The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-05-11
FOOTING THE BILLS.

The North Florida Chamber of Com
merce is constantly boosting and some
of the plans for advancement which
are advocated are such as can but aid
in the upbuilding of the section which
1t represents. But there is a tone in
some of the material sent out from the
offices of the body which are not cal
culated to foster a better spirit be-
tween the various sections of the state.
West Florida, and particularly Pen
sacola, feels enough part of Florida
to wish for the advancement of the en-
tire state. What aids in the develop
ment Of one part, must in the very ma
ture OF things, promote progress in
other sections.
In recent issue the Apalachicola
Times, in urging attendance on the re-
cent meeting at Perry says:
"All members, and others interested
IN promoting this part Of Florida, are
urged to attend. There will be much
opposition to the proposed state road
bond issue, which matter is to be voted
upon next November. 1t will be neces-
sary to have all possible cooperation
to succeed in getting proper highway
Improvement in north and west Flor
ida. Southland east Florida roads are
practically provided for and most of
them built or under contract, county
bonds voted and federal road aid al
lotted. If that portion of Florida can
prevent the state road bond issue and
keep the rest of the state from getting
good roads, the home-seekers and in
vestors will continue to ignore north
Florida. This must not be-"
On this the Tampa Tribune comments
as follows:
1.-The Appalachicola Times has mis-
taken the task before the North Flor
ida Chamber of Commerce. When it
declares it to be it's duty to keep south
and east Florida from preventing the
rest of Florida from getting good roads
| 1t is fitting at windmills and is making
itself as much spectacle for laughter
as did old Don Quixote when he
charged the giant caitiffs.
| THE task before the North Florida
Chamber of Commerce is to teach its
twenty counties the need for self-reli-
ance. and the principle of "the gods
help those who help themselves
| South Florida will never oppose the
building of good roads through any
part of the state. South Florida will
oppose any plan to make the road
1
tvs affair than it was when south
Florida built it's roads. Even as NORTH
Florida came to our assistance in thu
eradication of the citrus canker so will
we assist in the building of those
roads. The difference is this: You seem
to be demanding that the state at large
pay all the bill for the road through
your county, while we will insist tina
the state pay a part Of the bill afte,
you have paid the part that you shoult
pay for what will directly benefit you
| 1--WE trust there will be no misun-
Outstanding or Misrepresentation OF
our position in this matter, so we state
it again in the fewest possible words
| Inasmuch as the county through which
a permanent road is built benefit.
largely and directly, that county should
pay most of the cost for that large ant
direct benefit; and because the state
benefits as a whole by the building il
it of any road which connects with {
| through highway, the state should pa,
for this indirect benefit, from its reve.
nues at large.
! The real duty of the North Florida
Chamber of Commerce, as we see it, i:
| TO get out of the head of, some of it.
people the idea that south Florida i.
antagonistic to it's development by s,
much as even a breathed opposition
We will show our faith in north Flor
ida by our works in every possible way
We have fought any idea of dividing
the state, because we hold north Flor
ida, the old Florida of hundred years
| ago, sacred and historic as well as ricl
and containing a population that is not
surpassed in honor, thrift, intelligence
and loyalty to its state by the people O
| any given other area of Florida.