The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-23
{. C. STUART, OF
L BARLOW, fAVORS
BONDS FOR
GOOD ROADS

There is no safer, more conserva-
tive man in Polk county than f. {.
Stuart, of Barlow. and what he has
to say on any subject is worthy of
/ consideration. We therefore take
pleasure in reproducing herewith
communication to the Courier-In-
formant from Mr. Stuart on the sub
ject of road-building. and we would
call particular attention to the con-
cluslonS reached by Mr. Stuart after
his intelligent investigation. Mr..
stuart communication follows:
1t may be of some interest to your
readers to know the result of some
Investigations made by some friends
and myself in a matter now engag-
ing public attention. AS is generally
known. some OF lis have been conser-
vatiye in our views of the question
of issuing bonds for ieood roads. and
in order that we might have clearer
views on the subject we decided to
investigate as best we could. so on
/ the 18th inst, Messrs. G.. V. Till
man, c. l.. johnson and the writer
started in an automobile on tour
OF inspection and inquiry We drove
over scenic highway of Polk county,
or rather through it, for it requires
a submarine to plunge through the
sand from IIaines City to Loughman.
thence through the counties of
Osceola, Orange. Lake. Sumter, Her
nando and Pasco. We examined every
good road We could hear of and gath
cred all the information about them
that we could find We made it n
point to carefully examine the Oldest
piece of sand asphalt road in the
state at Eustis which so many others
have viewed for the same purpose
This road, after four years Of usage,
appears in the same condition as
when first put down. no evidence of
wear or breaking up, and those who
have watched it closely say it grows
smoother and better with time and
| use
We examined many miles of sand
asphalt road in Lake county, some
nine feet wide some fifteen and some
wider. Along hillsides and places
that mi-ht wash concrete curbing
is used, but on level ground in many
places clay was the only curbing we
found Then we carefully examined
sand asphalt streets in Dade City.
These streets thus paved have been
in use for two years, and the mayor
and others claim it is getting better
the longer it is used We carefully
examined ii near the loading plat
form at the freight depot where
heavy hauling is done and found no
evidence of wear or breaking. Here
we learned how cheaply and quickly
repairs can be made. 1t had been nee
essary to cut through the asphalt to
lay sewer pipe: the asphalt was
laid aside and when the sewer work
was completed and the ditch filed
the asphalt was replaced and the
broken places filed in with more
sand asphalt and the street was as
good as ever
Lake county is also putting down
clay roads with money secured by Is
suing bonds and these are excellent
roads, far superior to Polk county
roads, not because the material is
better. for it is not as good, but i
because they are put down under the /
direction of competent engineers and |
therefore have uniform surface.
We also examined the brick roads !
of Osceola, ORANGE and IIillsborough |
counties. These are excellent reads !
now but are not prepared to say |
that at the end of four years they !
will be as good as the sand asphalt |
in Eustis
After travelling something less than |
five hundred miles and examining |
the several kinds of roads. including |
Polk county's sand without the as |
phalt, and getting information from |
the best informed people we could !,
find. our conclusions are:
First: 1T pays to have good roads
at any price.
Second That it pays to have a
competent engineer to direct the con-
struction of any kind of a road and !
that ii is worse than folly to build
even clay roads without the services
of an engineer
Third. That sand asphalt is the
best road considering cost, and we
are not sure but what il is the best
without comparing cost
Fourth That we are convinced
that the wisest and best way to build
any kind of a road is by doing a large
mileage at one time in order that |
it may be done at least cost, and the
only practicable way to get sufficient |
money to do this is to issue bonds.
Fifth That the people where
bonds have been issued are well
nj |