll built
system OF public roads, knitting comma
mites together and opening an easy way
TO the markets Of the world.
Believes Ia These Two Great Measures.
II ia therefore, upon these two great is
sues the building OF great highways and
the improving OF the waterways, which
believe OF the chlefest concern 10 the
present internal development Of the IN
tied states. that seek Office at the hands
Of the people Of this state. believe the
issues should elicit and will elicit, the
best powers OF the present and the future
statesman In the endeavor TO advance
the interest OF this great country.
have persuaded myself that these, are
matters OF paramount importance TO the
and growth Of Florida. 1,
therefore, come before her people, asking