The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-04-08
Citizens Should Not Put Private
Gain Above Public Interest

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Nothing that Pensacola has ever secured
has meant so much for this city as has the
aviation station. It's value, in advertising
it gives to the city. alone is worth thou
sands of dollars. Aviation is news. There
is nothing at this time in which the entire
civilized world is more interested than in
the art of flying. It will be many years
before it becomes commonplace.
With the aviation school at Pensacola,
this city has an attraction valuable in many
ways. Visitors are drawn to Pensacola as
they have never been before, and many of
these visitors are men of large affairs.
Men high in official circles. called to this
city to visit the flying school, while here
are brought to realization of the lmpor-
lance of this port.
But if Pensacola does not use every eff
fort to retain the aviation school some
other city will make the effort that this
city fails to make.
Pensacola has had the same natural adj
vantages, since the first Spanish settlement
was made on the shores of the bay, but for
hundreds of years the citizens were salts
fed to live for the day, with little thought
for the future, or the great possibilities Of
development for this port.
It has been only within the half century
that the outside world has really come to
know of the great commercial possibilities
of this city. 1t has been within the past
twenty years that Pensacola has really
achieved any valuable publicity.
During the past ten years Pensacola has
gone forward, in spite of many reverses.
But Pensacola cannot continue to go for
ward without the cooperation of every citi-
zen This is an age of aggression. Munic-
qualities do not wait today for improve
ments or enterprises to come to them.
They go out after them. And unless Pen
saco1a goes out after and takes what right
fully belongs to it, and holds fast to it when
once it has been secured other municipali-
ties with far less claim will capture what
Pensacola should rightfully possess.
Time and again public-spirited men of
Pensacola have given time and money and
effort to securing some enterprise for the
good of the community, and when this pub
| lie Improvement seemed assured, some in
terest considering nothing but private gain
has stepped in and rendered worthless al
/ Tic elliott OF the ClIlZGHS WHO are WOIhlIlS
for the upbuilding of this section.
The residents of the reservation are, Of
course, entirely sincere in their protest
against the demolition of their homes, and
quite naturally they can see no reason why
the expansion of the aviation school should
encroach upon what they consider their
rights They should, however, look beyond
their personal interests and permit the gov
eminent to take such steps as the officials
may deem necessary. 1t does not seem tc
be the intention of the navy department tt
cause inconvenience to those who are
dwelling upon government land within the
reservation, the notice which has been
served having been intended to gives then
ample time in which to move and, follow
ing its usual course, the government viii
no doubt reasonably reimburse them fol
any actual loss which they may sustain
Now that the attitude of the department
has been made clear to them it is probable
that they will withdraw their objection t.
the recent order.