The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-10
The Central Florida Highway Assn
by South Cham
Today

In the call for this meeting the
president laid stress upon the value
of cooperation and getting together.
That is purely the reason for this
gathering here today, and certainly
is a well-defned object to have in
mind. The two words go hand in
hand; it would not be possible to CO.
operate without the get-together
spirit, and neither would it be pos
sible to get together without coop
Grafton.
The subject assigned to me, the
Central Florida Highway Associa-
ton, implies in itself the value of
cooperation A few remarks as to
its history will not be amiss here
The organization was formed a short
time ago for the primary purpose of
banding together the people of Cen
trail Florida, SO that they could forci-
bly, bring to the attention of the
Dixie Highway advocates the value
of building the Dixie Highway
where it would serve the greatest
number of people. In this we were
successful, but it was only through
the strenuous and untiring efforts of
the twelve hundred members of the
organization. They co-operated and
they co-operated for the State. The
membership represents every county
in State of Florida from Escambia
on the extreme northwest to Dade
in the southeast; certainly that COW
ers the State thoroughly. 1t was the
unselfish spirit behind this work
that has been so highly commended
by those acquainted with conditions;
sectional lines were forgotten, the
motto was to serve the most people
in the best way. After being assured
of this success, the organization did
not stop, but took for it's work More
and Better Connecting Good Roads
cessful; largely through our efforts,
Florida is now classed as the State
doing the most in good roads con-
struction in the Union. More money
is being spent per capita than in any
other State; larger bond issues are
being carried in counties and dis
ticta than in any other State, and,
although opposition is met in vari-
GUS quarters of every district, it S
gradually subsiding and people are
beginning to realize that the great
est development of the State of Flor
ida is more dependent upon better
| roads than upon any other one i'm
proyement that could be made at
this time. A few instances will
serve to show the spirit of those in
terested in the work. A part of the
Tamiam Trial, which extends from
Tampa to Miami, will be the greatest
engineering feat in road construction
that has ever been attempted road
through the Everglades. This road
will be reality within the next
eighteen months, for contract has al.
ready been let for it's construction
| $225,000 in bonds was voted by to-
tai vote of IL, which was unanimous;
another issue in lee county of $177,-
| 900 was unanimously voted, for an.
other link in this same road. Per-
sonal subscriptions from land COM
panies totailng close to $4,000, were
secured for bridge across the Kis-
simmee River, which will be part
of the Dixie Highway and will be
located just north of Lake Okeecho-
bee. Taylor county is contemplating
bond issue of sufficient sum to
build 60 miles of the Dixie Highway
through their county. Dade county
has voted their portion, and the
Dixie Highway in that county is
complete. Funds have been voted
and are available for their link of
the Tamiam Trail
Polk county, the richest inland
county in the State of Florida, is
now working for a bond issue that