The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-09
J. nielsen LANCE
TELLS Of CONDITIONS
AND PROGRESS Of
DAYTON, OHIO

up In all the shades of the rainbow.
the folks living in these parts say it
Is fall or autumn; and, if the sun
shines bright and warm and the
grass looks more green than ever be-
cause everything else has lost it's
green color, and the cobwebs glitter
in a long line between you and the
sun, then they say it is Indian sum
mer.
To say the least, Indian summer
weather is ideal and l like it. Six
weeks ago it was so suffocating hot
here that people died Of the heat,
and last Friday morning we had
quite bit of ice and it wasn't the
first either. But the days are fine
for work and the nights are ideal for
sleep. The crisp, clear air makes peo-
pie move about with pep and ginger.
1t is pleasure to see the multitudes
go to or from work either on foot or
bicycle or motorcycle or auto or
street car-they simply move so fast
that they have no time to get hurt.
The city Of Dayton is a manufac-
turing town as large as Tampa and
Jacksonville put together; it has
good agricultural section surround.
ing it, but it's chief support is manu-
featuring of various kinds. Some of
the factories are making war am
munition, and the whole town is
prosperous. 1t is estimated that be-
tween twenty-five and thirty thou
sand strangers have come to Dayton
during the last year, and houses as
well as rooms are at premium.
Wages are high and men are wanted
for public and private construction
work in larger numbers than seems
to be available. Dayton has to ship
in all her raw products and is in 9TH
er respects somewhat handicapped,
although 1t has splendid railroad ia
cilities and is connected with all the
communities with interur-
ban lines which give quick and cheap
service.
The city manager, Mr.. Waite, is
known all over the country for his
successful work, and Dayton has got
more advertising out Of him than it
could possibly have gotten by spend
ing his salary for straight advertis-
ing; he is undoubtedly a good man
for Dayton: but he has some splen-
did public-spirited business men
that has both the will and the
means to back him up in progressive
moves. He is practical and quick to
act. Recently when crowd Of sew
eral hundred Rumanians and Hun
garians got to scrapping and the pc.
lice force was helpless. Mr.. Waite
sent two squads of firemen to the
scene and succeeded in stopping the
melee before a field hospital was nee
essary. A good deal of paving is 60
ing on and three new bridges are un-
der construction at this time-three
streams and a canal run through
Dayton, and bridges are numerous
Fridges are, as a rule, ugly looking
things, but Mr.. Waite during the
summer turns these eye-sores into
real beauties by planting flowers in
boxes placed in such manner that
whole structure appears to be mass
Of flowers. 1t reminded me of n
novel sight | saw in Scandinavian
city where the traction company had
placed an iron bowl around it's poles
about fifteen feet from the ground
and had creeping flowers growing
there unmolested. climbing both up
and down the poles. Here is also d
little city park one square in size and
with the public library in the cen
ter. 1t Is located right close to the
center of the business district and
the band plays there on Sunday ev-
enings during the summer. Both the
park and the fair grounds at the
edge of the city are attractively
layed out and well kept. So are also
the grounds around the country
clubs where people go and play golf
and various other games. Good auto
roads lead out into the country in
every direction. An excellent quail
ity of gravel is found locally in
great quantities and when finished
with asphalt On surface it makes
very serviceable road. However, some
Of the main pixies are paved with
brick.
The National Cash Register Co.
has its home factory here and IL is
an admirable establishment. The
buildings are beauties and the
are kept as parks; yes, even