The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-07-30
Conservation of
Natural Advantages.

Natural Advantages.
Real development of natural advan-
tages or resources-whichever one
prefers TO call them-consists not In
squandering them, but In conserving
them. not in prodigal giving to any
bne on the merest chance of their be-
hg developed, but in dealing, or dol
ng, them cut in the smallest lots that
Ywin encourage the needed develop
ment in a given area, and even then
by giving only to those whose re-
\ sources and prospective works con-
kyince the public mind through the pub
he agents that development will fol-
low close on the heels Of grant, and
faction close on the heels of assur-
anees.
Merely giving away of the water
! front of this magnificent bay in the
hope that the grantee will bring about
transportation results is not laying
foundations of prosperity On the con-
trary, the prodigal giving of more than
the grantees need in reason may
early prove a handicap rather than a
stimulus to the building up Of that
system of transportation facilities for
which all fondly hope and to which all
are directing attention and efforts &C
cording TO their lights and their judg-
ment
With the exception of the Louisville
and Nashville railroad, the great rail-
road systems look on this port as new
territory. What is its value to them?
The value of a new harbor to any
railroad depends primarily on three
factors-the export business that the
port can handle after the railroad lays
it down on the docks, the accessibility
of the port or its distance from the
railroad that is considering it as a
prospective terminus and the amount
of return bushes that the port can
give the railroad for its cars after
they have been sent to the port with
export stuff.
We need more factories here. Pen
sacola does not offer a great deal of
shipment for inland ports. But in this
matter. the development of this mar
ket by good roads in the county and
the agricultural development of the
surrounding country is in sight, aud
this development is going to be very
rapid. 1t is one of three factors that
will tend to create competition on the
part of trunk lines for waite, front ia
cilities at this port.
Pensacola does. however, offer the
world as a market for exports. Other
ports of less merit as ports have got
ten more railroads because they have
been more active in pressing their
claims. But with the Panama canal to
be opened in few years. and a con-
sequent immediate augmentation of
the volume of business that will he
done through the gulf, especially 20
! the Pacific ocean, Pensacola Will I'm,
questionably be more sought after
an heretofore, for the simple reason
~ her harbor offers a better chance
any other harbor on the gulf fer
- ,Mding, at relatively small cost,
pck and wharf facilities that
ads Will need.
-, - is close enough to sew
Ill Ailroad systems for them
"a, oonai,iSd, under normal fnan-
a,-iso5 tbeAto build to this port,
| fro,t faciIitiesp get suitable water
1t should be O.
the day has paSgG therefore that
should need to on When PENSACOLA
more water frontagto any railroad
needs. Instead. then the railroad
when Pensacola need Is at hand
in disposing of her fro De careful
by sale, gift or long, lee Nhether
Palafox street, the watei East OF
practically gone, owing teh'age is
leges vested in the L. and y prIFl-
its practical domination of I'd ana
tory by virtue of the traeRerrl-
already has and its ability, if 4 II
fit to employ familiar railroad Is
DDS, TO shut out competition in u
area east of Palafox street.
West of Palafox street. is wa
frontage of incalculable value. On
ing, as it does, the best of opportun
for dock piers, it can handle with
dificulty more traffic than the Il
sweep of river front at New Orlea
rhere, any railroad Of importa