The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-06
Miami HERALD

ed as to the state of sentiment on
the Dixie Highway as entertained by
other communities of the state and
expressed by other local papers.
This paper has felt that there was
n possibility that influence might be
brought to bear that would result
in depriving Miami of its designa-
ton as the southern terminus of the
thoroughfare. Therefore, the Her.
aid is watching, carefully, the pa
pers of other parts of the state
which are now becoming interested
in the great project and are evinclng
some considerable disquietude over
the fact that Miami is to be known,
always, as the southern end of the
highway.
The west coast and the central
part of the state are becoming
aroused over the fact that they are
not mentioned in connection with
the highway and they are attempt
ing to create interest in project
to bring the highway down through
the center of the state So far as
Miami is concerned, the matter of
where the road is located in Florida.
just so it ends it Miami, is not of
great Importance, but there is dan
ger that in creating influence to To-
cate the highway in the center of
the state, the same influence may he
powerful enough, unless Miami con
tinually looks after her interest, to
name some other city as the term
mus.
The tone of many of the papers
in other parts of the state may well
be illustrated by excerpts from
recent editorial in the Orlando Sen
tinel:
There are many objections to the
routing of the highway from Geor-
gia through Florida to Miami. AS
planned, it will run down the east
coast from Jacksonville to Miami.
1t will pass through about three
livetowns and score of dead ones.
II it goes directly to Miami from
Jacksonville it will not be a repre-
sentative route in any manner.
shape, or form, because every per-
son knows that the interior Of Flor
ida have the upper hand of the
east coast cities. If the outside
world does not know it now they
will soon discover it. Carl Fisher,
the man who built the Indianapolis
motor speedway, who fathered the
Lincoln Highway, and who wrote
"Prest-O-Lite," has large holdings
In Miami. He is undoubtedly be-
hind the movement to make Miami
Florida. Should the route run di-
rectly to the inland cities, counties
and communities of the southern
terminus of the route regardless OF
Miami, as appears doubtful, and the
interior cities of Florida be over
looked, it would not take the travel
ing public very long to find out they
were in grievous error concerning
the real effectiveness of Florida. Ii
would indeed be comical sight to
see Carl Fisher holding the bag
yes. actually holding the bag, for
the first time, for he has never been
defeated. But such route as
planned would mean that and moth
ing more. Fisher would hold the
bag and II the real estate men in
Miami would also be holding said
bag and all the real estate men in
motorists leaving the east coast
route and spinning through the
score of beautiful progressive inland
cities. Such a route would mean a
diversion of traffic"
Just what the Sentinel means by
holding the bag is difficult to sur
mise. 1t is right when it says that
Carl Fisher is back of the highway
movement, and that he is interest
ed in Miami, but 1t is far from cor.
rect when 1t intimates that the 10.
cation Of the highway down through
the center of the state would injurt
either Mr. Fisher or residents OF
Miami Its remark that motorists
would leave the east coast and spin
through central Florida is puerile
So far as the east coast route i.
concerned, the Sentinel does no
seem to know that the counties O
the east coast have been for year
spending time and money on a high
way from Jacksonville to Miami an,
that for the most part it is now
splendid, hard surfaced road owe
which the winter visitor finds mucl
satisfaction in automobiling. Will
the center of the state has ben talk
about good roads, the east coast ha
been building them, and if the com
mission should finally decide tina
the Dixie Highway should go t
Jacksonville and thence down tn
east coast, it will find the road bull
from the metropolis of the state t
the Magic City.
Something of the temper of tn
Sentinel end other PAPERS may L
inferred from its remark cone"rnin
the commits toner's:
Governor Trammell, went wron
when he appointed the commission
ers 10 assist in the Dixie HiehWa