The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-07-13
Member of the Associated Press.
AS OTHERS SEE US

A Fourth of July automobile tour of two hundred
and fifty miles, swing around circle from Sarasota
southwark to Puna Corda northward as far as Lake
land and then back home by way of Plant City and the
eastern outskirts of Tampa the interesting expert
ence of Mrs c. " S. Wilson, editor and publisher of
the Sarasota County Times and a congenial party of
friends. Mrs. Wilson wanted to find out for herself,
frsthand. just how bad and how good the highways
in southwest Florida. While admitting that wonderful
progress has been made in the last few years. she
PEELED to confess that there much to be DONE There
are fare too many missing lnks-just enough TO be
aggravang and to spoil what Gus h to be truly wonder
full trip But the time is not far distant when it will be
possible start out from Lakeland in either direction
make the swing around that great circle far south
as Punla Gorda or On 10 Fort Myers for that matter
thus providing days that will be both nspiraional
and educational. All our neighborng counties fully
realize that without system of county highways, there
can be no substantial growth and no progressive pros
perity
But there is another feature in connection with the
trip of the Sarasota lady worthy of note. Pointed
mcns and constructive criticisms made in her article
concerning each of the communities visited Here is
what she says about Polk county and Lakeland:
Polk countys reads are fine and our only criticism
is in the lack of signs. One drive for miles with
no friendly sign pest to where he is or where the
roads leads to- We w. impressed with this when
to where the read o.Sed almost at right angles
The short and dangerous A pine tree stood
squarely where the center Of the road terminated at
natural embankment of three or four feet the only sign
the pine tree of furniture calling at
tenion to the fact that collins and caskes could be pur-
chased there. We could not but commend the business
enterprise of this firm but would have appreciated to
greater extent sign posting the two roads.
Lakeland is also deficient in being properly posted
There many coed roads entering the town and
when has spent good time and used declining sup
ply CT gasoline at late hour trying to enter the city and
finds still another lake go around or perhaps it was
the one he is tempted to call the attention of
their live chamber Of commerce to the fact that few
good signs directing strangers how enter the city and
few more GIFTS on residence Streets would leave
better impression than the splendid white way where the
lights of the city seem to be assembled in the business
center
We can only plead Mrs. Wilson, that insufficient
time has elapsed since the organization of the Polk
County Motor Club to enable the club officials to carry
out proposed system of sign posting that every main
highway and cross-road in Polk and in all the towns
and cities of Polk, will be plainly marked. Also Mrs.
Wilson, the city authorities have in mind the erection of
welcome arches at the four main entrances to Lakeland
extending cordial greetings to the visitor Regarding
the lighting of the streets it that there room for
improvement but here again there is margin for
leniency because Lakeland growing rapidly is I'M
possible for the municipal light plant to keep up with
the procession Even purchasing another
new power unit of thousand klowatts and some of
this additional supply Of power will be sent the wires
add to the illumination Of the streets There is
thing add and that is the expression of the wish that
Mrs. Wilson and her friends will come again and that
time she will find road and street signs every
and plenty of street lights doing duty Constructive
criticism Of the kind offered is helpful and stimulating.