The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-06-19
Pensacola Is Entertaining
the Annual Convention
in Goodly Force.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
WELL REPRESENTED
A NUMBER OF FINE ADDRESSES
TELLING OF GOOD RESULTS
ACHIEVED AND POINTING a
WAY TO EVEN BETTER THAT
CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY
STEADINESS AND UNITY o.
EFFORT IN THIS STATE.

EFFORT IN THIS STATE.
The County Commissioners and
Good Roads Association of Florida,
convened at ArmOry hall al 1880
o'clock vest eTday morning. and while
rhe attendance was not as large or as
general as expected from the eastern,
southern, and middle sections Of tho
state. there was large attendance
of good roads advocates from every
section of Escambia county
The walls and ceiling of the ar.
mory were tastefulIy decorated with
! bunting, and over the speakers stand
there hung a banner bearing the in
scriptiOn: Welcome to the Deep
Water City.
PrelirninarieS.
The preliminary proceedings of the
convention were presided over by
Chairman John A. Merritt Of the
Board of County Commissioners Of
Escambia county. In few we'll
chosen intrOductory remarks. Nh
Merritt introduced Hon. Charles H.
Bliss. mayor of Pensacola. who de
Iivered an address of welcome, printed
elsewhere in full.
NIldIIlOCl vi NOllllllClN C
Hon. T. A. Jennings. president #
the Chamber of Commerce Of Pcnsa-
cola. which organization represents
the commercial interests of Pensacola,
being unavOidably absent from the
city on business. Vice-President g =.
| Goodman. in behalf of the Chamber
| of Commerce. extended a welcome 10
| the visiting delegates, saying in part
I'VE can boast of having the finest
climate, the purest water and Of rails
ing the finest fruit grown. perhaps III
the world, the best tobacco, the best
vegetables. the finest quality of cotton
What We need and must have. is BET
ter roads on which the farmers can
get their product to market at the
least possible cost.
In union there is strength. and the
power and influence represented at
this convention today can and will
secure the results we so greatly wish
TO obtain. if we only get together and
use it"
Hon. H H. DiCkerson.
Mr. Merritt then called Hon. II. II.
Dickson. of Orlando, vice-pTesident
of the State Association. TO the chair
and. responding 10 the addresses Of
welcome from the zEayOr and Mr..
Goodman. Mr.. Dickson said in part:
1t is meet that we should hold this
our seventh annual session in this
eoodly city and in the progressive
county of EscaInbia. which boasts the
largest and most progrcsslF' sooG
roads association in the state Would
that every county in the state had
such an, organization. II such veTs
the case. the late samented ieSislA
ture would not have adjourned WITH
out giving us an adequate good ROADS
bill. and Florida would today stand
before the world a. one of the fore
most states in the Union and coming
generations would sing the praises o:
that august body. As il is, we must
agitate for two more years and II ]
do not mistake the temper OF the PEG
pIp very few men will be elected &c
the legislature of 1909 unlss they are
known to be earnest advocates Of
st.tre aid to improved highways
Other Addresses.
Rrief. enthusiastic good roads ad
dresses were then made by Hon J.
W. White. secretary Of the State asso-
citation. William II. Knowles, president
of the Escambia Good Roads AssOci-
alton Representative VI. o. Baggett,
County Commissioner II. c. ClOptOn
and ex-COunty Commissioner William
A Shelby
Commissioner ClOptOn strongly eX-
pressed himself as in favor Of bonding
Escambia county for the purpose Of
the construction Of a system Of per
manent good roads throughout the
county.
Representative Baggett's address
was devoted mainly to a discussion n
road building methods: the employ
ment Of county cOnvicts in road con
s,ructiOn and maintenance and 10
brief outline OF some Of the reasons,
or apsence Of reason for the neglect
of the good roads question by the
recent session of the state leSisla-
, tuTe.
Practical Viewpoints.
Mr.. Shelby's emarks were among
the most enthusiastic, pracucaI ana
pointed delivered by any OF the speak
ers Of the day He strongly advoca-
ted higher taxes, II necessary, to pro-
vide better roads. aptly illustrated