The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1917-06-08
.FRU|TLAND PENINSULA
ROAD COMMITTEE
Makes Report on Proposed
Hard Surfaced Road
Through Peninsula.
editor Palatka News

Editor Palatka News.
The people Of the Fruitland PENN
Sula have right to know what has
been done by their committee in the
direction Of securing good roads.
On the 18th Of November, 1916, a
public meeting to consider the ques-
ton OF better highways was held in
Crescent City. To that meeting the
Crescent City Board of Trade invited
every citizen of the peninsula, send
ing out some two hundred personal
letters. One month later a second
meeting was held at Pomona, and a
committee composed of B. F. Tilling-
hast, Crescent City; L. J. Mcleod,
Welaka; and H. A. Ring, Sisco, was
named to gather information.
The committee visited different
parts Of the state where new roads
had been built and where the work
OF construction was actually in pro-
gress. Many letters were written
and q mass of facts and opinions
gathered.
1t was decided that but little could
be accomplished without the services
of a competent and experienced en-
gineer to make survey, estimate the
cost of different materials, and fur
nish information which many tax pay
ers were asking for, and, withou.
which they could not intelligently
make up their minds what to do.
The matter of selecting an cngin-
l.,
pick and difficult. One was wanted
who is not directly or indirectly con-
nected with or interested in any con-
struction company or any firm selling
any Of the material to be used-an
impartial, disinterested honest engin-
eer who would work solely for the in
terests of the Fruitland peninsula.
On the recommendation of County
Attorney Odom who had made ives
tigation, and with the approval of
the Board of County Commissioners,
the committee employed Mr. Frank J.
Pagan of Tampa, who had been pre-
viously engaged to do work in an
other district in this county. 1t was
agreed in January, this year, to pay
him $500 a mile for making the sur
vey, a profile, a map of the district,
and complete specifications. He was
authorized to call for bids on different
materials, brick, sand-asphalt, blocks,
etc.
At that time the conditions were
favorable. The fruit crop was
large one and prices were above the
average. Many tax payers told the
committee they were ready to vote for
the Improvement. Then came the
disastrous freeze of early February
completely changing the outlook.
The declaration Of war with Germany
followed adding confusion to bad
situation.
The survey, however, had been con-
tracted for, and was made. 1t shows
that the exact length of the proposed
road from Dunn's Creek bridge, the
limit of the San Matco district,
through Satsuma, Sisco, Pomona,
Como, and Crescent City to the Vo-
Iusia county line, is 29.06 miles: This
included a lateral line from Sisco to
Welaka, and also from Crescent City
to the Junction. An extra mileage
Of 2.2S was called for by a change
from the original survey in the road
between Como and Pomona. The to-
tal mileage, therefore, is 31.34, MAX
inc the bill at $500 mile, $47O.lo;
On the specifications so secured
bids were advertised for and opened
hv the County Commissioners on
Nav 25. One bid for vitrified brick
amounted to 1886, 131 40; another for
The same material, $354,O41 90;
third for asphalt blocks, 369,4O1 ~:
These bids do not Include bridges; All
these figures are unreasonably hlgh'
and 50 on recommendation Of the com
mittce the bids were all rejected by
the County Commissioners.
With ali these figures and other IN
formation in it's possession it was the
intention of the committee to call a
nn6lic meeting, have the engineer
nrasent, and give all interested an
onDortunity to carefully consider cost
of different materials, width of road,
and the ACCESSIBILITY of calling an
election for a bond issue.
All the papers prepared by En-,
pinrcr Pagan, both in originals and
duplicates, are in the hands OF II. j.
Hancock. county clerk, for safe keep
inc. They are considered worth for
future use all they have cost. The
EXPENSE of $47O10 was met by a sub,
scription fund, on which there is still
room for more names.
In the oninion of the committee
the time for road building is very
unfavorabe because all materials and
labor are high and constantly advanc-
mo Uncertainty is added by the
probable early advance in freight
rates. These with other adverse con-
I;tions. including the poor prosnects
for fruit this year. make it absolute
Iv necessary to defer c9rrving the
subject further at this time. But
from whHt has been learned the com,
+hA ap11ntv and