The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-10-01
LAST FRIDAYS STORM.

By tonight practically al traces of
Fridays storm will have disappeared, Here
and there pile Of debris, some feled chin
neys and poles, broken windows and an oc-
casional damaged roof, will remain as the
only visible evidence of what will be re-
ferred to in later years as the most severe
storm that ever visited the gulf coast.
Individuals will suffer inconvenience for
longer time, but the chief damage of the
storm has already been repaired
Pensacola is most fortunate in having
withstood a gale which established new
records for duration and wind velocity with
less loss than accompanied previous tropi-
cal tempests.
The farmer whose fields were storm
swept, the man whose roof is gone Or chin
ncy down, and the merchant whose stock
was reached by the rain, cannot be expected
to view the storm optinlistically, but, con-
sidered in its aggregate, the damage was
slight
Dis agreeable as the hurricanes are this
section is favored in having nothing worse
than the storm isitvations which are greatly
to be preferred to the calanities which other
sections suffer The elements take their
toll everywhere. In California, earthquakes
are so common as to almost escape mention
in the news dispatches unless they result
in great loss OF human life. The wooded
districts have forest fires which are all de-
structive. We read Of peaceful villages
swept away by raging torrents released by
bursting dams and costing many lives.
The North is swept in winter by billiards.
which carry death and desolation. In the
great river valleys the floods and inunda-
| lions destroy millions in property and take
many lives each year.
No section entirely escapes. but Pensa-
cola suffers less than many others.
No fatalities esult fom the rstorn and
there was little physical suffering Public
utility coporatons sustained heavy loss, but
the damage is less than they have expert
enCed in San Francisco, DAYTON. Cincin-
natl, Asheville, New Gon and other
cities Property owners face the necessity
Of making requirements and REPAIRS but
the expense will be small as compared with
the damage done by the elements in less
favored localities. The governments loss at
the aeronautic station totals considerable
amount, but, according to reports, no per
manent structure was materially injured.
Oil JpIllS GSGdpGu III because early warn
ing OF the approach Of the storm gave ample
time for effective preparation. Aside from
broken glass, no substantial structure of re-
| cent construction was badly damaged.
That we have passed through a hurri-
| cane OF unprecedented intensity with so lit
| tie loss, shows that Pensacola needed we'll
| the lessons taught by last years storms
The gales are not to be considered as dis
asters. They are really blessings in disguise
| They teach the wisdom of substantial CON
| struction, resulting in better and more last
ing buildings-a decided civic advantage
and they prove conclusivelv that even while
! the storm is at its height human life is not
! in jeopardy here. By contrast, they enlpha-
size the advantages of delightful all-the
year climate which does much to give Pen
saoola its distinction as the ideal place in
which to live.
The soldiers at present fighting through
|