The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-15
Pensacola's Centenary

If Pensacola was on the Pacific
coast, in the middle west or on the
| eastern coast, It would be celebrating
it's centennial anniversary this year in
national fashion, and would be aided
in this celebration by national appro-
priations. About every locality in the
west, middle west and east that had
anything to celebrate have had 3 ma
tional frolic and now comes Portland,
Oregon, with the announcement that 1t
will hold celebration in 1925 and is
already asking congress for assistance
and win get it.
Pensacola has an interesting history.
The early explorers to America found
Pensacola bay safe and sure retreat.
It's harbor was early recognized as one
Of the best in America. 1t was settled
during the 18th century by the French
and Spandards. It was vaT1ously
owned by the French, the Spaniards
and the British, first one and then the
other, until in 1921, when 1t became the
property of the United States. It has
always been an important port of
American commerce.
Pensacola has a most interesting his
tory. 1t was named after tribe Of
Indians which once dweIt around this
bay and did fishing and trapping. The
word Pensacola is from a Choctaw
word and means hair people, This
tribe of Indians was more nearly COW
cred with hair than any American tribe.
They finally became extinct through
inter tribal wars.
Pensacola, as city, is not as well
known as it should be, and its value to
the United States as a harbor Is but
little appreciated by the average Amer
lean A national exposition would not
have been without its value to the
American people.
Huge sums have been appropriated
from the national treasury for exposi-
tons. IN 1876. s2.183.1S4.59 was APP
proiated for the Centennial EXPOSE
ton" at Philadelphia. In 1884. $1,650,
900 was appropriated for the New Or
leans Exposition. In 1898, s5,s40, 329. 49
was appropriated for the Worlds Fair
at Chicago. In 1895, $1,000 for the At
lanta. Exposition. In 1898, $4,000 for
the Omaha Exposition. In 1901. $1,015,-
600 for the Buffalo Exposition. In 1901,
$3.50, 900 for the Charleston Expos. tdon.
In 1904. 81. 254 900 for the st. Louis
Exposition. In 1905. $435,0o0 for the
Portland show. In 1907. $3.50. 600 for
the jamestown Exposition. In 1909.
$500, 900 was voted to the Seattle Elk
position. San Francisco, s5,is4,20o and
san Diego $3.50, 900 the same year Now
Portland will ask for another appropri-
alton for the purpose Of celebrating the
hundredth anniversary of the com ple-
ton of the transcontinental and Pa
cifie highways.
These celebrations are all good, but
mighty costly to the taxpayers. Besides
these appropriations there il an inn
mense expense connected with the ma
tfonal exhibits and a. scandaluos
amount of grating in various ways. be-
sides innumerable jobs furnished to
politicians, great and small They aVe
all good, but like raw oysters, one may
get more OF them than he wants.
Congress has been liberal with ex-
position people But the great south
land that constituted the enchanted
hand in the hearts Of the early exp7or-
ers, and which is becoming such an I'm
portaut factor in our national economic
scheme, has not had the national pub
iicity II should have. Perhaps we may
fare better in the future Orlando Re
porter star.