The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-11-08
DOCK SITE PROPOSITION
Editor Pensacola journal:

I the Sel6cJiOn OF the HdidIOX wharf, as
site for the municipal dock. No one
doubts that these associations are
guided by the best motives. but it
seems to me that before we become too
frenzied a few words from the COM
missioners would not have been out
of place. But as they seem to be men
of action rather than words. l will
take it upon my self to say the few
words that might better come from
them.
The location of dock site presents
a number of angles for consideration,
only one of which seems to have been
taken into account by the DIRECTORS tc
the Palafox site. From an investment
point of view, the selection of this site
is certainly IDEAL for we are putting
all our money into location" As an
| investment proposition there is moth
ing safer. nothing less liable to be de-
stroyed by fire or bugs, or carried
away by wind and tide than location"
There has been a feeling in many
quarters that the Saunders Co. could
not give a clear title to the property
but this deal very happily eliminates
this cloud, as the city is their only,
contender. One might say that the city
was buying its own property; but it
is much better to regard it as clear
ance Of title and a removal of a basis
for disastrous and expensive litigation
in the future. BY investing the entire
fund in the site its safety is assured
and possibilities of graft, so far as the
dock fund is concerned, will be entire-
ly eliminated and future city fathers
viii have one of the many pitfalls re-
moved from their path of duty.
Another feature to be considered is
the overhead. maintenance and oper-
ating charges, which will be roughly
proportional to the amount of devel-
opment on the site and the volume of
business carried on. All municipal
docks are a constant source of ex-
pense. None of them has ever paid, and
careful thought should be given to the
source of the funds to meet these
charges. If these funds are not avail
able, expenses should be cut to the
smallest possible amount. As the ex-
penses are proportional to the amount
of development and volume of bust
ness it follows conversely that the less
we develop and the less business we do
the stronger our position becomes fl
nancially. This solution will most sure
ly be brought about by the selection of
the Palafox site. For by this arrange
ment the Saunders Co. will continue to
occupy the site and render any radical
improvements impossible, even if
funds were available. Arrangements
can easily be made by giving free use
of the dock whereby the Tarpon and
other coastwise steamers will main
tain their own dock frontage. AS the
water is not deep enough to accommo-
date ocean going vessels, we would not
be bothered by any business from them
and the overhead maintenance and
operating charges would be cut to a
minimum possibly nothing. With
such a solution we can devote all our
spare change to the liquidation of the
bonds. We should remember that only
by meeting our present obligations
can we ever expect to float any future
ones.
Another point that has not been
tuoched upon is the availability of the
Palafox wharf as an observation point
for those interested in yachting but
not fortunate enough to have friend |
who has a motor boat This feature |
has been taken advantage of on nu-
merous occasions through courtesy of
the Saunders Co, but would be event
better appreciated If the spectators |
could feel that they were there by /
right rather than courtesy.E In this |
connection I feel that a definite stipu-
lation should be made in the contract |
with the Saunders Co. expressly allow
ing the public free use at all times of
strip 20 feet wide across the end. Thsi
would certainly tend TO increase inter-
est in yachting, and to restore our
standing to the high place we at one
time occupied.
There is stin another feature which
shows more than all others the wis
dom in the selection of this site and
which seems not to have been taken
into consideration by the DIRECTORS.
refer to the L. & N r. r., which seems
to have a strange hold upon Pensa-
cola and the business of it's citizens
It is an open secret that Pensacola can
only do as much business as the L. &
N. wishes it to do. If we could release
this grip there is no telling how far
and high we might go. But this can on
" be brought about by successful COM
petition. And there amt no such ami
NAL" That being the case, the only
relief possible must come as a favor i,
from the L. & n. 1t would take no
prophet to foreteH the effect on the
& y. were some site chosen where it /.
would have to share Jointly with all
other roads in the use of the dock. Be-
fore any such dock could be built we
would have no use for it, for we would
have ceased to exist. Rather it has
seemed to the city fathers that they
should take the Palafox location and !
buy the necessary right of way to al I
ow the J.. & n. direct ingress and !
practical control of all rail shipments
% and from the dock Such a favor
I called to their attention with due
humility might so soften their hearts
hat they would continue to allow us
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