The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-05-18
DR.. WEIHE DISCOURSES
REFERRING TO ROADS

Editor Star: In these days one of
the greatest assets to a county is it's
godo roads. On my trip from Jack
sonville the other day, when brought
my famous dollar Ford sedan" home,
| was particularly interested in roads.
The route taken was by way of ST..
Augustine, Palatka, Rodman, Orange
Springs, Citra and Ocala, as this is
the most direct route. The road is all
brick up to a few miles this side of
Palatka, then good clay road for some
miles beyond Rodman, then a graded
road of good hard surface to about
mile from Orange Springs, when
deep sand is encountered. This con-
tlnues beyond Orange Springs, when
a graded road is reached. This is
about as rough a stretch of road as
you will encounter anywhere. 1t seems
as if all the palmetto roots in the
vicinity have been heaped on this
stretch of road This continues for
about 100 miles (if we judge by the
time it takes to get over it and the
way it feels) but l hear it is quite
{. bit less. When you get near Citra
the palmetto root supply evidently
ran out and the road becomes much
smoother and from Citra to Ocala it
is all right. While making a stop
at Orange Springs to quench the
thirst of our faithful but heated steed,
| after its noble struggle through the
sand, we met most pleasant and
congenial citizen. He informed US that
there were going to have an old fash
toned barbecue and picnic there May
oath, and they invite everybody, espe-
cially from Ocala, and especially the
city officials, Chamber of Commerce,
and very especially the county COM
missioners, to attend. The object of
this occasion is to try to stir up in
terest and enthusiasm enough to get
that road property paved from where
| the hard road stops just before reach
lEg Orange Springs, on to Citra, and
this is indeed worthy effort. This
will connect Ocala with the northeast
part of the state and with the good
roads from Ocala south will bring
| thousands of people thru this way, to
say nothing of the benefit it will be to
the residents of that part of the coun-
| ty by making it easier for them to
get to Ocala. Every car that comes
thru Ocala carries a prospective citi-
Ocala carries a prospective customer
for some merchant in Ocala. Why
should they be allowed to go other
routes? Good roads are the thing,
and with this road in proper shape
and the fact made known that the
most direct route through the state is
thru Ocala, with the beautiful and
wonderful Silver Springs on the way,
would bring many people our way.
Other counties all over the state are
making great strides in road i'm
provement, realizing the attraction
they are to the traveller and prospec-
tive settler. There are two sayings
Marion county ought to stamp out as
soon as possible. One is, marion
county had the first good roads" Oh
course it is true, but it is ancient his
tory, and that does not get US thing
now. The important thing is, Mar
ion county needs good roads now. The
second is, GAS soon as you strike the
bum roads you know you are in Mar
ion county" This is common joke
very widely spread, but it is not the
kind of joke we enjoy. The gentleman
at Orange Springs asked me to invite
as many as l could, 1 so I am doing
Imy best and hope my friends will give
| them a good gathering, and that the
gathering will be mutually beneficial
to US all. Let's go. Karl J. Weihe.