The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-04-30
Invoke Legislative Assistance
To Protect Roads

Plant City, April Is. The Good
I Dads committee of the Plant City
GARD of Trade, realizing the value
OF the excellent system of brick
reads this section has, and, in COM
mon with the Board of Trade as Il
body and the taxpayers generally,
have addressed a communication u
Representative Wilder, urging that
something be done at this session of
he Legislature to protect the Plant
.CityTampa brick highway from the
steady and increasing wear due to
freight traffic. OF course this doe;
not apply to public use, but has ref
.cTence TO the numerous freight
truck services which use il, and be-
cause there is a tendency to increase
this kind of traffic A great deal Of
the freight consigned to merchants
here and at other points in this sec
.ticn, including Lakeland, is hauled
over this road, and those who have
watched the effect declare that there
is no doubt that the road will he tre-
IN ndously effected within few
years if something is not dcne To
stem this traffic. If the trucks were
limited to tonnage that would not
Exceed the. ordinary automobile of
touring size, there would be no dan
ser, and the road would be a pleas
.ure. comfort, convenience and bless
ing for decades, but those opposed to
its use on large scale commercial
ly fear that the highway VIII be
ruined within a few years.
Appeal to Wilder
An appeal sent yesterday to Rep
resentative Wilder read as follows:
april Goth, 1917.
Hon. George II. Wilder,
"Hillsboro Representative.
Tallahassee, Florida
Dear Sir:-The undersigned com
mittee wishes to respectfully bring
to Your attention the very great need
for immediate GOOD ROADS legisla-
ton and urge that steps be taken
with particular respect to the brick
road running between Tampa and
Plant City. This very splendid high
way, which was built and is being
maintained by the public funds of
CCI county, is rapidly being ruined
by an everincreasing number of
heavy freight trucks that are not
only in great measure monopoliz-
ing this road for individual gain,
but are even disregarding all laws
heretofore enacted limiting the max
imum weight of their loads.
The facts above set forth are
well known to yourself and we feel
that in the light of this fact, togeth-
or with the urgent requests of the
citizens directly effected, you Will
spare nothing in your efforts. toward
legislation that will save our roads,
either by successfully regulating
their use. or by eliminating 1t alto
gether for purposes other than pub
Iic.
tive legislation toward the accom-
pllshment of this purpose, you have
ever, we wish you to be fully as
stred that, if from this end of the
line a service can be rendered you
in this matter. we are anxious that
you call the same to our attention.
I'VE are watching with great in
ttrestthe good work you are doing
and expect that you treat this fur
Their and particular matter as one of
no little Importance, especially to
the taxpayers of your immediate
section.
with good wishes for your fur.
Their successful efforts as our repre-
sentative, we are,
"verey respectfully yours,
| IN. v. HAWTHORNE,
| ~. w. ALSOBRoOK,
"E. ]. DeVANE.
Good Roads Committee of the Plan
| City Board of Trade"