The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-12-03
PENSACOLA AND
PENSACOLIANSS
You'll Have to Grow

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The Pensacola Journal asserts the
historical significance of the proposed
Centennial Exposition as reason why
1t should be held at Pensacola. The
Journal says: Florida newspapers,
especially those of Tampa, Orlando
and Jacksonville, seem to have lost
sight of the fact that the last legisla-
ture designated Pensacola as the place
for holding the Centennial Exposition
in 1919, when Florida will celebrate
her one hundredth anniversary of the
passing of the Spanish rule. And,
the legislature acted wisely in select
ing Pensacola, for it was from Pensa-
cola that the Spaniards ruled and this
city is more closely identified there
by than any other in Florida. Florida
should celebrate the event and do it
properly and Pensacola is the logical
place for such centennial. But right
now the matter that should demand
attention is proper preparation, for
the next Legislature will necessarily
be called up to aid by making an APP
preparation" Historical significance
is all right, SO far as it goes, but the
main consideration is deciding on the
place for this exposition is the capaci-
| ty for holding it.
The Tribune has admitted that even
Tampa would not be able to properly
accommodate such an exposition if it
were to be held in the immediate flu
ture. But we do claim that Tampa
will be big enough for the job by 1919.
The recent state census shows that
Tampa is growing at the rate of more
than 80 per cent in five years. In 10
years its growth has been more than
$50 per cent. IF Tampa increases at
| q so per cent rate in the next four
years and there is every reason to
believe that its increase viii be much
more rapid-it will have 100, 900 popu-
lation in 1919. A city of 1O0, 900 could
accommodate a Centennial Exposition
of the scope which Florida ought to
hold, If it holds any at all. Pensacola,
on the other hand, gained total of
200 people in five years. rate of a
little more than per cent. In 10
years, it has gained only 1,742 people
about the same rate of increase as
in five years. At this rate, Pensa-
cola, in 1919, will still have less than
900 population. Imagine q town
of 25,000 people handling PROPOSE
ton like Centennial Exposition! We
cite these facts in all kindness merely
to show that it will take a big town
to hold the proposed exposition and
to silence those towns which haven't a
ghost of a chance. But, again, taking
the historical side of the question,
what is the matter with Tampa on
that score? It was only few miles
from Tampa that fernando DeSoto
made his first landing in Florida-on
Tampa bay, which he named "Espiritu
Santo," the "holy Spirit" Ponce de
Leon and DeSoto were the Spanish
discoveries of Florida and Tampa
may claim one of them as its own. Be-
sides, we are not proposing to cele-
brate the discovery of Florida, but its
cession to the United States by Spain
and what more appropriate place
than Tampa, rising from the soil
where the Spaniard planted his cross
and raised his flag and typifying, in
/ its present-day greatness and pros
j perity, the development of Florida
under the "Stars and Stripes ?"-
]. Tampa Tribune.