The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-04-12
WONDERFUL RESOURCES
PRESENT THE GREATEST
SCOPE OF OPPORTUNITY
Only Within Recent Years That Magnificent Natural
Advantages Have cen Officially Recog-
nized- History of the Bay Coun-
try from Ea rliest Times.

Nature has been extremely kind to
the Bay County, the general desig-
nation of country Immediately contig-
uous to st. Andrews Bay but 1t is
only within recent years that the mag
nif1cent advantages have been Off
daily recognized. Until June, 1908,
st. Andrews Bay was isolated, to q
certain extent, for the only way of
reaching the bay was by steamer or
sailing vessel or by a fifty mile trip
overland from some station on the p.
q A. division of the Louisville and
Nashville railroad. OF course, even
the early visitors to the bay country
realized its advantages but the coun-
try was sparsely settled, there was
no industrial or commercial develop
ment and, in consequence, the official
recognition which is a precursor to
advancement was lacking. Until a
year ago what is now Bay County was
portion of Washington county. the
separation following rapid develop
ment along st. Andrews bay after the
first line of railroad reached its shores.
The Bay OF ST. Andrews.
There is no finer harbor in the
world that st. Andrews bay and it's
800 miles of shore line presents posi-
bilities for development that are be-
yond the comprehension of ordinary
mortals. As summer and winter re-
sort it has few equals, for the climate
is semi-tropic, the heat of summer
being tepered by constant breezes
from the gulf and the cold of winter
moderated by the immense stretches
of the land-locked waterways.
Oranges, lemons, grape fruit and 9TH
er tropical fruits do well in every sec
ton of the bay country; the waters
TEEN with fish of all kinds and the
forests are filled with game; the
climate is healthfu1 and the country is
high and well drained. The purest
water Is to be found in abundance but
a short distance below the surface
anywhere in the bay country, and
there are scores of flowing artesian
wells that furnish an unlimited sup
ply. The soil is sandy loan much
of 1T with clay subsof, with here
and there stretches of rich black land
that will grow anything on the face
OF the earth, and in enormous guam
titles.
Original Inhabitants.
The original inhabitants of the bay
Carib descent and evidences 81 tI5lB
early occupation may still be found
along the shores of St. Andrews bay.
Great shell mounds are noticeable
here and there and at the town of st. |
Andrews there is a noted burial |
ground of the aborigines in which arch |
biologists have unearthed the pottery |
and weapons of those who occupied
the country previous to the discovery
of America. There is no authentic |
bay. but 1t is probable that the first
white man to visit it's shores was
Americas Vespucci, after whom the
continents of North and South Amer
lea were named. Vespucci cruised
along the northern gulf coast during
the year 149S, reaching the southern
end of Florida in April of that year,
and it is believed that one of the bays
mentioned in the record of the voy-
age was ST. Andrews. 1t is believed
ifc ms ed
explorer" came to the gulf coast from
Cuba during the year 1916 and enter
ed ST. Andrews bay: also that Pineda
explored the West Florida coast dur
ing the year of 1919, including a por-
ton of st. Andrews bay.
First Historic Record.
The first authentic historical record
OF the bay country is found in the mar
rative of the survivors of the Inflated
voyage of Narvarez, in 1929. This eX-
petition, with PAP men, set out from
Apalachee bay on September %, 1928