The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-08-06
VOX POPULI.
WANTS BRIDGE BUILT
AT BLUFF SPRINGS

Bluff Springs, August 5.
Editor Pensacola Journal.
The bridge to span the Escambia
| river has been discussed from every
| conceivable angle, and advocates of all
the different points where it should be
built. I have been a close student Of
all that has been published on the
proposition.
From the outset Il has been plain TO
my mind that the engine driven We
hicle is the only one to be considered
Now we on this, the west side, Of the
river have no kick coming, only we
want our brother farmers on the east
side shown some consideration in the
matter. The auto can run around a
few miles to reach the bridge, but the
farmer with the mule and his loaded
wagon can't afford to drive down ABOUT
Ferry Pass to cross or even to Moline.
The farmer and the mule in the end
have to foot the bill and they should
have some consideration in the propo-
sition.
In the first place, II you take Escam-
bia river swamp at Bluff Springs, 1t Is
about one mile from hill to hill, and
with very little grading a good road
can be made at this point, but as you
drop down the river the swamp Widens
and Is lower and will require higher
grading of the road and a longer cis-
tance, which will increase the expense
of bridging.
Then again. If you will take the soil
survey you will find that the farming
lands Of the two counties are In the
north portion Of the counties. That
near the coast are sand dunes that viii
never be stable farming lands. Now,
it seems a fair proposition that the
bridge should be built where 1t would
help the farmer get his crops to mar
ket, where the most benefit could be
derived from It, If this is the object
for which the bridge is to be built the
surveys ordered will never reach the
object.
1t would be the part of wisdom. II
national highway is to be considered
as the object of the proposition, to run
the road away from the coast line and
let spur roads from 1t be run through
the farming section of the different
counties to the towns along the rail-
road or bay shore. Now if the COM
missioners of Santa Rosa and Escam-
bia counties will take the matter up
with the business men on both sides
of the river at Bluff Springs, McDavid
and other points on the river, they can
get very substantial help subscribed by
those to be mostly benefited by the
bridge to a fund for bridging the river
and swamp.
Everybody writing on the subject
seems to want the road to run by his
own door. have all the roads want
around mine and am writing for the
other fellow. l don't like this business
Of bonding the next generation to pay
our debts. I think as we pass on and
others take our places that they ought
to have an even start and not be han
dicapped by paying our debts. Now,
If the commissioners will take the
matter up with the business men up
and down the river on both sides and
see what assistance they will render,
then select the best point where they
can get the most help and the best
road, the people will look at them in
a different light to what they will if
they go blindly on and build the road
where 1t will be of no benefit to the
farming people of the counties building
1t, where it will do the most good, and
the automobiles will find 1t but, if
built low down on the river the farmer
Is left out for he don't live there.
G. NJ. GENTRY.