The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-01-18
SUNDAY, JANUARY IS. 1914.
A Few Reflections For
Pensacolians Alone.

1t was Daniel Webster. we believe
who once observed that when storm
tossed mariner had been carried from
his course the first thing he did as soor
as the weather permitted was to gel
chart and compass together and find
out where he was at, or words to that
effect
Some unfortunate events of the past
few weeks have carried some of the
business interests of Pensacola more
or less ont of the usual course and ii
may not be out of place now for us
to adopt the methods of the mariner
and take a reckoning.
Business failures are bad for any
community and Pensacola has had
several unfortunate ones. But a broken
spar does not make a shipwreck, and
one or dozen business failures does
not wreck a city.
The failures which Pesnacola has
experienced have worked hardship on
losses Others have experienced the
sensation of waking up to find them
selves minus some possessions which
they thought they had, but which they
didn't really have. Others have had
their money tied up for a time. In
some cases, property has changed
owners. In other cases, the property
or business is going through a process
of liquidation and will later change
owners.
But with it all, every material re-
source that Pensacola had before is
right here now. The people are here,
the real estate is here, the bay is here;
the navy yard, the forts, the fisheries
are here; the wharves and export bust
ness are here. the wholesale business is
here, the hotels and the travelling peo-
pie who patronize them are here, the
old railroad business is here. the new
railroad is here, the prospects of the
Panama canal business through PEN
sacola are here-everything in fact.
that we actually had before is here
now.
Did you ever stop to think that the
failure of a local retail business, a real
estate business, or even OF a bank does
not carry any of towns resources
away with it? All of the resources
that were here before are still here
after it happens. All Of the money
that was here before the failure is
here after the failure.
II the fish business productive in
to fail or be carried away,
that would be different. If the opera
tfons on the export wharves or at the
Gou1ding fertilizer factory or of the
wholesale business were to suspend,
that would be different because they
produce something. But these bust
nesses are still here and they are going
TO stay here and get bigger all of the
time
In estimating the Importance Of the |
business troubles which have recently |
been experienced in Pesr1acola, the |
public should not fail to discriminate |
between the businesses that do not |
produce anything-the parasites as it |
yere-and the businesses that do pro-
luce something. These latter bust |
aesses are still in operation and indi- |
,ations are that they are going to con-
inue to be in operation with growing
business all of the time.
Pensacola is all right. Some Of our
people have been unfortunate, but their |
cannot wreck the whole
dty nor retard its coming business de-
,elopment. If some businesses have
,een built up on a fictitious basis, the
My logical result is for those bust
iesses to go through a process of Ii
Iuidation- After that, we shall all
now where we stand. we shall all be
N a f1r1ner basis, and the unfortunate
mes, relieved of their burdens, can
DIN with the balance in building Il
etter and stronger city.
Right now we may very well resolve
o pay all the debts we can, economic
II we can. avoid buying on credit or
Ding into debt, and to have faith in
urselves and in the future. i
Candidly, frankly and seriously, The
ournal would not today trade Pen
aco1a's prospects for becoming great I
nd prosperous city with the prospects )
{ any other city of the same popula- {
on on the continent III
The American forestry association I