The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-04-30
The Superior Advantages OF
Florida and Polk County

ful backing in the present and certain
promise for the future. Its outlook
straight north to the Great Lakes
region, toward and beyond the equa-
tor to Cuba and Central and South
America. and in its immediate vicin-
age of splendid and productive area.
There are only twelve cities in Flor
ida with over 800 inhabitants. and of
these twelve. seven growing ones are
in Tampa's territory. Besides its sea.
going advantages. il is destined to be
the radiating point of a system of in
terurban lines, as well as good high
ways. reaching out to all points of
Florida, and We cherish the fond ex-
pectation that one of them ere long
will extend to beautiful Crooked
Lake.
Good roads is a popular theme in
all progressive communities of Ameri.
ca AT present Throughout the length
and breadth Of this country many PEG.
rle are proTidlng for better highways.
thousands of miles are already built.
and many thousands more are to be
constructed within the next few
years. The movement is general.
and sooner or later. this entire ma.
ton will be gridironed with a system
OF permanent roads, leading in all
directions. that will at once mean
increased business for the cities.
larger profits for the farmers, and
greater pleasure and diversity of
scenery for the motorists.
Florida's counties have already
voted over $2O.0OO.OoO for good roads.
Polk county. with forty thousand in
habitants, voted million and half
dollars last year for that purpose by
a majority of about four to one. The
largest land and grove owners
strongly supported the masure. and
at their own individual cost investi.
gated the best method of highway
construction for this climate.
While in the North where freezing
and thawing. with the consequent up.
heavals of the soil. concrete has
proved to be the best road material
for the money expended that has as
yet been used for permanent high
way construction, here the roadbed
is graded with contiguous material
mostly sand on which is laid sever.
al inches of clay, pressed solid and
smooth with tenton steam roller
and on the cay a top dressing OF
asphaltum. specimens of the road
thus constructed were laid in differ
ent parts of the county so that all
voters might see It, and the con
tracts were let contingent upon q
favorable vote, before the people
were called to approve the plan
This form of road is solid, smooth
and permanent, costs but little tc
keep in repair, and will last for ar
indefinite period II is a type of con
struction that has been adopted aft
CT much experiment with brick
mari, oiled macadam, etc. Wher
completed that portion through Poll
county will form a part of the grea
Dixie Highway leading from the pop
ulous cities that border the Grea
Lakes of the North to Miami thu
magic city of the far South ant
Tampa, the leading commercial city
of the Gulf, will all be on the i'm
proved highways and waterways O
trave and traffic known in this won
derful age.
Fortunate indeed are the pioneer
settlers at Crooked Lake that TO
/ several miles of the highlands on it
northern and eastern shore a new
! hard surfaced road will run, smootl
| as glass and bordered. with Bermu
da grass on each side of the nine
feet driveway Soon they will be oil
the best part of the live and throh
: hinE world, and thousands of auto
mobiles will bring a larger numbe
, of visitors and settlers from tn
: snowland of the North to the sunni
z est sunland of the South every win
!, ter Only one thing is lacking ant
s that is durable and flexible tires FOL