The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-03-03


chants are now selling goods for les
han half the prices which they wer
,sking a year ago and why, in De
,ember, 1919, there was a differenc
n the prices asked by various mer
chants. Along this line of questioning
rhe Journal has received the follow
ng letter:
Editor, Pensacola Journal.
Dear Sir.--I have heard the
question asked many times, what
ails Pensacola? l having made
personal Investigations in this line
/ wish you could find space in
your paper, which l have always
found working for the betterment
of Pensacola, for this statement,
first ! would say that there should
be more firm, mutual, under
standing between the merchant
and the buyer in Pensacola.
The merchants are up against
the hard times as well as the
bread Garner, but then the bread
carr err remembers when the mer-
chants charged 80 cents for one
turnip; S14 to SIC for a standard
make of shoes and one merchant
sold the same shoes for IS and 50,
while others in Pensacola selling
the same shoes at the former price
5000. Two stores on Palafox
street sold Hills Cascara quinine
pills for 80 cents, while another
sold 1t for 90 cents, this including
one cent war tax. this price being
the legitimate and proper price for
this remady (Dec. 1920. How can
the clothing stores put suits
and coats for women on sale
now for $50 and $40, that only a
very short time they wanted from
500 to $3.50 for the same suits and
this includes the mems clothing in
like reductions.
The merchants and owners of
stores on Palafox street depend on
the white people to pay these
enormous profits, but when il
comes to remodeling their stores
they don't give the contracts to
white contractors. Why should
milk be sold to the retailer for 40
cents a gallon and he charge 20
cents a quart for the same to the
citizens of Pensacola?
If the farmers We're given a fair
price for their produce the mer-
chants would benefit by it. Look
at the Philadelphia inquirer or
Ledger and compare prices here
with what Is sold there and on
adding the charges of freight and
etc, and see If Pensacola prices
on meat, clothes and most anv
other necessity are not inflated to
the breaking point.
Why should people charge on an
average Of So per week for a room
that resembles those found in Les
AiiGRI-1
found at a cheaper rate. but
wouldn't your conscience condemn
you II you put a COW or dog in
them? Tourists will not come back
especially those with moderate in
comes under these conditions.
Pensacola has no just cause for
being kept off the map, everything
is here to make it a first class cfty,
with its harbor and opportunities
for manufactures, (Barring the L.
x n. railroad). A live board of
trade that would adopt northern
methods of eXempting Investors in
TINS line OF taxes and water for a
limited time would obtain results.
Having served as commissioner of
public works in a live town. where
ito water, electricity and sewer
age systems were municipaIlv
owned, / can see where a big i'm
provement can be made If a little
turpentine is applied at the proper
place. There are white northern
mechanics here. sent for by the
Pensacola shipvard, who desire to
make their home here. But thew
are walking the streets now with
TO prospect in sight, but to be,
forced from your city. These men
by their skill contributed toward
the shipyard's success in its palnv
days and made the fig tree on
Palafox flourish.
Hoping to see Pensacola come to
the front soon, and see square
dealing adopted by one and all
and that Pensacola will not have
TO go on record as having to es-
tabhsh soup houses, which il will
If something doesn't open up hero
soon. Those who would like to live
In Pensacola are waiting for a
place TO work at a better wage
than that which is being paid at
the new high school building.
Thanking you in advance for ell
favors, l am,
Sincerely yours.
H. b. NJ.