Transportation

During the settling of Florida, the pioneers did not have to consider the conservation of transportation energy. But as Florida began to enter the modern age of mechanized transportation, conservation efforts such as the following should be considered:

1. Reducing pleasure travel.
2. Carpooling and sharing rides.
3. Observing posted speed limits.
4. Keeping the engine tuned and filters clean.
5. Using auto air conditioning only when absolutely necessary. It may mean up to three extra miles per gallon.
6. Buying energy efficient automobiles all help to conserve much need petroleum.

A two-car family may consume from 600 to 2,000 gallons of gasoline a year (a typical car averaging 20 miles per gallon driven 12,000 miles per year uses 600 gallons of gasoline). Consider not only the fuel expense, but the amount of pollutants produced and the high use of non-renewable resource.

The native Florida horse, which stemmed from an Andalusian breed, was used for transportation. They were too small to be used as work horses.

The family dog even did his share of pulling, probably under the direction of children.

Many rivers and streams to Florida had to be forded because there were few bridges. When the traveler had to transport goods across a stream, he had to build his own raft, unless there was a ferry.

The most used form of transportation around 1850 was good ol' walking. Foot trails blazed by the Indians were used. As the area grew in population and properity, the trails were used by people on horseback and wagons. These trails, in some cases, became well traveled roads and some are still in use today.

One method of making a wilderness road travelable was by cuting trees at ground level and placing them side by side to form a "corduroy road."

In 1826, the Military Road was checked and accepted by the U.S. Government and is probably the same as the present route of Highway 98. The Military Road extended from Pensacola Bay to a fort two miles west of Tallahassee.