The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-16
Public Settlement
Is Fast Setting
For Bonds
OPPOSITION IS WANING
ALL OVER TEE COUNTY
Campaign Really Just Begun ami
Enthusiasm Growing Rapidly

F-gp4- O run EO--As - eN--- g - .
The coming million dollar bond cleo /
iion for The con =Iruction Of good /
roads Il tie county The opposition /.
that has been offered 50 far is con
fined to individuals while the wave
Of public sentiment in favor Of the
i=sue is gradually sweeping the OPP
position from Is path. leaving them
scattered here and there. dominating
but few places
TIE general spirit which predoni-
mates among the public is for the
bond issue There are no real argu-
neuts AGAINST good roads. Il is a
conceded fact that they are essen
-ial 10 the future progress and pros
perity Of Polk county. Many who
were opposed TO bon ding the county
when the proposition was taken up
al first and discussed prior 70 the
preliminary arrangements Of pro-
posed lines, their manner Of con-
s,ruction and material 10 be used,
have since changed their opinions
and are now staunch supporters Of
what promises TO be the awakening
Of Polk county 10 q realization Of
possibilities that await her public
spiritsd citizens.
This is Z conservative assertion
based upon conditions as they appear
today 10 the close observer The
campaign has Just really begun and
the army Of good road advocates is
growing stronger DAY by day In
some sections We find enthusiasm
high and explicit confidence in the
successful termination Of the bond
issue il other sections we find in
different opposition. lack Of enthus-
iasm either way, while doubt min
giles On both sides
The general consensus Of opinion
is that failure 10 carry the bond is
sue would be the most severe blow
that the county could receive, one, in
fact, which time alone could oblit-
crate Many realize the critical con-
dition and the results that would
follow defeat Of the bond issue and
that fact has offered inspiration for
vigorous and determined work on
the part Of many who heretofore dis
played but an ordinary interest in
the matter.
; The system Of road under the
contract and specifications as sub
mitted by engineers and road experts
10 be the bet that is possible 10 con.
struct today 1t will mean to Polk
, county more in actual cash than any
other public improvement possibl!
could mean II means the distribu.
tion of the greater part Of the vast
sum among the people Of the county
for under a clause inserted in tbs
, contract il has been made part Of
, the agreement that Polk county vii
, be given the preference when il
comes 10 employing teams and labor
the purchase Of hardware and al
material TO be used in construction
work
So confident it is that the bono
issue will carry that the contractor
are already making Arrangement
for the employment Of men ant
teams Hundreds Of teams and thou
sands of men will be given employ
: ment at good wages, and this assurei
that the people will be directly bene
fitted by keeping at home all th'
money possible to be expended on th'
work.
II will help the laborer, the farm
or. the team owner and the mer
d chant, looking at It merely from tn
construction end, while at the sam
: time, when once completed, ii vii
bring untold benefits 10 the propert,
owner as we'll as 10 each and ever,
individual in the county II will b
the means Of increasing propert
valuations ten-fold for il will ofe
to the homeseeker those essential ad
vantages which are today conspicu
Gus By their absence-good roads.
e Some opposition which develope
O in the first stages Of the propose
IS bond issue were ba.ed upon the kin
Of roads. material to Dc used an
= their construction. The opposition d
= veloped before any definite step ha
n been taken in the matter regardin
h construction, but since this has bee
.e outlined and gone over in detail an
i the opinions Of experts secured.
% has resulted in change takln
le place in many of the most skeptiea
.e II Ia been stated Oh good authol
Be- itv that the proposed reads for Pol
~ county are the best that is posslo
o. 10 construct, for the same cla-s
! roads today are used in many
6 the leading cities Of the country an
5s have proven most satisfactory ID e
re cry respect. Every detail and eVei
be phase OF conditions have been col
N g3sered bearing upon construetS
I'D and durability.
g There is no argument against go'
Tx reads in POLK county. They are nee
be a and the people want them. II
Is only obstacle 70 overcome in u
be minds Of the remaining opposition