The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-09-09
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CLAIMS JOURNAL MlsQuoTEp.
Aiarianna, IA. sept. Z. /.

s0-FNtMS W. ntNAE MtoQOO EDs
! Mariana, Fla. Sept. Z, 1921.
Editor Pensacola Journal,
Pensacola, Fla.
Dear sir:-I desire to call your at
tention to a little misquotatlon when
you quote my words in your article Of
I Wednesday morning issue of the 18th.
inst, giving an account Of the splen-
did entertainment and luncheon that
was given on the 9Th, inst, by the Ro-
! tarians and the Kiwanians at the san
Carlos hotel.
did not use the language so
quoted, that we in Pensacola were
slow we needed waking up" But on
the other hand l plainly expressed
myself as delighted at the splendid
work Of your city's civic organization.
What I did say was that the counties
of the Third congressional district
including Escambia county, did not
act promptly years ago with PROPOSE
lions of participation in road and
bridge building to the state road de-
partment in like manner as the coun-
ties lower down in the state had done
They seemed to be prepared and more
up to date in voting bond money for
roads, and were in a position to urge
on us the use of our funds through
their counties having means at hand
to cover same of all projects we could
entertain. 1t was easier at that time
for our department to render help
to counties who are willing to go
fifty-fifty on road construction; es-
pecially it would have been easier for
us to have secured federal aid for
the Escambia bridge, from the fact
that the bureau of good roads were at
that time, and UP to recently, more
liberal in their requirements and spec
ifications pertaining to wood struc-
lures. But of late the bureau of good
roads seemed to be unwilling to par
ticipate in this bridge except it be-
constructed of concrete. The magni-
tude Of cost in such construction be-
ing in the neighborhood Of two mil
lion dollars is far beyond our means
to finance.
stated also that if Escambia coun-
ty would have been able two or three
years ago to make the offer that she
now offers we, no doubt, at this time
would be at work trying to complete
this bridge.
It is a conceded fact that your city
NJ 5eA4tA@ anu LAAeiL YOuL DOdIA Oh
county commissioners have done all
that could be expected to rush thisl
proposition, and now the DELAY is |
caused on account of the state road
department not making the project
possible by declaring the road a federal
aid project, which could bring about I
the finances sufficient to build said
bridge with no further cost to your
county.
do not think your county commits
sioners have lost anything up to this
time by not putting your bonds on the
market. They have made money on
account of the reduction that has
taken place of late in the cost of road
building, but I do believe that it is
now time that work should be started
However, you could not expect the
commissioners of Escambia
county to not use all patience possible
in regard to the state roads upon
which their money is to be spent so
long as their is chance for making
for Pensacola, Escambia county, as
well as the state of Florida, a bridge
across Escambia bay that, we might
say, will be free of cost to the state
or county, but would be built indi-
rectly by federal aid funds. ! think It
is, therefore. worth while. to use fur
ther energies in trying to secure these
funds.
1 am quite sure that I have done all
in my power, and will endeavor to
continue doing what I can to get this
federal aid placed in your county I L
believe all of the best informed road
of your town know well that
this is true However, few people re-
alize the difficulties confronting your
commissioners and all of those
good people in your community who
are doing all in their power to close B
lp this proposition. It Is very hard for
your county commissioners to know at
this time exactly what IS best for
them to do in order to get results for
Ill parties concerned. but I think in a +,
very short time they viii be able to
solve the proposition and that It will
urn out that we viii secure the Es-
Gambia bridge.
/ viii thank you If you viii publish
his letter, that my position may not
be mis5udged.
Yours very truly
J. D. SMITH.