The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-29

reads would be operating here now.
and consequently Polk county would
be like other counties where. for
lack of transportation, the country
is unsettled, undeveloped and worth
little or nothing to the State.
The Dixie Highway through Polk
county, between the Osceola line on
the northeast and DeSoto on the
south calls for 30 miles OF fifteen
foot road which, if constructed OF
asphalt at prices being paid else
where, would cost $685., 600. To
build this road out of the annual
taxes would take every dollar of the
road fund for three years. leaving
nothing for repairs on present roads.
bridges, new roads necessary to be
opened during that time, or maintcn-
ancC of the convicts. The second line
of road calls for about &c miles of
fifteen-foot road at Il cost of $14S.-
200. which. ALLOWING for some in
crease in the road taxes by virtue of
three years development, would take
another years taxes, without allow
ing for repairs, bridges, mainten-
ance Of convicts, etc. And so, follow
ing out this system, it is easy to see
that the 211 miles of roads contem-
plated in the proposed bond issue
could not be completed in less than
ten years, by using every dollar of
the funds. and if sufficient amount
was allowed annually for repairs,
bridges. maintenance of convicts,
etc, il would be mach nearer TWEEN
~ years before this system of roads
could be completed on this plan.
We have reason to believe that
there are few men in Polk county
VINO would be content to wait not
only twenty years but indefinitely
for system of hard -surfaccd roads.
Easy going, easily satisfied, lackin 9
the progressive spirit which de-
mands the best the world can af-
ford, these men live in past age,
are not and never can be community
builders, leaders in the onward
march OF progress. They are good
men, good as the rest of their fell
I lows, but simply REFUSING to keep
step. They are, however, not in the
majority and in this age of the
WorlG never can be, but must bow
to .hc will of the majority who,
while not always right, perhaps,
nevertheless, have The right of way.
III" boast, that one is out OF debt
may not always be a matter of pride.
We all know men who do not owe
anything, and who at the same time
have nothing. On the other hand
we know men who are heavily in
volyed, yet successful men, doing
something worth while for them
selves and at the same time big
asset Tor the community in which
they operate These are the men
too, big business men, who. realizing
the results, are only too glad, if nee
essary, to pay a higher rate of tax
alton for that which will give them
incrc ased benefits.
When the intelligent and unpre jul
diced taxpayer considers the pro-
posed bond issue from this point of
view, namely that he is payin.
tax now. and will continue to do 50
year by year, sufficient to pay the
interest and retire the loan neces-
Sary to secure NOW complete sys-
TEN of hard-surfaced highways for
this county, the use of which hc
will have during the whole time of
paying for them, he will refuse to
wait for three five, ten or twenty
years and by so doing lose for him
self and see the county lose in that
time more than the whole sum in
yolvcd in bond issue.
The people of Orange and LAX"
counties on the north and IIillsbor-