The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-06-20
Good Roads are
A Necessity
CIVIC BODIES URGE GOOD ROADS

CIVIC BODIES URGE GOOD ROADS.
The time is at hand when Escam-
bia County must decide whether or
not it win join the great good road
development now being planned,
throughout the state of Florida, as
well as the development OF roads
connecting Florida with Alabama, both
north and west.
should our decision in this matter
be much longer delayed. we are more
than apt to find ourselves eliminated
from the road map of both Florida and
Alabama, and we will be left in an iso-
lated pocket with no connections OF
commercial value.
Conditions have been such that it
was impossible to take this matter up
with the public until now, as the pub
lie mind seemed to have been obsessed
with political affairs and did not seem
to want to consider other matters dur
ing that time, but now, that the po-
litical situation, so far as Florida is
concerned, has been definitely set
tied il is time, and that Immediately,
that the matter be taken up by the
public and do that which must be
done, in order to receive not only
benefits from that which has already
been expended in this county for good
roads, but also that which must be-
received in future.
Much tedious and laborous work
has already been done by commit
tee. which was appointed by all the
civic bodies, one being from the
Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club.
Kiwanis Club. Automobile Association,
Engineers Club, Escambia County
Good Roads Association. Escambia-
Santa Rosa Bridge Association, the
County Engineers. and the Board of
County Commissioners. This commit
tee has delved deeply in order to
present to their various bodies per-
fected plans to cover Escambia county
with a net work of good roads, at the
same time. making 1t so that the ac-
tual increased expense will be prac-
tically nothing.
1t is, of course, well known that at
the general election in November
constitutional amendment will be voted
on for bond issue OF not more than
twenty million dollars, to be expended
on a great state trunk line, but this
SUM of money will not meet the ex-
pense of constructing lines through
the various counties, IL they intend to
get the lulleSt peHclil lrolii tuiS iHSA-
way.
Escambia county, in order to do
what is almost a necessity, should
prepare for bond issue estimated at
about one million and four hundred
thousand dollars. While this may seem
a large amount, it is in fact a small
amount when the conditions under
which the bonds will be sold and the
cd 10 Mt
sideration. AS those bonds will not
mature for period OF. say thirty or
forty years, the sinking fund Of but a
comparatively small amount would
provide for the taking up and cam
collation. of the bonds at maturity.
The value to the people in the county
in the meantime will have increased
many, many folds.
This bond issue will be necessary II |
we are to receive the benefits of the
state highway under the twenty million
dollar bond issue but should, by any
means, the constitutional amendment
fail to pass, it would be even more
necessary for Escambia county to have
this money for the Improvement of its
roads. because it will require more
service on our part to accomplish the
needed results.
On the other hand. IL the constitu-
tional amendment should pass in No
vember. il will relieve the counties of
the payment OF the two mill tax, /
which is now being assessed and
which amounts annually to form $685.
10000 to s300o000 for Escambia coun-
ty, and the added sum which is now
being used for the upkeep of the road
and which will be taken into the sys-
tenn and absorbed by it, and which
amount in Escambia County to about
$45 100000 annually, viii give fund
of about SIS, 100000, which will be avail
able for handling the county bond is
sue without necessitating any in
crease of taxes at all.
AS sinking fund to take care of
committee win recommend at con-
vention which is to meet in st. Au-
gustine about the middle of August
that system of taxation be inaugu-
rated for this very purpose to raise
the necessary funds from automobile
license, tax on gasoline consumption,
and If more be needed, from similar
sources. So far as the state bond is
sue is concerned the people generally
gill not be called upon to pay any
taxes to meet the interest and sink
Ing fund. but on the contrary, the
legislature will be asked to repeal the
provision OF law now in force where H
by two mill tax is now levied to b
support the State Road Department. II