The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-26
THE PIONEER SPIRIT

Whenever we hear visitors-or home
ing the town, we are reminded of the
many cities and towns we have Wis
tied and found to be no better than
our own. During the war Pensacola
was the home OF thousands of service
men from northern cities who held UP
their home towns as ideals Of energy,
the northern towns are energetic and
progressive, especially the middle-wes-
tern and western towns.
It is, therefore, pleasant to have
northern paper speak In high terms
Of the progressiveness and energy of
the south--of Florida. Listen to what
the editor Of the Wareham (Massachu-
setts) Courier says OF the Pioneer
Spirit" in Florida:
The pioneer spirit as exhibited in
those parts of the country that are
growing rapidly is wonderful thing
to behold. II Is a revelation to go in
to town that is less than twenty
years old and find building and pub
lie utilities that cause the blush of
shame to come TO the cheeks OF those
who come from older communities.
where public spirit seems to have
died years ago.
Perhaps the chief reason of the
conservatism of our New England
towns and the people is to be found
in their self satisfaction and their
lack of knowledge of what constitutes
q real, live, up-to-date community.
To find those places we must go into
those states that are in process Of de-
velopment Remaining in places that
are finished" years ago tends to SNUG
satisfaction, rather than optimistic
enthusiasm.
ut has been the good fortune of the
writer to visit some OF the new towns
OF the south during the past few weeks
and II has been a revelation of what
can be done in short space of time
by men who have enthusiasm and Wis
ion. OF course these new places have
none of the handicaps that exists in
older places. They do not have to tear
dowIt in order to build up. but can
plan things from the beginning with
a twentieth century knowledge of what
real town should be.
But il. is evident that these things
could not have been accomplished on
the part of the town builders, without
cooperation and concentrated action.
I'm the new towns of Florida the
center OF activities is in its board of
trade. There is always an active or
ganization with a paid board of trade
secretary. He is the source of infor-
nation for everybody, answers all
questions, greets new Corners, and as
sists them In all ways within his pow
er, The board of trade really direct
all public activities. They decide what
the community needs, and then sees
that it gets to it.
During the visit OF the National
Editorial Association in Florida, an
opportunity was given to see how
Things are done when community
sets out to entertain. Imagine If you
can, a New England town being called
upon to entertain 400 visitors. to give
them breakfast, lunch or dinner. to
provide automobiles that they might
be driven over the surrounding coun-
try, and to perform other acts of cour-
tesy to such a great number Of people
at one time, No matter how small the
town, none of them fell down on the
Job. 1t was a real lesson in commu-
nifty cooperation that will long be re-
membered. The board of trade was
and figures and a genuine desire to
tell why a particular town is better
than others. 1t was the real southern
hospitality plus the booster spirit at
its best.
The way those Florida towns take
hold to get what they want is a real
revelation and the speed with which
things are accomplished was a refuta-
ton of the idea that southerners lack
the pep of their northern neighbors.
In the interior of Florida towns have
sprung up in the last ten years and
have been made to bloom like the
garden of Eden. Streets have been
built. sewerage, and water systems de-
veloped, fine churches and schools pro-
vided in an astonishing way. In the
matter of schools alone they have pro-
vided themselves with some of the.
most modern edifices to be found any
where and in a few years Florida will
not only have the best road system of
any state in the, Union. but it viii