The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-02-21
THE PRESENT CONDITION OF
ESCAMBIA PUBLIC ROADS
tBy ]. W. crary.)

ton, discussed every proposition and
phase until it would seem as If the
question was exhausted, and yet it
has not been settled or placed on
practical business basis.
We perhaps have built or rather
laid out too many roads, but every
way, making easy access to and from
his section, and to other points, no
matter whether that neighborhood
uses motor vehicles or ox-o-mobiles.
There are in some places useless and
large expenditures where the travel
or settlement did not warrant, but as
far as any road leading from no
where to nowhere, this condition does
not exist. Perhaps one passing rap
idly through any section of the county
may form such an opinion, yet if we
ask the two candidates hunting votes
they will tell you every road leads
somewhere.
The trouble it would seem to
close observer is that we have not
began our road building system right.
In regards to class, we should have
first, second and third class roads,
all having the same right of way for
future improvement and raising the
class as the settlement and travel re-
quires. Each class should have
separate specification in regards to
construction and up-keep. Each COM
missioner's district outside of the
city should be sub-divided into sew
eral road districts, and each district
have steel cage on wheels to keep
the convicts in. Then give each sub
district out to the lowest responsible
bidder under good bond for faithfully
carrying out his contract and up-keep
of the roads, he to use convicts as far
as possible.
In construction or bringing the
roads up to specifications and paying
the county so much per day for all
able-bodied persons, he should have
the contract for four years, which
would enable him to purchase equip
ment, tools, etc, and each year bring
his district up to at least 25 per cent
of the specifications of the whole con-
tract He of course would have to
DiO1 IIGC ldDOI W hCCp up l1IC
wear and tear of the roads at all
times so as they would be passable.
We should have the county poor
farm located somewhere in the cen
trail part of the county, or where there
is a good clay subsoil with a prospect
of building up the land. 1t would be
wise to have not less than three hun
bred and twenty acres. Build good
stockade on one part and a place for
the unfortunates that depend upon
the county for help on the other. At
this farm all the sick convicts would
be taken care of and receive what
medical care needed, and they could
work on the farm under a good prac-
teal farm manager and make this
not only self-sustaining but raise a
surplus, which should be used at the
Jail and sold to the contractors on
the roads to feed the prisoners.
This would avoid taking those that
were sick and unable to work along
with the working gangs and they
lounging along the roads as they do
now, and would be better on the men
as they would not be exposed and get
medical treatment as their several |
cases demanded. Of course the Jail /
would be the first consideration as /
purchaser.
A plan along these lines would cut |
out the idea that county commits
sioner was the county financial die |
tator and spender, and spend the fl |!
nances as road overseers, and they
would be managers of county affairs /
and not operators and inspectors Of |
their own services, and some one
would be responsible
At present no one is responsible for
conditions. Horses fall through rot
ten bridges and there are holes in
many that are dangerous; culverts
and waterways are falling down and 1
there is no one to appeal to or is re-
sponsible, and rectify the error. Still
the work goes on. Money spent and
the people are asked for more ready
cash to spend. Why continue the OPP
Grafton? Begin to do something that
will bring results and responsibility
some where, for we certainly need
god roads and bridges if we expect
Escambia county to develop any fas
ter than the growth of her home
grown citizenship.
We have everything in natural re-
sources, such as lands, water, sun
shine and climate to offer, but we
must make good highways to reach
our lands and thus show our re-
sources to those visiting our section.
either for pleasure or prospecting, and
N all our road construction as far
rs can be done, our convicts should be
used and make them pay for their
keeping, thus giving the public the
benefit of that class of citizens way