Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-10-04

Of his fellow citizens who reside west
of the Suwanee river. We in this
section of the state have much to
learn and much to profit by, through
a more intimate acquaintanceship
with our neighbors. There is a rea-
son for this present condition, of
aloofness; that reason is the lack of
communication. You ask: How
about the Railroads.&c." One attempt
to travel west Florida or south Geor-
gia by rail will be enough to last a
lifetime. Anyway you cannot see or
know the old south through that me-
dunn: not a chance in the world to
become really and truly acquainted.
The rails do not run in front of beau
tiful estates nor do they seek out the
bills and dales with their vistas Of
green trees and sparkling lakes-it is
the wide, well-surfaced sand-clay
roads which lead you hither and
thither through country as appeal
ing and attractive as one could hope
to find anywhere.
MISUNDERSTANDING and misconcep-
tons are at the bottom of most of the
unpleasant things in life whether it
be in matters of business, of politics,
of society. This particularly is true
Of the situation existing today be-
tween the extreme sections of this
great state. When certain state
ments and accusations are made by
the people of another part, those
statements are often based upon a
lack of knowledge, of the facts as
they exist.
Admitting that the lack of famil-
iarity, one section with another, is
due to inability to come into personal
contact, it is encouraging to note
that this barrier is rapidly being re-
moved. The agency employed is a
good roads system. The missing
links between west Florida and south
Florida are being filled in day by day
and week by week as fast as men
and money can be secured. Within
two or three years the two sections
will be united by state highways that
will make possible that delightful
and intimate acquaintanceship which
alone can preserve to posterity the
wonderful heritage which we call
Florida.
The occasion for these reflections
| is a recent visit to the old south, as
revealed in that glorious country be-
tween Townsville, Monticello and
Tallahassee. Wide, smooth highways
run in all directions except to the
peninsular portion of Florida, but
this omission is being made good by
the construction of state road No. l
which within a couple of years will
be. hard surfaced all the way from
Jacksonville westward to Madison
That road will open the door to Flor
ida and act as a feeder to every sec
ton of the state.
That people residing in the upper
tier of Florida counties and the coun-
ties of southern Georgia are eager to
travel into south Florida, can best be
Iattested by the frequent expression
of the wish that there be provided a
surfaced highway down the state
Those folks want to see what we are
and what we have just as badly as
we ought to want to see them and
know what fine people they are
They have a right to this and so have
we, so why raise a rumpus about
building roads in Florida that will
act as a common bond of friendship
and brotherliness.
The day is not far distant when an
interchange of visits will be an easy
matter to accomplish few hours
journey from the southern and mid
die sections of Florida to the wood
ed hills with their winding roads,
their corn, their cattle, their live
stock; to Monticello, to Tallahassee
to Thomasville, where dwell as hos
pitable and kindly people as the good
Lord ever created. No one can truly
appreciate Florida who does moi
know from personal acquaintance
this rich treasure house.--LakelanC
! Star Telegram.