The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-04-10
GOOD ROAD WORKERS IN
SESSION IN GAIHESV LIE
Hard Work Being Done in Behalf of
State ways-Experiences of
the Delegation from Ocala

Secretary J. D. Rooney, with a
delegation CT Ocala business men and
members OF the Marion County
Board OF Trade left Ocala at 10 a.
m. yesterday for Gainesville. TO at
tend the state good roads convention
in session in that city yesterday and
today. They went TO boost for the
state highway. to get it routed via
Gainesville and OcaIa, instead OF
down the East Coast.
Two cars started. Messrs. D. W.
Davis and VI. J. Roess giving their
time and cars 10 the work. The gen
tlemen in the party were: Secretary
Rooney and Messrs. VI. J. Roess,
Fired Hooker, H. C. Jones and R. R.
Carroll, in Mr. Roess' car This car
reached Gainesville at 2:3O, in time
for the occupants to attend the aft
ernoon session of the convention.
Davis Car i'm Hard Luck
Mr.. Davis car developed a fiat
tire a short distance out of Lowell,
and then one after another, the
tubes bursted when inflated in the
casing and the party finally went on
the rim to Reddick. where they
worked on the car till nearly 4
O'Clock, and came on back to Ocala.
In this car were Messrs. D. w. and
Norton Davis, Maurice Strauss, c. L.
Anderson and G. J. Bitch. They
natured spirit but regretted that they
were unable to reach Gainesville.
The party at Gainesville listened
to several very interesting speeches
on the need of a state organization
of a substantial and permanent ma
ture to handle the state highways
problem. The need of concerted &C
ton in the legislature 10 get a bill
creating state highways commits
sion of one, three or five members,
and to appropriate funds sufficient
to carry on the work; the necessity
OF the cooperation Of the different
counties throughout the state with
the state commission. were urged
Some instructive talks were made
on the best material for road build
ing in Florida, TO use our local ma
! terial to the best advantage and Sc
cure the cheapest. durable road pos
sible for the money outlaid. Num-
erous samples Of material were ex-
hibited with cross sections in minia-
lture OF completed road beds. foun-
datiOns ana surfactngs Maps and
illustrations were exhibited in great
profusion: printed and Illustrated
matter Of every nature: Photographs
Of actual conditions on roads in this
and other states, both before and
after improvement: road making
machinery, bridge, culvert and cop
ing materials and devices were ex-
hibited by dealers and representa-
! tives of the various houses in that
business.
Very handsome badges had been
provided for the members and a
| banquet at the White House had
been prepared for the members and
their friends. The Ocala delegates
were given tickets to the banquet,
! which they regretted they could not
avail themselves Of
! A series Of moving picture reels
/ had been secured and were exhibit
! ed at one OF the local picture houses,
/ illustrating the actual working con-
| ditions of good and bad road condi-
tions, modern methods and machin-
cry in operation on the roads, etc,
/ which was most instructive and was
given close attention
There was so much to see and do.
and the session was Of so much i'm
/ portance to OcaIa and this part OF
the state that Secretary Rooney de-
cided to remain over till tonight,
and do all he could for the good
| work of better roads in the state.
and for his own county in particular.
The attendance was good and
many more were expected in last
evening. There were large delega-
tons from many sections of the
state and almost every place of i'm
portance had one or more represen-
tatives present.
Crops Along the Way
y, One OF the party remarked on the
vast difference in the looks Of the
state. in passing through on the train
or over the roads in an auto Most
OF the visitors through the state do
not get good idea from the car
windows OF the farming conditions
OF Florida. Take, for instance. the
) Ocala TO Gainesville road The dis
lance is about 20 miles Proha h1r