The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-05-21
Folks Fine Roads,
Lakes, Fruits
And Vegetables
Exploited In
N. Y. Packer

ing letter, which appeared In Its last
issue, relative to this county's splen
did system of good roads. The let
ter follows:
We note in your issue Saturday.
April rs, the article with reference to
the mileage of improved hard roads
in Florida, and a mention of the
mileage in Polk county.
Knowing your intentions are al
ways to have things correct and your
willingness to make corrections when
through oversight or otherwise an
error gets in your columns, we wish
to offer you correction as to Polk
coxnty's mileage.
We are enclosing map Of Polk
countys system Of 301 miles of as
phalt county roads, which connects
every town in the county with every
other town in the county. While the
writer has not seen the statement ov-
er his signature. he is reliably in
formed that the president Of the
American Automobile Association has
said that Polk county's system Of as
phalt country roads is beyond cues
ton the finest system of roads ofsany
rural county in the United States,
with particular reference to that sec
ton OF the map which shows an as
phalt road leading from Frostproof
in the southeastern part Of the coun
ty northward to the north line cf the
county. We wish to impress on your
mind what magnificent drive it is
over roads of velvet smoothness, when
for Az miles one is never out Of sight
OF an orange grove, except for one
lonesome quarter of mile, and it
would not be surprising IL somebody
is planting in that quarter by the time
this letter reaches you.
Calling your attention to another
error, our roads are not of asnhaltic
concrete. but are six inches, after
compression with cotton roller, OF
rock clay with two inches, after com
preston, OF sheet asphalt surfacing.
Not only have We at this time vel
vet asphalt highways connecting ey
cry town in the county with every
other town in the county, but at 9
mass meeting of the citizens from all
parts Of Polk county held in the coun-
| ty court house at Barlow, Florida,
this week at which the writer was
chairman, resolution was passed
calling on the county commissioners
to borrow 100000 for the purpose OF
building extensions to our present
system which will connect us up In
three directions to three adjoining
counties, in addition to four connec-
tions we now have, and at the same
time give us 50 more miles of asphalt
This 100000 will be in addition to
100000 already expended III the
| construction of our present system
In addition, announcement wa made
| at this meeting OF an election soon
to be called for the purpose of bond.
ing for the construction Of asphal'
roads about Lakeland, one of ouI
neighboring towns Further an
nouncement was made that seVera
special districts are now In contem
piation In various sections Of tn.
county. and 1t seems at this time quit,
possible that our present system o
roads would be doubled within thu
next three or four years. Why not
when Polk county produces rs pc
cent of all the phosphate produced
in Florida and 40 per cent of the en-
tire worlds supply, when it has ap
proximately $4,000 acres in c.tru
fruit groves, which is undoubtedly
larger acreage than any other coun
| ty in the state of Florida, due ID tn
fact that the county has within it
borders fresh water lakes numberin
about 500, which afforded ideal pre-
: lection for tender fruits and vegeta
bles: and the trucking acreage
such that hundreds of cars of vegt
tables move from the various lcadin
! stations in the county during the wiz
ter. and spring shipping season eac
, yeah; not to mention the vast acre
: age of virgin lands in massive pin
which support the lumber and tul
pentine industry, at the same tin
affording pasturage for thousands an
thousands of head of cattle and hos
D We are sure that this description
I our extraordinarily fine road sygte
: has spurred your curiosity to kno
what kind of town must be Barto'
which is the hub of all this asDha
county seat of Polk county. so y