The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-09-16
Southern Manager of Aberthaw
Construction Company Tells
of Advantages He Sees in the
Deep Water City.
OILING STATION
BRINGS FLOTILLA
Mr.. Sage Says Port Needs at
Least Two More Railroads to
Increase Facilities and Aid
Commercial Growth.

That Pensacola is the coming port
of the south, and that the Bruce dry
dock and the fuel. oil station will be
tremendous factors. in the development
of this city and it's harbor, is the
opinion of M. Mel. Sage. southern
Company, of Boston. who left last
night for Atlanta, after spending
several days in Pensacola, in connec-
ton with the great dry dock now
building here.
Mr. Sage was with the Bethlehem
Steel Company one time. and was In
charge of the construction work of
the destroyers built during the war
at Squantum, the ship building plant
near Boston, which built a number
of the destroyers which are expected
to arrive soon in Pensacola, a part
of the fIotilla which will winter here
There is no doubt that the fuel oil
station and the dry dock are largely
responsible for the coming OF the de-
stroyers to Pensacola" said Mr.. Sage.
deck, fuel oil type, and could not be
modified for any length of time at
ships, a number of which were built
any port without such facilities. These
at Squantum, while / was in charge
of the construction work there during
the war, are of the most modern type
of destroyer, and at this great Massa-
chusetts plant ten of this type were
1
Pensacola, to my mind" continued
Mr.. Sage, faces greater opportuni-
ties than any other port in the United
States. You will, however, pardon my
calling attention to the fact that if
your city was located in California in
stead of Florida, it would be right at
the front today. You are not suffi-
ciently advertised. You have been en-
tirely too modest about telling the rest
of the world about the splendid op-
portunities you have here. Conse-
quently, you have to offer greater in
ducements, just now, than other cities
which have not your natural advan-
tages, but which have advertised their
resources to the world.
II think your centennial viii be a
wonderful thing for Pensacola, and you
certainly ought to have it, for If ever
there was a. city admirably located
for such an exposition as is contem-
plated, this is the one.
Il have been amazed to see the
lack here of pleasure grounds for the
idle rich, such as they have out on the
Pacific coast. If they had your advan-
tages they would have a great pleasure
resort here, and Pensacola would be
thronged with wealthy visitors. such
as are now spending their winters
in South Florida and California
One thing you have about here
are some mighty good roads. Whr. yoa
need now, more than anything else it
seems to me. is at least two or more
railroads, and strong organized ef-
fort towards securing South American
trade.
Pensacola ought to have a strong
board of trade-some good, conserva-
tive boosters working together for
the interests of your port Pensacola
has been bottled up by the L. e. n.
for SO long that the business men of
this city have to overcome some of the
handicaps not of their own making
The good roads you are building here
will go far towards off-setting this
disadvantage, and the G. F. & A and
other roads which may come in here
later, viii help 10 put Pensacola
where she belongs.
II am going away Pensacola
booster, for this city has more natural
advantages than any other / know Of
One of the first things people ask
about a town is as to it's climate; an
other is its churches, schools and hosa
pitfalls. The climate here is wonder
ful-the coolest place / have struck ,
this summer. You have one OF the most
beautiful hospital buildings, and one
of the best equipped, have ever seen.
understand you have just bonded |
for a new high school building, and
near the hospital noted your hand |
some grammar school. You are a city
of churches. You have the greatest |
port in the south