The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-02

relief to the farmers as against
freight charges to and from Mobile
and the travelling expenses of the
farmer.
Stating that ne preferred not to take
too optimistic a view of any new
project, Mr.. Fesler said that he frank
~ did not believe a ferry would paw
the first year IL would cost about
$4,000 to establish, and about 500 q
month to operate. However. II would
so stimulate development o. the
Baldwin county farms and also the
Florida shore of Perdido Bay that Il
would certainly pay the second year
and thereafter.
Capt John a Merritt stated the
obstacles in the way of a bridge, es-
peCially if Baldwin county were not
prepared to bear nalf the expense,
but said he could promise that if a
ferry were established the county
would give a good road from the
Gerry to the Millview road.
Pensacola Ownership.
Messrs. Fesler and VogeIgesang
both urged that the ferry, if estab-
Hshed, be put in by Pensacola people
and owned and controlled by them,
as such ownership would best guaran-
tee the kind of management most to
the interests alike of this city and
the South Baldwin territory, and Mr.
| Waterman suggested that the two
counties ought TO be glad to grant a
franchise gratis provided the ferry
were operated strictly as a public
benefit rather than a private money
maker, and the tolls held down to a
point where they would provide for
operation, sinking fund and only
enough dividends on stock 10 Justify
business men in putting up the need
ed capital as a matter of promotion
of the general welfare
Hon. John Z. StIIman suggested
that the trade committee of the Cnam-
! Der of Commerce take up actively the
matter of creating a company 10 es-
| tablish and operate such a Gerry, and
Mr.. Ed Gale Quina, chairman of the
trade committee, said that the COM
mittee had already CanVassed the
matter TO an extent, but had not had
any publicity about it, because it was
hoped that the two counties would
be able 10 establish free communi.
cation, either by bridge or ferry.
Local Business Men.
a number of very interesting de-
tails were discussed more or less at
| length, and Mr. Fesler cited Denver
and Oklahoma City As being exam
pies that Pensacola should follow He
said that but a 1.-THE of the ore thez
Denver trade reports credit 10 Denver,
and only small portion of the cot
ton, grain and cattle that trade re-
ports credit 10 Oklahoma City, ars
actually shipped through those cities
but they are shipped on orders OF
merchants in those cities, which con-
troll the territory for hundreds o.
miles about. Pensacola, he said,
should similarly control Baldwin
county, which is naturally and geo
graphically the trade property Of Pen
sacola, but Pensacola could do so
only by having first, last and always
direct cheap communication vita
Baldwin county, and then add to
lit progressive, active, business
methods through local commission
hoNes.
The meeting resUItes "a 70 MOTIONS.
but the suggestion bv Mr. StiIInnsn.
cOupIed with Nj. Dumas acceptance
thereof. was taken by all present q
meaning that It is practically certain
that the near future Will witness A
ferry in operation between Lillian
and the Florida shore Of PerJido
Bav. with a hard road built by the
county Of Escamb ia connecting vita
the MiIlview nsrd road. and the ferry
owned and operated by PensacoIians
under a public franchise that win
guarantee TO the users Of the ferry
the lowest tolls consistent with ere
maintenance of the property and tha
protection or the invested capital.
should the committee ultimately take
over the ferry or build a free briaxa.