The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-01-13

good farming land will be under the
highest state of cultivation, as our
climatic conditions place us in the
gardening district for the North, East
and West, the from the South the
early vegetables come in and at prices
only obtainable by the few who can
exercise special indulgencies.
Inus, with our natural advantages
and water that cannot be surpassed
and the improvements already in their
infancy the prospect is dawning for a
great future throughout this section
Now we should not be over-zealous
and improve beyond our assets, and
what improvement We do, should be
done along conservative lines. For in.
stance, the idea which is before the
people of uniting Escambia and Santa
Rosa counties for good substantial
bridge, long wanted and promising
a good investment for both counties
ana particularly Santa Rosa, as it will
place very fine scope of farm land
easily of access to settlers and hence
increase her tax revenues in a sec.
ton that has heretofore been Of little
proht from a revenue standpoint. II
Will increase in like proportion the
wealth of Eseambia in the northern
section, besides being convenient for
the majority Of citizens in both coun
ties. In selecting the site for such q
bridge ay personal benefits should not
influence the commissioners of either
county, as the gentlement must recol
lect that they are employed by the
people and no person or faction, and
the following points are the only ones
that can be considered in using funds
from the general public: First, the
greatest good to the greatest number
second, the best and most practical
and highest point to the river ON both
sides and most accessible at all stages
OF water; third, the ground for the
bridge foundation and shortest span
including approaches from both sides
fourth, the volume Of business that a
centrally located bridge would cause
wherein one to either extreme of the
farming lands of both counties would
not be to the advantages of the ma
5ority. All of these points can be
easily determined by appointing a
committee Of three or four from each
county, then surveying or examining
the different points from each side
taking all things in consideration and
getting information from old settlers
determining the shortest and highest
practical routes on each side and ways
of reaching them from a public travel.
ing standpoint.
No fair-minded citizen could object
to the decision of said committee, and
our commissioners would then throw
the responsibility on the people
where they expect to get the money to
pay for the bridge.
The seventy-five thousand dollar Jail
should be submitted to the public. 1t
seems that We should go slow in build
ing. The people of Pensacola pay
about two-thirds of the taxes, and the
streets, sidewalks and other needed
improvements place the rents high
upon the laboring- classes, and the
ownership of small home nearly pro-
hibitive to the wage earners. We
have noticed the crowded condition
Of the jail, and pity such conditions
exist; also, we see large forces in our
convict camps on the hard road. No
doubt if the whole crowd of criminals
were examined and the true cause de-
termined 1t would be found to be from
the citys greatest source of revenue.
the whiskey mills, from which it
seems the devil owed Pensacola. and
has paid the debt in barrooms.
T. w CRARv