The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-07-08

studied in many different parts of the
state, battles with ccanty commits
Sioners, and a thorough campaign CT
education carried on all over the
county, resulting in a clear, well-de'
fined and business-like proposition
being laid before the county com.
missioners after two years hard work
on the part of this association. This
plan included road system which is
| best expressed in the campaign slo-
gen of the organization. "a road from
every town in Polk county to every
other town" A monster petition was
secured asking for the call Of an
election; for the employment Of en-
gineers to make a survey, prepare
plans and specifications and select
best materials for same; also that
bids be advertised and three bond
trustees appointed. The engineering
work alone consumed four months,
during which time five quarter-mile
demonstration pieces of asphalt road
were laid in different parts Of the
county. While the surveys and other
engineering details were being Sc
cured, the Good Roads Association
made personal canvass Of the quail
flied voters, using an index card sys-
tenn through it's committees. This was
thoroughly worked, checked and re.
checked by each committee until it
showed 65 per cent of the qualified
voters Of the county were in favor Of
the proposition, and would vote TO,
the bond issue when election called.
The engineers report was submit
ted, revised, and upon completion
showed grand total Of III
miles of roads, which, to be built
of asphalt, would cost the immense
sum of one and a half millions Of
dollars, exceeding by half million
the largest amount ever voted by a
county in the South. Bids were ad
vertised and contracts let to five diff
ferent contractors in order to get the
work done quickly, subject to the
carrying Of the bond election. A
campaign committee was organized in
the hands of the most energetic men,
bers. A speakers campaign was in
stituted and some Of the most prom
inent men In the county visited and
spoke at every school house in the
county and at other places, and a
vigorous newspaper and publicity
campaign was prosecuted. Ten thou
sand thirty-inch cloth streamers were
attached to every car and other We.
bicle in the county, there being only
six refusals. A parade was held prior
tue the day of election, in which there
were over 500 cars in line from ev
cry part of the county The election
carried by a three to one vote, and
the work was at once begun and car
ried to a successful conclusion abou
q year ago. Since that time two dis
trict bond elections have been car
ried and a further mileage of nearl.
seventy-five miles added to the mil
cage involved in the countrywide is
sue, so that now Polk county has {
total mileage of about 800 miles o
sheet asphalt roads ramifying ever!
portion of the county. A very i'm
portant feature of this extensive roat
building is that the interest and sink
ing fund on the bonds have been TAX
en- care Of for the past three wears
without any material increase II
taxes, and the slight increase woult
not have been necessary but that tn
commissioners decided to build RICH
through incorporated towns, which
were unable to float a bond issue fol
their own paving, the cost Of which
however, is being refunded to thu
county annually by that portion o
the road tax coming back to the in
corporated towns.
: There Is no county in the stat,
; which has greater or more valuabl,
resources than Polk county all O
. which are now having wonderful
development on account of this splen
!. did road system. Lands which pre-
l viously were held (not selling) at So
per acre are now being readily sol'
!: at more than twice that figure. and |
tremendous increase in the taxabl
values Of the county has come and i
; on the way The reason why the tax
es have not been raised Is becaus
the amount previously spent on con
structing clay roads and maintaining
; them, wearing out at one end befor
!! they were finished at the other nov
I takes care Of the interest and slnkin
; fund on the bonds The roads ar
!; standing up well, no material deteri