The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-01-24
ENDORSE ESCAMBIA BRIDGE
North Florida Chamber of Com
merce in Session Here IMAM
imOuSly FavOrS Plan.
WILL BACK CANAL PROJECT
Principal Proposition Before
Chamber Was Cumberland
Mississippi Waterway.

Endorsing the bridging Of Escambia
river at Ferry Pass, and going on re-
cord as unanimously in favor Of ex-
tending hard roads over every section
of North Florida, the North Florida
Chamber of Commerce yesterday af-
ternoon took sides with Escambia
county in its effort to get better trans
portation connections with the re-
mainder of the state.
Other projects for building up north
and west Florida endorsed. were better
railroad facilities, building Of a can
al connecting the Atlantic with the
Mississippi, and the completion of the
Tallahassee Southern railway tracks
connecting with Perry before April 1.
Following the meeting which was
held at the San Carlos hotel. the
yacht Mercathades was placed at the
disposal of the visitors through the
courtesy OF Capt. Paul p. Stewart. 4
trip over the bay, out to the naval
station and the gateway to the Gulf
was made.
The meeting was presided over by
B. s. Hancock, in the absence of the
president of the board of governors.
Mrs. r r. S. Phillips of Panama city,
meeting and gave as the ideal Of the
organization Unity. This, she said
was the only way for north and west
Florida to get what was coming TO it.
If the 20 counties comprising the
Chamber of Commerce went after any
project as a body of counties that
politicians would not dare refuse their
request
Speaking in the interest of the Es-
Gambia river bridge. James B. Perkins
declared that the lack of the bridge was
the greatest drawback to the develop
ment of this entire section OF tho
state. He presented a resolution, which
was adopted asking that the state
highway board have estimates of the
cost Of the bridge again submitted, the
estimates to be made by a party Of 3
engineers, one to be selected by Escau-
bia, one by Santa Rosa county and the
third from the state board the latter
not to be the one who made the esti-
mate Of two million dollars The reso-
luton was endorsed by L. A. Whitney
St. Petersburg. w. L. Wilson. St An
drews' H. S. Brockway Live Oak and
others, setting forth the advantages OF
the completed hard road system.
Resolutions endorsing more and
better railway facilities were endorsed
by the Chamber OF Commerce. The
resolution asked that fast train bs
operated between Pensacola and JaclS4
sonville. There is no fast train be-
tween these two cities at present. The
resolution asked that the train leave
about midnight from both cities.
The endorsement OF the Atlantic
Mississippi ship canal was given by
the organization and facts were pre-
sented to the meeting of the value this
canal would be to this section Of the
state. Members of the board of gov
ernors are now at Washington worIr-
ing in the interest of a bin now before
the house. The bill asks that an APP
preparation Of 100000 be made to
pick up and survey the best route for
this canal With the canal the dis
tance to European ports would be les
sened by 500 miles from Pensacola and
would make Of this city an outlet for
produce from the Mississippi valley
which now goes ont from other Gulf
ports.
L. A. Whitney, secretary OF the st.
Petersburg Board Of Trade urged that
the North Florida group call to the at
tention Of the attorney general the
fact that the Tallahassee Southern
railroad is ordered by legislative act
to complete it's line to Perry before
April I or forfeit its charter. The pro-
position was discussed at some length
and was endorsed
William L. Wilson Of St. Andrews. one
OF the West Florida members Of the
State Wide Development Board, spoke
briefly on the three projects which
North Florida should put through. He
named them as the St. Mary's canal.
so-caIled, a better system OF hard
roads and better railroad service.
Mrs. +. r. s. Phillips. secretary OF
the North Florida Chamber OF Com
meree yesterday sent the following
telegram to Congressman Frank Clark
az washington: North Florida Cham
Der Of Commerce held special meeting
here today. Members Of Rotary and
clubs and Pensacola Cham
oer OF Commerce present Your bin
Ten-Nine- Nineteen endorsed. Best
wishes for success next week at Can
al hearing. President Drummond en-
route Washington"
Mrs Phillips leaves this morning for
Panama City