The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-14
SEEING FLORIDA BY AUTO

The writer having just returned |
from an auto trip covering over 500 |
miles on Florida roads, feels that he
is far better informed as to road con-
ditions in Florida and as to the |
needs Of the State in this respect |
than before this journey was taken
1t is gratifying to note that vast |
improvement has been effected in |
this respect within the past two or /
three years, and that while there !
yet remains much to be done in the !
way of road improvement the people |
are not sitting idly by, satisfied with
Objectionable conditions. On the con-
trary, in practically every county in
the State there is activity in the con-
struction Of good highways or in i'm
proving the condition of those roads |
which have heretofore been in bad
shape.
1t is now possible, In a good car
to make the trip to Jacks onville
with reasonable comfort, in a day
The distance is approximately 240
miles-the speedometer of the ma
chine used on this trip registered
241-and after leaving Kissimmee
there is no portion of the road that
might not be designated as fairly
good. We regret to be forced to
confess that the worst part of the
journey is over the roads OF Polk
county. The famous "Loughman
hills" are still capable of putting a
strain on the staunchest car and
testing the christianity of the most
sanity traveller. The county road
superintendent is at present having
some work done on this road, and
it may be travelled with more COM
fore than formerly, but unless the
bond election soon to be called
should carry, permanent and salts
factory improvement must be de-
layed.
About one and half miles beyond
Kissimmee the good brick highways
of Orange county are encountered.
These roads seem to be in good con-
dition and holding up well, the only
objection to them being the fact that
they are but nine fee wide Either
brick or reasonably good clay roads
are found all the way to Sanford.
Good roads of shell or clay lead to
DeLand, thence to Daytona and Or
mond and on up the East Coast un-
til when about forty miles from St.
Augustine brick road is again found,
all the way to Jacksonville, with the
exception of less than a mile of deep
sand about twenty-five miles out
from the latter city. Why this small
gap in a fine brick highway should
be allowed to exist between two
such important points as Jackson
vile and St. Augustine 1t is difficult
to understand We are sure that this
condition will not be allowed to exist
very long.
Returning, the trip to Lakeland
was made via st. Augustine, Palat-
ka. Hawthorne, Ocala, Dunnellon
Inverness, Brooksville, Dade City and
Plant City.
The brick road was left at Hast.
ings, from which place to East Pa
latka, distance of ten miles, there
is very indifferent clay road. From
Palatka to Interlachen, and thence
to Hawthorne on to Evanston, the
roads are in many places "snaky'
sand streaks, and it is hard to keel
from deviating from the route
There are very good clay roads
through Marion county, and from
there on to Inverness and Brooks
Vile. Some of the very worst roat
on the trip was encountered between
Brooksville and Trilby. while
stretch of several miles between
Dade City and Plant City is unspeak
able However, at both these place
there was evidence that improve
ment is on the way.
The route outlined on the goin
trip is. we believe, by far the hes
from this city to Jacksonville !
as much improvement is made in tn
roads of the State within the mex
five years as during the past two
a trip to Jacksonville will not be re
garded more seriously than the jour
ney to Tampa a year or so ago.
A trip of the kind described owe
this State is very enjoyable. tn
scenery Is diversified. and the ever
changing beauty of woodland, males
tic rivers. crystal lakes, tropical vel
dure, with here and there glimpse
of the sea, continually charms an
DELIGHTS the eye. Then there ar
many beautiful cities and thrivin
towns, nearly all of them shown
evidences of enterprise and progress
II we were asked which of the cite
through which We passed made tn
most favorable impression, we woul
hesitate TO answer. There are yer
few spots in this country more beau