The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-05-09
UP TO PENSACOLA.

Ii is to be hoped that the differences which
have arisen between the Texas Oil Company and
the city commissioners may soon adjust them
selves, and that the work of the company may
go on rapidly to completion.
That the contention of the city commissioners
that there should be an additional expenditure
involving thousands Of dollars in the building of
a bulkhead is just one, is questionable, in view
of the fact that the withdrawal of the Texas Oil
Company from Pensacola would mean loss to
this city of hundreds of thousands of dollars
nually.
That Pensacola in the past relinquished too
much of her valuable waterfront without COM
mensurate returns may be true. But that the
city commissioners should put stumbling block
in the way of permanent improvement, on the
ground that costly bulkhead is a necessity,
seems somewhat ridiculous, when contrasted
with the generosity of the past, when it has
come to dispensing public rights The city COM
missioners may possibly contend that the pres
ent incumbents are endeavoring to correct the
mistakes of the past. But their present attitude
would seem to be a poor public policy, when the
future of this city and section depends upon the
development of the port. To force the Texas Oil
Company to expend thousands of dollars above
the original estimate of the company, when such
an attitude may mean the removal of the COM
pany from Pensacola to rival port seems hard
ly justifiable.
The filling in of Olivia street, according to the
opinion of many, would seem to be desirable
thing for the city, rather than detriment, and
there seems to be no serious objection to this,
from the standpoint of practicability.
According to the statement of officials of the
company involved, if the differences between the
city and company should end in an injunction by
the city, in the single item of maintenance of the
government dredge which has been engaged for
the work, this would mean dead expense of
$3.50 to the company, for each day it stands idle.
The Journal is not in position to suggest the
remedy for existing conditions. Such sugges-
ton is not within the province of any person or
any one organization of persons. But it would
certainly seem to be the business of the Cham
Der of Commerce, the Rotary Club, and every
other organization in Pensacola interested in the
development of this port, to at once meet with
the commissioners and officials of the company
interested and work out some means to over
come the difficulties which have arisen, and
which might lead to such disastrous results, un-
less Immediately corrected.
Ii it should prove to be the fact that the build
ing of the buIkhead is necessary, then the bulk
head should be built. But, if in fairness to the
company interested, that company should not
be required to make such expenditure as is deem
ed necessary by the commissioners, then some
steps should be taken to offset the expenses in
voIved, either by the commissioners or by the
business men of the city, Certain it is, what
ever legitimate concessions are possible to other
ports possible to this.
The location of the Texas Oil Company at this
port means the attraction of many sea-going
vessels, and an annual income of hundreds of
thousands of dollars would proabbly be the re-
suit of the location of the state here.
Pensacola commissioners and business men
must be aware that the rival gulf ports seek
ing in every way to prevent the location of any
important enterprises at Pensacola. Certainly
it behooves every individual organization in
this section to join in whatever action is neces-
sar5 to secure such development for tbs port.