The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-02-01
GOOD ROADS FIRST.


ceved the endorsement Of three of the civic bodies
of Pensacola the Chamber of Commerce, the Ro-
tary and the Kwans Club. has aroused more or less
discussion in the city. much Of which is favorable
On the other hand there is strong sentiment among
many of the business men Of Pensacola and West
Florida that while Good Roads are the paramount
issue in Pensacola at this time, they not and
never will be the only issue.
1t is evident to anyone who read the proceedings
the meeting of the three organizations recently,
and the resolutions passed at that meeting. that the
idea not to drop any movement already launched
in Pensacola, but was to continue those which, have
already been started, carrying them forward to a
successful conclusion. but to put Good Roads First
and foremost.
The misunderstanding which has arisen in the
public mind-As to the dropping of the municipal
dock idea may easily be set at rest when one real
ICES that of the organizations. the Kiwans Club.
has been the most ardent supporter of this move
ment. The municipal docks and belt line railroad
have already been voted upon by the people of Pen
sacola This question decided six years ago. and
vote was taken on the question, ard was over
Nvhelmngly affirmative. Had the Chamber Of Com
merce pushed this matter at that time. instead of
blocking it, at the opening of the world Pensa-
cola would have possessed docks and terminals
which would have made her formidable rival of
New Orleans, now the second port in commercial
rating, in the United States. There seems to be a
disposition the part of certain members of the
Chamber OF Commerce to block this movement
again.
Leland j. Henderson is one OF the good roads ex-
perts of the United States He is president of the
Atlantic to the Gulf Highway company, which is
largely responsible for tho present stimulus to the
good roads movement in West Florida. Mr.. Hender-
son was secretary of the Pensacola Chamber of
Commerce for years and before coming to Pensacola
was secretary of similar organization. with head
quarters at ApaIachicola. Mr.. Henderson knows the
South WELL He is familiar with the roads he has
studied the highway problem thoroughly. and par
ticularly in its relation to commercial use.
In a public speech in Pensacola, when the Escam-
bia County Good Roads Club formed, Mr.. Hen
derson stated that in his opinion it would be only
short time when much of the business that is now
transacted the railroads would come by way OF
the public highways, and that it would be found
necessary to have traffic experts to divert traffic
over these roads to certain points, just today we
have traffic to divert traffic railroads
AND MR. HENDERSON STATED AT TIfHT MEETING
THAT HIS KEENEST DISAPPOINTMENT IN COMING
TO PENSACOLA WAS TO SEE THAT THE MUNICH
PAL DOCKS AND BELT LINE RAILROAD, VOTED
FOR WHILE HE WAS SECRETARY OF THE CHAM
Der OF COMMERCE, HAD NOT BEEN BUILT.
Mr.. Henderson was frank to say that he did moi
think that Pensacola had made the best of its oppor
tuntes in failing to build these docks and this rail
road. Mr.. Henderson was in a position to know
what he was talking about. For years it his
business to familiarize himself with what Pensacols
and West Florida needed He is keenly interested in
the development of good roads in this section Bu
the first mistake he pointed out. when talking to the
business men of Pensacola. the fact that the
municipal docks and belt line railroad had not beer
built.
he Of no he to r.
Nayes believed that the future Pensacola depended
largely upon these municipal docks and this bell
line Had he lived. so ardent was he in his support
of this movement it may be that his interest anc
enthusiasm would have overcome whatever spirit
there is in this community which is blocking the
municipal dock movement.
The Journal believes that we need the docks ane
the belt line; that need cotton compress; tina
we need good roads and bridge over Ferry Pass
We have made good start all, and we do moi
want to any of them dropped. unless the citizens
Of Pensacola want to them dropped.
| The Journal does not believe that it was intended
at the meeting of Thursday evening to create the
preston that to concentrate good road.
and good roads only dropping other projects already
started but that were to concentrate just nov
on good roads. put that over. and then concentrate
on other movements.
| To one who has given close attention to the en-
tecprises already projected in Pensacola, it is clea
that it would not only be nadvsable to drop every
thing else, while give attention to good roads
but impossible The cotton compress has gone TOT
far, certainly, to be dropped. The municipal docl
bonds will soon go on sale.
There is nothing that will do more to promote thi
section than the opening up of this territory through
highway which connects, instead of separating thu
various counties
| 1t is not within the province of The Journal Il
point out to any civic body or bodies how they ar
to function But at this time one thing seems yer,
clear. And that is that the commercial body her