The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-09-24
BUILDING A TOWN.


The Orlando Reporter Star Saws
that Orlando is growing so fast that
| it would be a very difficult matter to
suggest anything that could make it
grow much faster.
Commenting on this, the Bradford
County Telegraph says:
And what makes Orlando grow ?
| Because it has attained such a vitality
that magnetism has developed, which
irresistibly attracts home-seekers and
investors. While the site on which
the city is built is pretty, it is not
more so than of many towns which
lag behind. It was the indomita BILE
grit of the founders of the city that
gave it a start, because they did all
they could to attract such men as
would help in the upbuilding. There
used to be a saying that IF Orlando
does not see what it wants, it is not
backward in asking. for it." No pains
were spared in acquiring such institu-
tons and men as would accelerate the
growth, and in presenting such attrac-
tons as would lure them on. No Or
rlando could rest on the oars, because
its attractions are so great that settle
ment will flow toward the city I'M
asked, but does it do So? Not so YOU
can notice it. Orlando presents a tell
ing object lesson in town building
which every city and town will do well
to study and emulate"
Orlando, like other towns every
where which progress, has found that
to grow one must have something to
grown on. A town needs to have
something more than good words and
hot air, to make it thrive.
During the past ten years, Pensacola
, has made a very substantial growth.
and this expansion has come because
certain men had faith enough to work
for enterprises to build up this town.
There are men in Pensacola who give
part of their time year in and year out
to public work which brings to them
no direct benefit, but which aids in
civic development.
And there are other men who center
entirely upon their own private inter-
ests and who are always opposed to
anything in which those interests are
not directly concerned. But men OF
this type are growing fewer in Pensa-
cola and Escambia county.
There is a certain type of citizen in
every town who is opposed to all prog
ress, unless he happens to be the
leader. If he is interested in any pro-
ject, one may be very certain that it is
something that will benefit him di-
rectly. To all other enterprise he is
unalteratbly opposed, unless it holds
out some honors for him or his.
This type of citizen is invariably
opposed to public improvements. for
fear he may have to do his part and
may fail to get the lion share of the
returns. He is too narrow to take the
larger vision and looking forward to
see the benefits that will come to the
community and to those who come
after him, and unwilling to sacrifice a
penny in any development which is not
to his individual interest.
This type of man is not confined to
any city or section. He flourishes
everywhere. But, thanks to the new
gospel of service and the new vision
which is teaching men that what is
beneficial to the whole is bound to
benefit the individual, his tribe is de-
creasing.
Orlando is fortunate If it has few
lIiSh "a IhiS type, anu DIS the
Reporter Star says is Growing so fast
that it would be hard to suggest any
thing to make it grow faster"
When Pensacola get its real stride,
may develop an equal if not a greater
speed than the Orange county town.
and when it does. let us hope that the
type of citizen always opposed to every
thing except that which puts money in
his individual pocketbook may become
as extinct as the dodo, and which is
the deadest animal we know anything
about
There are few such citizen still ex-
tant in Pensacola, and they are get
ting fewer each year and becoming
Jess of a problem to deal with. After
all, in every community, they do little
real harm. and make a good foil for
those men who are big enough to see
something besides the almighty dollar
and who have vision enough to' build
for the future as we'll as for the pres
ent moment, and wisdom enough to
know that there can be no progress
as long az there is no effort. and no
growth as long as there is no forward
movement