The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-17
Those Opposed to Bond
Issue Give Their Views
Galloway, Fla, May IA, 1916

SdhoWdgf NAY IL I11Os
Mr.. NJ. F. Hetherington,
Editor Lakeland News
My dear Sir:
As you seem so willing to tote fair
with the opposition to the bond issue,
and as you show your willingness SO
plain by adding your comment and
Fcritising each of these articles, the
opposition certainly do not feel that
they are getting fair play from you.
We feel that we as patrons of your
paper and as taxpayers deserve as
much consideration at your hand as
the other side, yet we fail to see where
you have ever criticised anything
they have said on the subject.
Now Mr.. Hetherington as you have
drawn the line between the wise and
the unwise, ! will state for your in
formation that some Of the most sue
cessful men in this neighborhood
are opposed to mortgaging this coun-
ty, and strange as you may think
they had sense enough to make
money to buy an automobile and have
still enough sense left that they can
run that automobile and vote against
bonds; and moreover this class is
greatly in the majority in this neck of
1.-THE woods.
Aid now again the people OF every
class who has had the misfortune to
have to go to your town in the last
twelve months think you or any one
else who in any way was responsible
for bonding your town, should instead
of boasting of the great improve
ments secured thereby hang your
heads in shame.
frankly admit that you and your
set who live around the public square
was benefited, but how about the
ones who live in East Lakeland,
North Lakeland, West Lakeland, and
all around town? Your roads are
practically impossible from every d.
rection.
Now your streets were paved three
: years ago and your proposition was
practically the same to the people Of
your town as the one being made to
! the people of the county today.
e Oh, well you say these people were
: paying no taxes. we'll l admit that
n 1874 isn't much but l do maintain
t that these 1874 fellows should have
Ii had their 1884 worth whereas they
d got nothing, absolutely nothing but
their taxes raised to pay off this bond
issue, they got it. in the neck.
Now Mr.. H. it is but natural thai
we people of the country think tha
s you and your crowd should redeem
e your pledges to your people before
s you take such prominent part in put
ting this thing over the great ma
J. jority of the people of the country.
n l ask again II your town, the grea
"a city of Lakeland, cannot after bond
IS ing to pave the principal streets, keel
g. even four streets in passable con
G dition, how, oh how, is the count.
II going to keep up the roads of THU
;, county when it will take one half tn,
a. tax money to pay interest on bonds
4. one-fourth for sinking fund and one
20 fourth to be used on roads.
!, Oh, well, you say, these roads will
be permanent, won't need any none,
for repair. Then l ask IL you hav,
had to spend any on your streets, ant
if so how much, and If not, VIII,
haven't you repaired the other street,
= ere this? Now these are question:
: every one is asking.
= The agitation Of this bond issue ha
riveted the eyes of every one on tn
~ horrible conditions existing in you
= :, town. Now cap it be true that will
IN you it is a case of misery likes com
pany; If not it is then a case of tn
ie blind trying to lead.
5s l tell you frankly that every tim
" you or A. ]. Holworthy raises you
re voice or take up your pen to advo
IL cate this thing you are weakening tn
Is cause.
lie We had privilege of hearing MI
st Holworthy and DR.. Ross Friday nigh
lie 10 inst. at Kathleen, and their prin
~ ciple argument, why we at Kathleen
should vote for bonds, was just be
G. cause every body else were going I,
ID do so. Why do you think they woul'
IL take the trouble to come up to speak
rs they claimed to be very tired.
of The fact is there would have beel
n more votes for bonds here had the,
l. not come
1t Oh yes, we all want good road
,e but we from observation know tina
" the nine foot road will be worth
" less and we know that from observe
1t tion.
ID We are not questioning the durabi
n Iity of the asphalt but we positivel
know that the clay will not stand
not even the famous Barlow rocl
we have some Of 1t here, and W
10 further know that there will not b
cent to repair it; therefore of wha
, earthly good will nine feet of shee
:. asphalt be stretched along an en-
bankment with all the clay eithe
washed away or blown away from 1