The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-11-04
DIR. RENSHAW'S VIEWS ON
ISSUANCE OF $1,000,00O BONDS

Editor Pensacola Journal:
A city, like an individual, or a pri-
vate corporation, can become bank
rupt. Insolvency is no more a re-
specter of government than of a per-
son or an organization of any de-
scription. Then let our pride guard
US against overreaching our ability
to pay and thereby suffer the COM
munity chagrin of being engulfed in
a eea of debt, like Nashville and
Memphis receiver for a town is
not progression in the right way.
Escambia County has been petit
toned to call an election for tn.
purpose of adopting or rejecting
bond issue of one million dollars for
permanent roads and bridges. Indeed
a very good idea, provided we can
meet the Indebtedness that it will
place on us if carried. The City of
Pensacola, as you are aware, pays IS
per cent of the entire county tax,
which in this instance would be in
terest on $850,00O.00. Now, we should
awaken from that deep repose asso
ciated with "sweet dreams" and that
we are living on "easy street." and
bonds do not accumulate interest.
Briefly, ] will state the bonded in
debtedness of this city is 81 ,250.000.00
bearing IL interest annually. And,
do not forget that whenever the city
commissioners say the word, we will
have $400,000.0O belt road and dock
bonds added to the above one and
quarter million simoleons, the sale
of which has been delayed for good
and sufficient reasons, / believe. The
law requires that we should not bond
the city beyond the amount of Is per
cent. of the assessed value of real es-
teta in its corporate limits, which is
S11 ,695, $4,000.
Reflect on the above financial sta
tus, and should we See our way clear,
then let us have road that will be
most acceptable and beneficial to the
greatest number-both for agricul-
tural and industrial purposes in MAX
ing heretofore inaccessible locations
in easy reach of market or business
marts, for pleasure purposes, where
people from the interior coming
South over the Dixie Highway can
find comfort rolling over a road
through Escambia County to take a
dip in the beautiful Pensacola Bay
and enjoy it's refreshing breezes.
When they leave the most lasting
impression would be the good roads,
and all parts of Escambia County
being in such easy reach would tend
to make citizens of some of them,
(which would be compensative, any
way, for every good citizen has his
worth to the city, county and state.
The question to be placed before the
people, it would seem to NJ, Where
is this road to run, or be laid? What
bridges are to be constructed 2 Say,
for arguments sake, that road be
constructed from the lagoon on PEN
sacola bay to the Florida line at
Flomaton via Pensacola. This road
is already surveyed. Have compe-
tent engineers to make specifications
flor fills, cuts, and drains, and ma
Iterial to be used; cost of same, in
Guiding bridges required and material
to be used
I mention the above route as being
the best for all concerned. Cut out
cross or tributary roads until the
main line is completed. Let the county
commissioners act speedily in the
preliminaries, that the voters form
their conclusions intelligently.
F. G.. RENSHAW.