The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-12-20
TDEVEL OPMENT OF ESCAMBIA
COUNTY AND IT'S FUTURE
BY coruDc c.pAcKARD



The Journal is now making prep
arations for its annual Christmas
Edition, and we hope this year To
than ever This Christmas Edition
has come to be one of the big features
OF Pensacola journalism. and people
nave come 70 look upon Il each sue
ceedng year as part OF the Christ
mas season. | am writing you this
article on The Development of rs
Gambia County and Its Future
Frank l. Mayes, Editor.
One can only write regarding the
matters included in the apove invita-
ton, as to what developments nave
taken place within the knowledge of
the writer. My acquaintance with
Escambia county does not vet cover a
decade; hence | must confine my
touch upon what has been" to the
period elapsing since this century
was born.
am ashamed to admit that l do
not know how many square miles are
included in the empire of Escambia:
] do know, however. that the conduct
orman who attacks our mileage books
when we take the Pensacola train at
Flomaton-getting there our first
glimpse of Florida across the narrow.
Invisible line which separates the two
states-helps himself to Al good miles
therefrom. And from the depot in this
city it is at least full mile to the
great wharves which throns the wide
bay below. It easily follows. as a
safe problem that Escamb.a county is
five and forty miles long: | suppose
that from to 20 miles CT territory
Intervene between the scenic shores
of the Escambia river, which follows
the eastern configuraticn OF the cour
~, and the winding ways of the Per-
dido river which fixes both the west
ern confines of the ccunty AID those
of Florida itself
am therefore asked to write. of
this area. quite enough for state,
and surprising in magnitude many a
principally and power in Europe: a
territory where is a climate not sur
passed in balm and benignity any
where in the world, ann within breath
ing distance of the noble=t bay this
country affords A section along whose
easterly borders flows the broad Es-
Gambia, following its way TO the sea
past many a beetling hillside, where
are still examples of those huge, MUIR
muring pines. whose yellow excellence
first supplied the wealth of this re-
gion. Hillsides abound which are still
embowered in many a place by enor
nous live oaks. their spreading limbs
dripping with festoons or Florida moss
and their great. gnarled trunks and
boughs showing on every hand. Here
at times the river widens INTO we'll
nigh a bay, and thus creeps placidly
on to join the waters of the Gulf.
eternally beating on the shores of
Santa Rosa island beyond.
Throughout this entire distance the
river remains stream of great beau
ty and large attractiEeness, Offering
view after view of scenic importance.
At it's broad mouth is the bay OF Es-
Gambia, merging into tnst greater
body, Pensacola Bay, which jointly
supply nearly thirty miles straight
away of admirable roadstead for fight
ing or commercial ships, the entire
body of waters offering anchorage not
insufficient for the combined navies
of the world
All along this wide water front
which is the southern terminal of Es-
Gambia county. and in the center of
which nesties the city of Pensacola,
rare rose embowered in living green
and amid a wilderness of vines-are
succession of meanderlng streams.
yciept "bayous," as Bayou Texar,"
pronounced as though spelled "Te-
ssh)" but which are really arms of
he bay extending back for greater or