The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-14
WORK WILL START
AT EARLY DATE ON
INTtRURBAN LINE
IS PRESENT PROSPECT.

+ j. Binford, and one of his as
socrates, outlined plans for the Lake
idhd-Iampa interurban line in an
interview with Secretary Holworth,
yesterday afternoon While Their,
are necessarily some details not We,
ready for publication, Mr.. Binfort
was quite unreserved in talkins
ABOUT the matter. stating that hi:
people were asking absolutely moth.
ing OF Lakeland. or the other com.
munities through which the line
would pass, save and except their
good will, reasonable franchises and
rights of way. No stock is for sale,
all of the money necessary, being
ready just as soon as franchises have
already been granted at Gary and
Plant City and the commissioners
OF Hillsborough county are meeting
today to act on the question of a
franchise allowing the interurban
line to use the highway, where nee
essary, in that county. No portion
OF the line will encroach nearer than
seven feet on the country road, ex-
cept perhaps between Mile Creek
and the Tampa limits where the
road is wide enough to allow of en-
croachment. The right of way
through Polk county from the Hills
boro line will be through private
property and, therefore, no franchise
from the commissioners will be nee
essary. While the question of the
exact route between Plant City and
Lakeland has not yet been finally
settled, II is expected that it will
run north of the A. G.. L. tracks.
The use of only a few streets in
this city will be asked for, and these
are not yet named. but just those
necessary to allow of ingress, egress
and regress. For the present there
are no plans to extend the line east
of Lakeland or to connect with any
other points, but ultimately it is
expected line will connect east and
south. Engineers and contractors are
in Tampa now; surveys have been
made which will be completed into
Lakeland within a day or two and
while the promoters have six months
under the franchise asked for in
which to commence work, it is eX-
pected that construction will begin
almost Immediately with the grant
ing of Lakeland's franchise.
While this city might refuse to
grant the franchise asked for. it is
not believed that such a refusal is
because a refusal to
allow entrance into the city would
not, according to Mr. Binford, pre-
vent the line being built to the city
limits, and a consequent inconveni-
ence to those using the service.
There are eight times as many peo-
pie in Tampa as there are in Lake
land and it is safe to say that Lake
land would profit by the connection
Just as much in proportion as would
Tampa Experience has shown that
the smaller towns connected with
large cities by interurban lines have
ing to population than the larger
towns Mr.. Binford has been en-
gagged in the building Of interurban
lines since 1899 and until about two
years ago when he came to Florida
for his health He took up this mat
ter OF LakelandTampa line about
a year and a half ago and believes,
from his past experience, that this
is the beginning of tremendous
development throu ohout the State.
AS has been stated already, many
details are not yet ready for pub
lication, but it is contemplated to
have an hourly service between the
two points, some of which will be
Of thorough nature. Light freight
and express will be carried and a
rate of one and one-half or two cents
per mile for local passenger rates.
Trip and Communication rates will al
% be made. The track will be high
lass, standard and strictly modern
coaches. Action on the franchise is
expected to be taken by the City
Commissioners at their first meeting
Iext month.
The matter was thoroughly dis
used at the membership council of
he Chamber Of Commerce on Tues
ay last and, as a general PROPOSE
ion, received the hearty endorse
nent OF those present