The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-05-10

ALABAMA INTERESTED
IN STATE DIVISION


There is interest in Alabama in the
movement in the Florida legislature
| to have the Land of Flowers and
| legislators who blow out the gas cut
| in two, leaving West Florida a state
all its own. Reports from Tallahassee
where the legislature is sitting indi-
Gates that a division would be agree
able not only to West Florida, but
to East Florida as well, although we
have seen no reports from South
Florida. without going into the merits
Or dement's of the case in anyway, it
may be a matter of interest to con-
slider some of the reasons which impel
West Florida to. take the the lead in
having itself amputated from the rest
of the state.
We dare say the principal reason for
the West Florida sentiment is Sena-
torial, Jacksonville at present has both
senators, D. U. Fletcher, conservative,
and N. p. Bryan, progressive, or radi-
cal West Florida is radical, and in
addition to that has men of senatorial
size who pay taxes within its confines,
among them being Colonel Frank L.
Mayea, editor Of The Pensacola Jour
nal, who has been mentioned in con-
nection with every important Office in
Florida, from senator and governor on
down to collector of port. And there
is Mr. Blount, the eminent attorney of
Pensacola, who ran for the senate
against Bryan two years ago, and Col.
w. w. F1ournoy of DeFuniak, legis-
lator and lawyer. There are others.
At present West Florida never gets
senatorship, whereas if 1t were a
state all by itself it would have two
senators, in addition to John S. Beard
who has no Office, but is an unencum
in Of
There would be thirteen counties in
the new state, which is abundantly
blessed by nature, as is all of Florida
1t is blessed with waterfronts. streams,
fish, responsive soil, good climate and
Sophers galore.
Developed, it is estimated that West
Florida would have 1900 900 popula-
ttcn, supported by agriculture; $4,000
farms of present value and size worth
100000, 900; 1,750,O00 bales of cotton
annually on one-half the area valued
at sS7,000,0o0 $4,000, 900, pounds OF
sugar annually on one-half area,
valued at s4sO,ooo,0 and $2,256,12o,-
600 export coal-from Alabama Goa:
fields. OF course the West Florida
press agent is responsible for these
figures and it is not our part to vouch
for them, but well let them pass
Here are some further reasons ad-
vanced by West FToridians who de-
sire an absolute divorce from the rest
Of the state once visited by ill-advised
Ponce de Leon:
The trade and other interests are
disassociated from those of the Pen |
insular
q or % per cent of population has |
but IL or 16 per cent of congress |
sional representation
West Florida retains the name and |
will have a map Of her own.
The population is more than that Of
four states
The area is greater than that of
eight states
The seacoast is longer than that of
thirteen seacoast states
From the extremities n no state is
the distance so great
The present annual revenue of
Ss2s,6s0 is sufficient to support a new
state
New state buildings for the PENN
sula will be desirable. Il
State buildings at Tallahassee are
convenient for West Florida.
The Everglades are being sold for
the Improvement of the Peninsula.
The South's representation in the
senate would be increased by two.
West Florida would be a democratic
state
For years there has been some talk
Of dividing Florida, but only recently
does the movement seem to have taken
On seriou aspect. II wiz be in
terestlng, therefore, to watch the Flor
ida legislature and see how it finally
votes on this important question:
Advertiser.