The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-07-28
HOMES DEPENDENT
ON GOOD HIGHWAYS
One of the Most Vital Ingredients OF
Modern Civilization Brought To
the Front at the Citra
Meeting

persons from every section OF Mar
ion county and adjoining counties
gathered Thursday, 9th, at Citra for
the big barbecue and good roads rally
held there In the interest of the un-
4 constructed stretches of highway be-
tween Citra and Orange Springs and
the new road being built across Or
ange Lake on the north
The crowd began to arrive early at
the beautiful park of live oaks in the
lcenter of the "Home of the Pineapple
Orange" The speaking which began
about noon was preceded by concert
by the Ocala band. Mayor John Mar
tin, of Jacksonville, was the principal
speaker of the day. He was introduc-
ed as Marion county boy and as
Florida's next governor. Dinner was
served at two o'clock and that it was
thoroughly enjoyed was fully evident.
The day was also featured by the
opening of the new bank at Citra.
| Not only was the sentiment of the
gathering in favor of the early con-
struction of the two links of highway
which are parts of short routes be-
tween Jacksonville and central and
south Florida, but the subject of good
roads In general received attention.
Two speakers commenting on the fact
that SO many of the young men of
Marion county had moved down into
southern counties, said that this mi
grafton was result of failure of the
county to make the kind of improve
ments that have been made in these
other counties. One speaker named
good roads as the biggest factor In
these improvements that have attract
ed the young men of Marion. It was
pointed out that if the community or
county is to hold its young men it
must progress with the times. Ref
erence was made to the census of
Marion county as compared with
southern counties and the cause of the
failure to show greater gains in pop
ulation was attributed In a large
measure to the lack of good high
ways, and to the isolation of the coun-
ty due to this lyack of highways.
Mayor Martin of Jacksonville spoke
Immediately after dinner and his in
PRODUCTION as the next governor of
Florida seemed to please the crowd
greatly. The mayor recalled the fact
that he was born in Marion county,
/ spent his boyhood here and received
his education in the public schools of
the county. He said that he had NOV
ed to Jacksonville when he was fifteen
i years old.
4 "I believe that one of the greatest
things before the people of Florida to-
day is the need for building good
roads," said Mr.. Martin.
| He spoke in praise of the national
highway system, saying that provision
for this system is one of the greatest
things the American people have
done. Mayor Martin said that the
counties In the central part of Florida
had in the past been practically isolat-
ed because of the fact that they had
not built enough good roads over
which outsiders might easily reach
the interior. The mayor also referred
TO the fact that so many young men
In central counties had moved to the
southern counties because of greater
development in the latter and IN the
matter of good roads in particular. He
said that he hoped that he would soon
see every road of importance in Mar
ion county under construction and
said that the people of the county
should not hesitate to bond for better
roads.
Mr.. z. L. Wartmann was master OF
ceremonies. Mr.. w. ]. Crosby made
an address of welcome ON behalf OF
the mayor and people Of Citra. He
said that the people of Citra want the
county commissioners to connect Citra
with the road which the commission
ers of Alachua county are building
across Orange Lake. and TO connect
Citra with Orange Springs.
i Eve want 0cala and all OF Marion
: county to back as up" said Mr. Wart-
mann, supporting Mr.. Crosby.
Mr.. George W. Scofeld of Inyer-
ness, state attorney. was the next
speaker. He stated that future de-
velopment depends up the building of
l good roads. Senator-elect n. ]. Wicker
; of Sumter county, spoke of the value
of good roads and of his own county
Experience IN particular. Mr.. Charles
Burch, county commissioner OF Put.
t nam county, told his hearers that Put