The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-09-14
SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER Il. 1913.
illuminating Facts About
Value c,f Good Roads.


Irfbaine. has been motoring through
I New England and he writes the Tri-
bune q most entertaining and instruc-
: tive letter about the road construction
which he found there. He writes Of
the defeat OF the good roads bill In the
lAst Florida legislature and then says:
Just one weeks visit in New Eng
lard would convince every nincompoop
who opposed this measure OF the fall
lacy Of his argument. With q paved
highway from Pensacola to Jackson
Vile and from Jacksonville to Miami
and Jacksonville to Tampa the winter
visitors would amount to more TO Flor
ida than it's orange and vegetable crops
in past years.
It Is very clear that Florida needs
improved roads over which automobiles
can travel from point to point with
comfort On the roads OF New York.
Massachusetts and Rhode Island there
are thousands OF automobiles passing
every day, probably at least half OF
them at this season Of the year coming
from other localities and touring over
the good roads. These tourists and
visitors stop at good hotels. and the
general estimate is that each person
49,
and some much more than that. But.
they invariably stay where the roads
are good.
When Florida gets a system OF i'm
proved highways it's superb climate
its fruits it's vegetables and farm pro-
ducts, it's fresh air and its numerous
other advantages, will make 1t the
greatest winter resort for the whole
north. east and west, which will bring
them in thousands, with their cars.
They will tour the state, stopping at
our hotels. eating our products and
spending their money on the American
Riviera. instead Of across the Atlantic.
And then Col. Stovall gets down to
figures and tells US what these good
roads would mean in dollars and cents
of outside money to the people Of Flor
ida. Listen to him:
When you get to figuring on what
good roads would do for Florida, you
become amazed at the results. It is
our firm belief that when we get a
system of good roads, connecting most
or the principal points and resorts in
the state that at least 100000 will come
TO Florida every winter with their cars.
One hundred thousand people at SO a
day each would make total of a
million dollars day spent in our state
by visitors for a period of three to
four months. It almost staggers Gre
duiity, but It Is what one sees in this
country and nothing is thought of it.
The hotels are well kept, because they
have custom enough. and mostly from
the motor travel, so that they can at
ford to keep them in first class style.
These may seem at first to be some
what extravagant statements, but a
little reflection viii convince most in
telligent persons that the figures are
not very much exaggerated Speaking of
the different kinds OF roads in New
England, the Tampa editor says:
Here they are spending millions of
dollars on the roads. Most of the
states have more than one method.
The main roads are called state roads
and are built by the state. The lesser
roads are county roads and town roads.
which the state helps to build. paying
from one third to awo-thirds of the
cost, and sometimes more. It Is the
state roads that attract most OF the Wis
ftfng motor travel, the county and
town roads being used chiefly by local
traffic, though in the main they are
well built and offer many attractions
OF the beaten path.
Ten or fifteen years ago there were
thousands OF abandoned farms through
out New York and New England. That
was before the states had built any
considerable mileage Of good roads.
Today the land that was not then
worth paying taxes on is estimated at
$50 to $500 an acre. and Is devoted
largely to market gardening.
All through the country are hard,
smooth roads which are unaffected by
weather or other conditions, and over
which people can travel every day in
the year, either with q team and a
load of produce or q motor car. or other
vehicle, for business or pleasure.
There liz q variety OF roads being
built In this northeastern section OF the
country. In the smaller cities and vii
lagos q large amount o vitrified brick
IS being used. The bricks are laid on