The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-11

country is ueNelOped by actual set
tiers. Attention should, therefore,
be almost wholly centered for some
time to come, so far as the work of
this Board is concerned, on the set
tling and building up of the sur
rounding country for If we take
care of this we know that the town
itself must grow as consequence.
The prospect for an interurban
and local street railway line is bet :.
ter than ever and it is expected that
this and neighboring towns will
shortly be asked for a franchise
looking to the early construction by
people able and ready to supply the
money so soon as the? shall have
sufficient evidence T.. he merits of
the proposition. In this case we are
not seeking for parties who have
ample funds but the parties them
selves, supplied with these funds,
are seeking the investment.
Our public improvements during
! the past year have not been as ex
tensive as in the previous year, but
this could not be expected. The tire
mendous outlay of nearly two mil
lions in 1913 covered in great meas
ure the then existing needs and q
look ahead at the same time, but
nevertheless, large amount OF
building has been done during thu
past year, and other large improve
ments are under way for completion
during the coming year.
Lakeland has come to be appreci
ated in the State as the second cit,
in South Florida and the third il
the State, and outside it is known t
about the same degree. Amos
daily it is our duty to say that W
cannot encourage parties lookin
for location here for mercantil
business from the fact that the va
rious fields of mercantile lactivit
are so well taken care of. This in it
self is big advertisement.
One of our much needed improve
ments is the connecting up of til
county roads with our paved streets
At present we are not proud of the'
, connections, but we are assured tn;
: much is going to be accomplishC
= quite soon in the way of bette
o streets to connect with our count
n roads.
@ Lakeland is losing a splendid OF
{ portunity now Of entertaining
large number of desirable touris
during the season because we do n
d have any specific diversions to o
h cupy their time. They come
g spend a week and then go on to S
o Petersburg, the East Coast or sor
Il other place where money has be-
' lavishly spent to furnish wint
l. Fairgrounds for these people W
leave thousands and thou ands
dollars in Florida every year. LAX
land is naturally one of the mC
charming and attractive places
: the State and a little money inves
:. ed along the lines referred to woU
soon he paid back a hundred fold
+. those who now either do not col
or who leave too soon because til
do not have the amusements and
diversions they desire. A can
connecting Lake Mirror with La
Parker and some amusement featl
at the other end would seem to
% something worth while consideri
as a paying investment and CT
slant source of amusement and I
tertainment.
IS I have referred to but few
" those things to be accomplished ;
dy now desire to speak Of some of
things which have been acco
plished during the past year.
a Lakeland has established her
mt as a convention city; We might
Al most say THE convention city Of
ing State, for there IL not . town