The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1916-07-27
DISTRICT NO. 4
AND THE DIXIE HIGHWAY.

Hon. W. NJ. Written, commissioner
from district No. 8, takes US consid.
erably to task in a forum article in
this issue, because we advocate the
building Of the Dixie Highway, as
originally outlined.
Mr.. Whi,tens premise is erroneous,
when he intimates that Arcadia is at
tempting 10 cheat Punta Gor,la out Of
the reward Of her industry and ex-
pcnse. There is no such idea prevalent
here. We want a good hard surfaced
read across the western end Of dis.
tIict four. from district five on the
north to district three on the south,
but we also want other roads. and our
regular mill tax will scarcely keep
tlis one road passable, so that the
people In the eastern end Of four must
60 without roads. A, Mr.. Whitten's
district has been building roads with
bond money all during his term Of NJ.
nee, he hardly knows what it IS TO
b, handicapped with a small road al.
lowance.
Mr.. Written is a faithful Punta
Gordan. and we admire him lor his
allegiance 10 his home towii-wi>h we
had more Of the sam, sort in tLis dis.
trict-and it is this fact that may have
something to do with hi. article, for
he says: 1T is conceded that this aux.
Hilary line is To become the main Dixie
Highway il the uoutoon-sawerass
pkccchobce City vision fails TO real
ize." By the Auxiliary line" he
means the line through Punta Gorda,
Fort Myers. etc. N1w. this might be
a fact. and It might not. The way the
wind blows now. it looks as though the
failure Of district four to construct the
route, as at present outlined, will re-
suit in cross-state route further
north, and that we viii all be on an
auxiliary line" south Of the real high.
way. As we undcrs tand the matter,
we must act promptly here in district
four, If even district three is 10 reap
the reward Of her expenditures.
As We understand the matter now,
It is estimated that the proposed road
east can be built for $4,000, and that
doesn't sound much like "pontoon
bridges across impa ssablc mars hes ="
The people In the eastern end Of
district four are entitled to roads.
They pay taxes. and If roads are a
benefit then they should have their
nrnnnTffTnuf. q r.,
build roads out there. and to the more
thickly populated sections If the dis
trict. ana In addition make hard sur
faced road for the Dixie Highway is
entirely impossible, with the regular
S-mill tax. The pc oplo Of Mr.. Whit
tens district eralizcd this, and bonded
n build the necessary roads. As a re-
suit. the eastern end Of his district is
rapidly building up. as Is evidenced 10y
the towns Of Lakeport, Palmdale. Hall
City. Citrus Center. Edge. Moorehavcn.
Muse, North LaBelle Fisheating Creek,
Adrian, Venus, etc, while district four
boasts Of Buck Lake, Hicora and Bas-
senger. When we have built roads TO
the eastern end Of four, and made
them passable all the year round,
then will that section also build up,
and be developed. 1t is not all saw
grass swamp.
Two citizens Of Venus, Who were IN
Arcadia yesterday. complained that af-
ter they reached the line Of district
four they had no roads into Arcadia,
but that the roads In district three
were in good condition. and kept 50.
The difference between the two dis
trictS is, district Is all bonded for
roads with the exception Of about ten
townships, and the s-mill road tax Of
the district is sufficient to build fair !
roads in these ten townships, while
district 4 is attempting to build n {
hard surfaced road across the west. !
ern end Of the district and other roads t
over its approximate twenty-six town I
ships. with the s-mill levy. How were a
the roads in the eastern end Of district
3 before the bond issuef v
District 1. with approximately six q
townships. found It impossible to build q
and maintain sufficient roads, even a
when the road taxes Of the county y
we're so divided that it received a good $
hare Of the road tax paid by districts 9
and 4, and voted a bond issue of {
10000, nearly quarter Of million S
dollars. How then can district 4, with I
wenty-six townships, expect to have il
Dads without a bond issue? e