The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-07-17
Marsh Takes Issue With Reese
On The Laws Dealing With Road
Construction-Cites Newer Law
Replies to County Attorneys
Interview Anent the County
Road System.

1t is with reluctance that on the eve
OF our departure for the state capital to
represent Escambia county's interest be-
fore the state road department that
| find myself compelled to take issue with
one of my colleagues on vital question
which may be taken up before the de-
partment at this meeting" said Fred w.
Marsh yesterday. But since the issue is
| not OF my choosing, and seems to be
based upon complete misunderstanding
OF the position of the delegation repre-
senting the civic organizations, see no
other fair way to the citizens repre-
sent, than to place the proposition in
It's true light
Mr.. Reese" Mr. Marsh continued, las
sumes that we are attempting to go over
| the heads of the board of county com
missioners and have the state road de-
partment designate a county road out
| OF the North Shore Boulevard. Nothing
Is further from our minds. This section
of road we never intended to be county
| road. It is to be a part of state road
number one, to be located and designated
exclusively by the state road department
as a state and interstate highway. That
| the state road department has exclusive
right and jurisdiction to deal with this
| problem, Is evidenced by the act creating
| that department.
! Reese Quotes Old Law.
| "Since Mr. Reese has quoted the old
Old law dealing exclusively with the coun :
| ty road system. permit me to quote the
new law dealing exclusively with the
state road system: (Chapter 6S83. Laws
1879 The state road department, may,
and is hereby authorized to, locate and
designate certain roads in this state. as
state roads, and to construct and main
tain the same with funds which are now
or which may hereafter become avail
able from the state or from the state and
federal government, and become
the property of the state of Florida, and
the state shall have the right to acquire
by purchase or otherwise, or by condem-
nation prior to such construction, the
right OF way, or road bed of any for the
same" (The act also confers the right
of eminent domain and to take same by
condemnation. and grants property rights
in said lands to the state. To investi-
gate and gather information as to road
building and repair. This act has been
declared constitutional by the supreme
court Of Florida. State VS.. johnson II
Fla. S63.)
Not over Commissioners.
at is not difficult to see from the
term of this act that what we are at
tempting to do, in inducing the state
read department to take up an investiga-
ton, survey and report on the advisabili-
ty of the location Of state road number
one along the shore of Escambia bay
from the bride and to the city is not going
over the heads OF the board of county
commissioners, and is not meant as any
discoartsey or neglect of their func-
tions.
I'VE have kept them advised from time
to time of our movement invited them
ct all times to be present and partici-
pate in the deliberations, and they have
as a matter of fact taken part in some
of the meetings. This is the first time a
suggestion has been offered that we were
going astray in our procedure. We can
not now adopt that suggestion.
pIsclaIms Leadership.
"I may have fallen into serious errors
in the past as pointed out by Mr.. Reese, |
but disclaim any pretended leadership. |
I feel however, that as disinterested
citizen fighting for a better and bigger
road system, not only for our county, but
for the whole Gulf Coast country, that I
cannot make any serious error in pre- |
senting at this time to the state road
the resolutions Of the mass
meeting held in this county, and which /
has been endorsed by the several civic |
bodies of this community, and which re- |
quests the location by the department |
of the road from the bridge as following |
the shore line OF the upper bay"