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REMARKS OF GOVERNOR FIRRIS BRYANT TO THE AGRICULTURAL DRY LUNCHEDN
OF'TRE FLORIDA CITRUS EXPOSITION, WINTER HAVEN, MARCH 16, 1962
(For release after 1 P.M., March 16)
My friends of Florida. It is, as always, a great pleasure
and honor for me to come here to Florida's heartland to participate
in these events which serve so well in this day of the atom and the
orbit to remind us that citrus is still, and forever will be, a
basic segment of Florida's expanding economy and an irreplaceable
asset to our way of life. Florida's citrus industry is symbolic
of the good things that continue to attract new residents and
visitors to our state in numbers which constantly set new records.
Only a few days ago I noted that an official of the moving van
industry reported that for every family that is moved out of Florida,
two are moving into Florida. I am sure that it is safe to assume
that in the mind's eye of at least one out of these two new families
there exists a picture of their home-to-be which includes an orange
tree in every back yard and a bass in every pet. And it is here
in central Florida that these dreams become reality.
In these days when space age industries attract so many
headlines by their contributions to our growth. a luncheon such as
this is especially appropriate for it grants to those of us in
public office an opportunity to reaffirm our awareness of the
vitality and importance of our agricultural endeavors to our state.
or course we need no reminder, for as Commissioner Campbell.
Commissioner Conner and I are well aware it takes but a small con-
troversy over chickens and citrus or the sale of oranges on a
turnpike to vividly reveal the great number of our citizens
concerned with agriculture and the citrus industry.
This occasion also affords me an opportunity to speak
publicly of the great admiration and appreciation I feel for the
work of our Florida Citrus Commission. I am as proud of this group
of men as I am of any Board to which I have been privileged to make
appointments.
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Every report that I receive indicates that their representation of
your industry is forceful and effective and that all of the people
of Florida can be Justifiably proud of the Job they are doing.
I know that it has given me special pleasure to note the
manner in which the advertising program of the industry administered
by the Commission has, without loss of emphasis or subserviance to
other efforts, sought to sell Florida along with orange Juice. Just
as in the state's promotional advertising we seek to include and
stress the beauty and benefits of citrus in a manner beneficial to
this industry yOu are, in an effective manner, helping to sell the
nation and the world on the advantages of sharing with us the
sunshine and relaxed way of life on which our fame is based. It is
a happy blending of mutual interests for the common good and I
commend the industry for it.
In fact. so effective has been the work of the Citrus
Commission and so good has been our liaison with Citrus Mutual that
I find that it is possible for me today to extend my remarks beyond
citrus and agriculture and into an area that I know is of vital
concern to all of you who live, play and produce in this area.
Last Fall, as we pushed ahead with planning on the extension
of the Florida Turnpike, I heard from a great many peeple, including
some I see here today, who made flat statements that the extension
of the Turnpike would mean an absolute end to progress on those
highways which stand as your rivers of commerce and the pathways
down which our ever-welcome visitors come.
During the controversy U. S. 27. Just a few miles to our
east. became the center of the controversy and the symbol of the
Opposition to the Turnpike.
Much of this opposition was hanest and sincere, and
recognized by all of us associated with the project as being in that
vein. But you were also told flatly and bluntly by irresponsible
persons that if the Turnpike financing plan was adopted there would
be no chance for the four-laning of U. 3. 27. One of these
individuals said, and I quote, "I hate to see the people sold down
the river through secret deals to strangle free highway construction."
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Another called the approval of the Turnpike Bonds a day of infamy
on highway history in Florida."
Those leading the opposition unfortunately threw responsi-
bility to the wind and sought by politics and pressure to force us
into commitments we should not, and would not, make. The sole
accomplishment of their efforts was to delay the completion of the
financing agreement and the start of the Turnpike. What this cost
in added interest is incalculable, but by pushing us back from a
favorable bond market period to a less favorable one, and by raising
false doubts and attempting to discourage potential bond buyers
they did no good and much harm.
If ever there has been a time that I wanted to become a
"promising Governor" it was during that period when U. S. 27 was
under discussion and when my friends of central and south Florida
were Justifiably concerned over future improvements to the highway.
I could have made you promises. but they would not have been honest
promises, properly based with fulfillment assured. If you will
permit me now, however, I would like to recall to your attention
some of the things I did say during that period:
At my news conference on December 1n we had a lengthy
discussion of the U. S. 27 situation: I said then that "first of
all, the administration has no agreements of any kind and can have
no agreements of any kind, which stand in the way of building the
highways it has the capacity to build and the people of Florida need.
Now as to U. 3. 27 specifically: let me say categorically, because
that is the one at issue, that I have no agreements and know of no
agreements, to delay the construction of U. S. 27 in its proper
course."
I said that "the proper time to schedule 27 or any other
highway, of course, is at the time of making up the annual budgets."
and in discussion of our overall thinking on the highway system
suggested "that in the area which they are most interested in--
between Leesburg and say Sebring -- and that covers a whole area, we
anticipate that there will be substantial construction during this
administration. Construction which, if it comes up in proper course,
can amount to ten to fifteen millions of dollars on four-laning alone."
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And I concluded those comments last December with this
statement: Now I am not making commitments at this time. or at any
time until the Road Department is ready to sit down and budget and
then contract exactly what will be done."
Well, the opposition said it couldn't be done -- and wouldn't
be done.
The time has now come when the plans and budgets for the
road building year ahead must be laid. There was little 0.8. 27 work
in this area in the current year's budget because no county in this
area had placed such work in higher than its fifth priority when
last presentations to the Road Board were made.
There is no section of 0.5. 27, according to our traffic
counts, bearing substantially heavier traffic than that which lies
closest to this hill. The latest annual traffic flow figures
available to 19 inilcate a load year round in excess of 5,000
vehicles daily.
It is in recognition of this need that I take great pleasure
in advising you today that I have discussed with your District Road
Board Member Warren Canon and Chainnan John Phillips the status of
U. S. 27 and recommended to them that the four-laning of this
highway from Haines City to Lake Hales be included in the budget
for the fiscal year which commence: this coming July first. This
does not rule out the possibility of additional work nor does it
mark the end of improvements to 27 I expect to see completed or well
underway before I leave office.
In concluding this little disassion of roads, I would like
to quote once more from a statement I made last December. I find it
wise to repeat it every three or four months because people seem to
forget that I really mean it.
I said than, and I mean now, that "it is my policy -- and it
bears reiteration now even though I repeatedly stated it from the
stump while campaigning and from this office since inauguration ~-
that during this administration we shall build and improve highways
where our traffic needs demand...There will be no political pavement
laid in Florida while I am governor."
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Now, with that off my chest, let me return to the subject of
citrus, which both literally and tiguratively is a sweeter one for me.
The very fact that we have controversy over highways is a
sign that we are progressing, and certainly your industry is keeping
pace with any in the state. In our rush of progress we occasionally
become so preoccupied with today and with plans for tomorrow that
we fail to glance back in recognition or those who constructed the
solid foundation upon which we now build.
For this reason the Florida citrus industry has sought out
a method or paying Just tribute to the early pioneers who gave
greatly of themselves in a period long before the citrus industry
had grown into the giant industrial enterprise it is today.
The industry leaders of the late 1800's and the early 1900's
raced, on many occasions, seemingly hopeless odds against success of
any kind. There were days when a total citrus crop of less than
six million boxes presented problems or monumental proportion. Yet
with uncanny foresight those leaders guided the destiny of the citrus
empire through sheer determination and personal fortitude toward
the unparalleled prosperity of our endeavors today.
The Florida Citrus Industry's Hall of Fame has been designed
as a continuing tribute to those individuals who gave so much of
themselves that their industry and state could grow. While the names
or those now to be honored have been held in strictest secrecy, you
can be assured that each individual in his lifetime contributed in
full measure to the development of the citrus industry.
This Hall of Fame will grow with the passage of time, and in
each succeeding year the names of others who have contributed greatly
will be added. Indeed, there are many in this audience who will, I
am confident, be so honored in the years to come, and this is as it
should be, for progress is built upon progress and you who lead the
industry today are ststing upon the shoulders of those we honor now.
I am happy to Join in this memorial tribute, and proud to
commend those with whom the idea originated.
It I may paraphrase the words of Lincoln, we cannot here
consecrate, we cannot dedicate this Hall. It is rather for us here
to be dedicated to the unfinished work which those who have gone
before have entrusted to our hands. It is from those we honor that
we take increased devotion to that cause which they so well advanced.
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