The Pensacola journal., 1917-08-31
Claim Commissioners Have
Not Kept Promises
Made Publicly.
WORK STARTED
BUT SOON STOPPED
Petitioners Say Excellent
Opportunities to Use Split
Log Drag Neglected.

Those who recently petitioned the
Board Of County Commissioners ia
use split log drag on the bayshora
road are indignant over what il
claimed to be a breach of faith by
the board in stopping the work after
they had agreed to have it done, ace
cording to a statement made yestera
day by F. c. Brent, chairman of tha
committee,
The petition which was presented
the board was signed by nearly every
large tax payer in the city. and on
its presentation several citizens apa
peared before the board calling atten4
ton to the necessity of making ina
mediate temporary repairs to the
road, pending the decision on paving
According to those VINO were inc
terested in having the drag used. the
board agreed to Immediately CONF
mence work, and it is stated that a
hight drag was used on one occasion.
Petitioners claim that excellent OPP
portunities to drag the road were
neglected and that for one week RAIN
fell during every night, with fair
weather the next day, an arrange
ment which is considered ideal for
road dragging,
When it was found that the opera
tlons on the road had ceased. it is
stated that F. c. Brent, chairman OF
| the committee, wrote to Commission
| er Candy, under whose supervision
| the road is placed, calling his attrn-
| tlon to the fact that valuable time
was being lost. To this there was
no answer.
They then called upon Chairman J.
George White, according to members
of the committee, who stated that
the proposition would be again taken
up at the next meeting. three weeks
after the petition was presented.
When the petition was presented
Judge Henry Bellinger, spokesman
for the signers stated that if the
county did not have available funds
for doing the work that money would
be raised by public subscription. out
this proposition was rejected. Those
behind the movement state that they
are still willing to raise the money
for doing the work, but since the
county has agreed to do it and has re-
jected the subscription plan, they
feel that the county should abide by
its promise.
The unusual importance Of ths
road and the urgent necessity of re-
pairing it were brought to the attens
ton of the board by the committee
which presented the petition, and at
the same time letters were read from
Captain J. L. Jayne, commandant at
the aeronautic station, and Major J.
L. Hughes, acting commander of the
coast defenses here, urging the board
to give immediate relief by repairing
the road.
On several occasions. it is pointed
out, army and navy officers have in-
terested themselves in the road to the
yard, and have requested that il be
placed In good condition, as it is
daily subjected to heavy traffic, and
unless in good condition is almost im-
passable. Continuous communica>
tion by officers living in the city and
going daily to the stations renders
it very inconvenient to have the road
in poor condition. and after heavy
rains it is stated that serious dams
y age has been sustained by motor vn~
hicles owned at the station.
Attention has been frequently
called to the value of the road to the
county and as c. H. Turner, a mem.
Der of the committee told the boards
at is the road that feeds Escambi4
county" With the large expendi-
lures of money a. the aeronautic sta
ton, and the small army of men en-
ployed there, it is shown that the
necessity of having a good highway
& becomes increasingly apparent.
Members of the committee stated
Yesterday that unless the Board Of
County Commissioners complied with
with their agreement and repair the
road that the matter will be taken up
with the governor 1t is felt that
the chief executive would be prompt
to act in this case as he has already
shown deep interest in the cOndi-
tions in cities where military opera
tions are being carried on,