The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-06-30

For more than two hundred years
the Spanish and English flags waved
alternately over the F1oridas. ST. Au-
gustine, the oldest city in what is
now the United States, was established
in 1865 on the east coast, and later,
1893, Pensacola on the west coast was
founded. Except in the few towns and
villages, the Indians everywhere roam
ed at will through the great forests,
hunting and fishing, clearing the land
and raising their crops, undisturbed
by the Spaniards. In many respects
the Indians were the real owners of
the land.
AS would naturally be expected
trouble arose between the Indians and
their American neighbors on the north.
For peace and safety, since Spain
could not quiet these troubles, II was
believed that the United States should
acquire possession of Florida. It was
proposed that Spain should exchange
Florida for a part Of Louisiana next to
Texas, but this plan came to. nothing.
The Spanish government, realizing that
1t would take a large army and heavy
expenses to keep the Indians under
control, finally after long negotiations
signed a treaty on Feb. %, 1919, by
which Spain agreed to cede Florida to
the United States for the sum Of $6,-
100000.
EICnan9o OF rags.
The exchange of flags took place on
July 10, 1921, at st. Augustine, and on
July IL, 1921, at Pensacola. General
Andrew Jackson, the military governor
of Florida, arranged for the exchange
of flags at Pensacola, while the same
ceremony was conducted at ST. Angus
tine by Adjutant General Butler.
In describing this ceremony, in
which one nation withdraws her au-
~ ~, ioh
other, and 1t might be said a rival,
nation takes upon herself the respon-
ebiility Of government the writer says:
There on one side of the public
square stood the Flagstaff from which
still floated the Spanish colors. At a
signal from General Jackson the
American flag assembled. Meeting half
way, the two flags rested together as
If to declare friendship and the Span
fish flag was lowered and Florida was
now a territory of the United States"
On July 21, 1921, shortly after as
Stunning the duties of provisional gov
ernor. General Jackson divided the
F1oridas into two counties. ie., Es-
Gambia and st. Johns, the Suwannee
river being the dividing line. On Au-
gust 18TH 1922, Escambia county was
subdivided, that portion between the
Chattahoochee and Suwannee rivers
being called jackson. The population
of the territory of Florida in 1880,
which was the first census, was only
S4,730. 1t will be interesting to note
that in 1880 there were fourteen coun-
ties in Florida and naming them in
order Of their population, they were
as follows: Leon, 6494;, Gadsden, 1895;
Jackson, 2907; Jefferson. 1912; St.
Johns, 1888; Escambia, 251S; Alachua,
22e4; Duval, 1870; Nassau, 1911; Wal
ton, 1907; Washington, 97S; Santa
Rosa, S6S; Orange (changed from
Mosquito). 1888; Hamilton. $50; Madi-
son, SIS; Monroe, SIT.
jackson County Today.
But since we are to deal with Jack
son county. not as it appeared in 1922,
reaching from the Chattahoochee river
in the west to the Suwannee river on
the east, but with Jackson county as
we know it today, we will now confine
our remarks to this section, the gar
den spot of Florida and the Mecca of
the Aomeseeker.
Bounded on the north by Alabama.
on the east by. the Apalchicola river.
on the south by Calhoun and Wash
ington counties, and on the west by
Holmes county, jackson would be the
first county of West Florida one would
touch in 1ourneying from the eastern
part Of the state.
Approximately Jackson county has
an area of 1,400 square miles, and a
population of about 81, 1000. Because
of her excellent lands and fine climate
the principal industry is farming, and
no where in the state can be found q
more independent, and more satisfied
people. With her rich lands, wonder
fully adapted to the growth Of corn
cotton and sugar cane, peas, beans