The Punta Gorda herald., 1922-11-24
Volume XXXIV.-Number 40
ROAD Dept IS WORKING
ON STATE ROAD NO. FIVE
Contrary To General Opinion, Consid-
cradle Work is Being Done on
This Highway


has been subjected, there is a notion
that the department is doing little il
anything III the way Of actual road
building except on State Road Mum
Der One, in the northern part of the
state. This, it appears, is a mis-
taken idea, report OF the work now
under way on the various state
roads, including state Road Number
Five, in which this section is vitally
interested, showing that work is in
progress on 4 great many projects,
including seven projects on State
Road Number Five. The project
closest TO Charlotte county that is
being worked on is in Manatee coun-
ty. The following excerpt from the
story sent out from Tallahassee,
which partakes of the nature of an
onicial report, gives a clear idea of
the problems the road department is
facing and tells just what is being
done on State Road Number Five.
In the preceding installment of
this series there was undertaken a
survey of the various projects of the
road department, including those
completed. those under construction
and those contemplated or proposed
in the immediate future. In fur
therance of the general purpose of
setting forth these projects road by
road, there have been presented, up
to this point, brief synopsis of all
the projects on state roads numbers
] and 2. The present installment
will set forth the projects on the
remaining state roads, namely, state
roads Nos. 3, 4, ), s, and 8, there
being no project at present on state
road No. 8 which is the road leading
from Madison north to the Georgia
state line south Of Quitman, Georgia.
Before resuming the recital of
these projects, however, it seems
well at this point to offer certain re-
marks in connection with the depart
ment projects which may clear up
any confusion which may arise as to
the connection between the projects
and the present state road depart
ment.
Responsibility of the present state
road department for the projects:
Since a number of the projects which |
have already been touched upon have |
been shown TO be fully completed |
and to have been in practical use
for several years, it is manifest that
the present personnel of the state |
road department is not responsible |
for all the projects which have been !
and may be outlined. Not only is it |
true that some of the projects were
before the advent of the |
present administration, but it is also
TO be recalled that a number had
been undertaken and were in pro-
cess when the change Of administra-
iions was made. SO that the depart
nent which came into Office had, nee
sssarily, in some instances to take
hold of projects which had gone so
ar as make it necessary, from the
of eXpediency, to COM
Dleto them, even though ii may be
doubted whether the present depart
nent would have undertaken some
If them. The department was con-
ronjed with a condition and not a
heory; the projects were under way (
ina abandonment OF any of them {
would have meant total loss of CON c
iderable money. S
As a striking instance OF this pos q
ibility is the road which is now be-
ng built from Lake City towards Y
acks onville. one of the longest con- c
rete road construction contracts q
yer let in the south. 1t is not as S
erted that tie present road depart c
lent would not have ca sideTed this a
roject originally, but it is a fact q
hat when the present department q
vent into Office that prCi@ct had pro- e
eeded so far that it was absolutely a
eceSsary to carry il to conclusion 81
oss of n huge amount of money al o.
eady expended on account of the
roject. Perhaps the present depart u
lent might have undertaken the "
rojcct originally, perhaps ii might CT
ot-the point is, however. that it u
ad reached the point when the Har- 50
ee administratio ton took hold that its u
would have been al VI
ost a crime. 1t is to be understood 81
lat this particular project is men III
oned solely by way Of example to II
low how a group of officers assuming az
Ities rs members OF the department
light conceivably be handicapped by vi
/ issue of expendiency in departing {
once from a program conceived by
eir predecessors.
On the other hand, since some of I've