The Pensacola journal., 1917-08-15
Commissioners Hear Plea of
People and Adopt the
Split-Log Drag.
IS. THE ROAD THAT
FEEDS THE COUNTY
Paving the Highway is Next
Great Development,
1t Is Stated.

On the urgent appeal OF a commit
tee Of citizens. which presented a pc
titlOn signed by nearly every large
taxpayer in the county. the board Of
COVnty commissioners decided at the
regular meeting Yesterday morning
to Immediately begin the operation
of a split log drag on the bayshore
road between the Little and Big
Bayous
For the purpose of carrying out
the plans, the road forces of Com
missioners Hardy and Candy will be
consolidated and worked on the high
way. The heavy trucks owned by
the county will be used to drag the
split log drag, used on the govern
ment reservation, the use of which
was rendered by Captain J L. Jayne,
commandant of the navy yard. The
work will be started this morning.
In presenting the petition to the
board, Judge Henry Bellinger, called
attention to the signers of paper. He
said that the road under discussion
had a good foundation, but that the
surface was badly in need of repair
AS to the need for the road being
put in good condition, Judge Bellin-
ger stated that it was obvious, for
the navy yard and forts which the
road connects with the city, are the
greatest assets the county has. and
everyone in the county feels the bene-
fit of the expenditure of thousands
of dollars monthly
Following Judge Bellinger, c. H.
Turner addressed the board in sup
port of the plan to drag the road,
and stated that the condition of the
road at present is a constant source
of friction at the yard and forts.
That is the most important road in
the county" Mr.. Turner said, That
road feeds the county, and we have
got to place it in good condition"
While the drag is being used on
the road, Mr.. Turner suggested that
men could be at work installing cul-
verts along the north side of the
road to prevent the wash, which des-
troys all work done. Some culverts,
properly placed, the speaker said.
would remedy this condition, and
render it easier to keep the road in
excellent condition.
At this point, the CLERK of the board
was instructed to read two letters
which had been received from Cap
tain Jayne and Major Hughes urging
the board to operate drag on the
road.
| R. NJ. Cary next appeared before
/ the board as an advocate of the
proposition for the use of the drag,
and stated that were it not for the
business at the yard and forts, PEN
sacola would be having a hard time,
now that the shipping has stopped
The speaker then stated that while
in Macon, Georgia, last week, he was
shown over the training camp about
seven miles from the city, and said
that a concrete boulevard is being
( constructed the entire distance. The
people there, he said, believe that 1t
is a good investment, and yet they
know that the camp will be discon-
tinued at the end of two years. "If, 3"
said Col. Cary, Macon thinks two
years of a training camp IS worth
! paving seven miles, Pensacola should
see the value of the permanent in
stitutions at the forts and aeronautic
station"
The speaker then touched on the
visit Tuesday of the naval committee
from the house, and said that while
the members had their ears and eyes
open, and their mouths shut, they
were undoubtedly pleased with Pen
sacoIa and the facilities. No COM
ment was made by the committee on
the condition Of the road, but officers
here gave them to understand that
negotiations were already underway
to have it paved
Deputy Collector of Customs, Bruce
s. Weeks told the board that there
are a number of other aeronautlc
stations in the United States among
which an appropriation of S46,000,-
900 will be Nvided. Aside from any
justice in the fixing the road, or Of
appreciation for past favors. the
speaker said that it Is a good PROPOSE
ton to place it in good condition
purely from a business standpoint.
F. c. Brent who circulated the Pc
tition and figured prominently in the
movement, also made a short talk ad-
vocating the operation of the split
log drag
Present plans are to build fence
at the curve beyond the Little Bayou
LO I,