The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-28
POLK C0UNTY's OPPORTUNITY

The fact that Polk county COM |
missioners have agreed to call an !
election to vote on an issue of So
100000 in bonds for good roads has
been commented on over the State
as a matter of great importance.
Polk county has the greatest OPP
portunity ever put before her in
this issue of bonds for good roads,
which will augment the Dixie High
way through Barlow, Winter Haven
and on to Kissimmee. if she is far
sighted enough to vote the bonds.
1t will prove the most valuable asset
she could have. What we need is
people, and people will bring money.
We need people to take up lands
improved by the development COM
panies, and to open up new farms
on our rich unimproved lands. that
need to be tickled to laugh har-
vest, and nothing will do this as
quickly as good roads
The automobile is great civil
izer. 1t has awakened the country
to the value Of good roads, and mil
lions are being spent in building
them. Good roads are great edu
Gator. They show tue people the
economy of quick and easy trans
portation; getting fruit and vege-
tables to market, getting to town to
do their trading, getting the thin2s
from where they are to where they
ought to be.
The spending of 100000 in
Polk county on roads will come back
to us in labor to large extent. as
possibly less than 80 per cent will
go for material. 1t will put vim
and push into the people, give them
greater pride in their county, at
tract tourists and settlers, and give
us means of quick transportation.
1t will bring business for the bank
er and for the laborer, and all be-
tween will get their share in a de-
cided loosening up of business.
1t might be suggested that the
county commissioners appoint a spe
cial committee to handle this par
ticular fund; to see that the money
was properly disbursed, and only
| for( the purpose intended, and han
: died according to the new law,
oh, &c hn Grct don
: in January, 1917. This law says
that the banks in the county, both
National and State, which desire to
act as repositories of county funds,
shall agree to pay 2 per cent on
daily balances of more than $4,000
: and 4 per cent on funds left for
: three months or more. That such
banks shall furnish the county such
security as shall be deemed suffi-
cient by the proper officers.
! Every bank in the county should
be interested, and should see that
every one of their dep0sitOrs is ad.
vised of the value of this opportun.
ity to take long step forward. II
is sure to bring more people in, ant
these must, of necessity, brins
u place a newcomer looks UP. The
merchant will get his share of the
business, and it seems to me that ev
cry progressive merchant should
have hand bills printed, settin,
y forth the good that will arise from
this bond issue, and these bill
. wrapped with every package, and tt
:, be sure that every customer shoult
have one of these bills, and tina
customer should be SO alive to tn,
betterment of the community tina
he will be sure to vote when cleo
ton time comes. A thorough
awakening on this score should re
suit, and if the matter is brough
to the attention of the voters, an
its economic value shown, it shoul
I carry by an overwhelming majority
What wonderful place Pol
!" county is. Think, too, what
> would mean to add 800 miles o
!. more of hard surfaced roads.
. would mean that we would in
:" short time have one great commun
:. ity of productive farms, lying alon
fine, hard roads, bordered wit
y beautiful shade trees. Homes tina
would be beautified by the man
: wonderful trees and plants tina
:, grow in Florida for the mere trou
: BILE in planting. These homes woul
have their chickens and cows, pig.
- and cattle, and would raise vege
tables and fruits. Soon we woul
:, have cheaper milk, cheaper butter
: because the things could be gotte
30 quickly from where they are t
=. where they ought to be.
We could have creameries, can
!. ming factories, ice delivered alon
&C country roads in every direction
~ daily mails, and be thousand time
no better off than the man in the cit!
no We would be out of doors, next t
20 nature, have pure air and pure fooC
ne We would help people to help then
g, selves Because of good roads a
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