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77TH ANNUAL MEETING
JACKSONVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
JANUARY 15, 1964
Chairman Campbell, members of the Board of Directors of the
Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce and my fellow Floridians. It
is a good thing for me to see this evidence of the pride yOu take in
Jacksonville. We live in a rather strange day when in so many areas
of our life we are told that pride is something to be forgotten, to
be ashamed of. There are those who seem to feel that we should deny
pride in our nation and ourselves and in our race, but in spite of
all this I want you to know that I take pride in your pride in
Jacksonville.
Breathes there a man with soul so dead who never to himself has
said "this is my own, my native land," or, in our case, "this is my
1 own, my native city?"
If there are, such people don't live in Jacksonville. Like Paul,
you boast that you are citizens or no mean city, and surely all or
those who have known and loved Jacksonville and who have watched it
grow, recognize that your boast is a Just one, and your pride proper.
Because, you see, your pride makes a difference. It keeps your
streets clean. I don't believe you can pass enough laws to keep
streets clean unless the peOple take pride in your city. Pride keeps
gardens filled with flowers, lawns cut like carpets; pride builds
beautiful auditoriums, like yours and museums, like the Owner
* Museum and universities, like Jacksonville University.
And pride does something else: it makes the object or that
pride more desirable to others. I suspect each of you has had the
4 experience that I have standing around a department store in some city
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to meet the needs of tomorrow as they develOp. In any event, we have
tried the tax, tax, tax method for years without end; now is the time
to let the built-in vitality of Florida's economic and tax structure
operate without artificial stimulants.
Our progress in the development of inland waterways and in the
conservation of water rescurces is one of the greatest in the nation.
More than $80 million have been expended by the State, local and
federal governments on the central and southern Florida Flood Control
System, whereby vast new values have been created and vast established
values have been inSured. The 1961 Legislature likewise set forth
toward the develOpment of a Central and Southwest Florida Flood Control
Program and like benefits are expected from it.
We are mindful of the need in Florida for private construction
to be keyed both to our climate and to our future. In SOme areas there
is a great need for more adequate zoning and tighter building codes.
A special committee that I named to consider this problem but scratched
the surface in 1961 and will, in this year, provide us with a clear
definition of our problems areas and with recommended improvements in
our laws for the consideration of the 1963 Legislature.
In a recent issue of the Saturday Evening Post, Philip Wylie,
who is himself a Floridian by adoption, wrote diaparagingly of the
destruction or the natural beauties of this State. Historically his
article had much to recommend it, but a check of the current scene
belies his remarks.
In 1961 we brought a halt to sales of stateowned lands, and
surveyed the 415,000 acres held by the State (lands, incidentally,
valued at $50 million). Those that are suitable for parks are being
designated for that use and developed as rapidly as funds will allow.
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We have purchased other lands tron the Federal Government, at a
fraction of their value, and have benefited from the donation of
valuable tracts for public purposes given by those who share our
wish that Florida's natural heritage be preserved.
To all lands under State control we have brought a concept of
multiple use. The vast areas of the Central and Southern Florida Flood
Control District will serve not only to protect the Coastal areas,
farm lands, and Everglades sections of the State from floods, but to
provide a SOurce of irrigation water in times of drought and to Open
to sportsmen a territory abundant in game and fish.
We have set up a special advisory committee, composed of the heads
of all conservation agencies, which reviews all conservation matters
and which is charged with preparing for Florida a long range resource
management plan that will insure that areas of natural beauty of
sufficient size to support the recreational needs of our projected
population and to provide for forest and waterway requirements will
forever be protected from indiscriminate sales or improper develOpment.
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waiting on the leader of the household to complete her shOpping. Have
you ever noticed that there will be some counter completely unmarked
by customers until one stops with a look of interest, and than a
second stops to see what has created an interest, and a third and a
fourth until the formerly unmarked counter has become the center of
attention.
I think all we men recognize that the most fascinating women is
that one who seems the most desirable in the eyes of others.
Texans have used that technique to convince the world that Texas
is a paradise. I spent several months in Texas a number of years ago,
and I remember a Texan telling me once that if Texas had a little cool
water and cool air it could truly be a paradise. I agreed with him.
It didn't occur to me until several months later that the same thing
could be said of Hades.
I feel in Florida, as I Know yOu do, a fierce and enveoloping
pride. For me, as 1 return to this State and cross the line from
Georgia or Alabama, the air is suddenly sweeter, the grass grows
greener, the smiles on faces are friendlier. Perhaps there are those
who would say that there is no real difference, but I must say to you
that if there is no difference in the air, then there is a difference
in me as I cross the line. This is my native state. To a governor --
any governor -- all Florida is hOme. From the smallest tip or the State
this is my home. I rejoice at every new road, every new classroom --
at every new statistic of prOgress -- every new friend.
One of the greatest assets Florida has is its friends -- a great
asset and its greatest assurance of a prosperous future. As I have
traveled around the nation and on other continents in your name, one
of the things that has been brought home to me time and again is that
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Florida is a magic name. We have friends everywhere. To go somewhere
as a representative of Florida is to find every door unlocked, a
smile on every face. That is because our citizens in the past have
made so many friends for Florida; friends who are constantly doing
for Florida what Texans have tried to do for Texas. These are the
reasons that last year 12 million tourists came to this state to enjoy
the warmth of its sunshine and of its welcome. These are the reasons
that in December visitors at our welcome stations on the state line
are up 87 per cent above December 1960. I don't suggest that we are
going to be so fortunate as to have 87 per cent more tourists this
year, but surely it is evident to anyone who travels about this state
that we are on the march in the field of tourist promotion and
attraction as we have never been before.
It is so important that we show our pride in Florida by extending
the hand of welcome to those who come here, particularly to those who
come for the first time. The Florida Tourism Steering Committee, an
organization of Floridians independent of government who recognize the
necessity for making the visit here of our tourists a happy experience,
has been one of the most thrilling results of the efforts of this
administration to date. Through them we are trying to reach every
filling station operator, every waitress, every attractions operator
and every motel owner, to 00nvey to them a conviction of the necessity
for expressing the welcome that I know all Floridians feel.
The Florida Hotel and Restaurant Commission has embarked upon a
program of internal education which is designed to do in a more
formal fashion the same task. We want to be sure that every dish
washer knows his 30b, that every cook will contribute somewhat to a
reputation for pleasant dining in Plorkda, that every hotel and
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restaurant will provide more for the tourist than any comparable
'E' institution in any other state of the nation.
. 1- we need to provide, also, roads which will make travelling in
Florida a Joy, designed not to harass the traveler with artificial
? obstacles to his progress in the hOpe of shaking him down for his
vacation money, but designed rather to make his trip about Florida a
real vacation, freed from worry, ending with a conviction that others
should come here to know the pleaSure that has been his, and that he
should return here to play or to live as rapidly as his circumstances
will permit.
For the first time in history the Road Board allocated for state-
wide use, independent of district lines or consideration, $10 million
for this fiscal year, and plans like sums for subsequent years. With
.; this money we are trying to complete the fOur-laning of major arteries,
. such as U. S. 1, even though particular districts might be unable to
a? do so. Through this device, together with Interstate construction
and Turnpike construction, we expect to provide, largely within this
administration, rapid and safe access to every major city in Florida.
Insufficient attention has been given to the importance for
Jacksonville or the early completion of Interstate 10 at least to
f- Lake City. Jacksonville, of course, is the great Gateway City to Florida,
but it is a fact that 67 per cent of all traffic coming into Florida
53 enters at Lake City of west thereof, and Jacksonville must be connected
to that great tide of commerce and tourism. it has been determined to
expedite the construction of Interstate 10 so that Jacksonville will
$_ have access to the traffic entering Florida on U.S. 189, 0.3. #1, U.S. Ml,
. and other great north-scuth arteries.
. U. :5. 1 remains the great artery of traffic into Florida through
which the life blood of tourism flows. It is fOurlancd into this
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great city from the Georgia line except for one l-mile segment, and
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E that l-mile segment is scheduled to be let to contract in May of this
;' year. During this administration U. S.-1 will be four-1aned its length
r f u through the State. Work going on now in Brevard County, in my humble
Judgment, is of as much importance to JackSOnville as it is to Cocoa.
I have been extremely mindful of your expressed interest and
concern in Interstate 95 north of Jacksonville and the parallel route
or U. 3. 17-92. Following a visit by Mr. Campbell and others of your
leaders in Jacksonville to me I made an inspection of rights-or-way
for both highways. I conferred personally with Governor Vandiver,
governor of our great sister State of Georgia, about his plans for the
construction of Interstate 95 north of the Georgia line and expressed
to him the deep concern we have over its early improvement. It was
kind of a new twist for me to be telling him of the great advantages
.5 to Georgia in the opening up or the market from this vast commercial
Center which would result from the improvement of that highway, but
I am convinced he shares my views in that direction. He promised to
discuss this matter with Mr. Gillie, Chairman of his Road Board, and
I have learned by subsequent telephone conversation with Governor
Vandiver that this has been done and that their plans are being reviewed
with a View to determining the degree to which they can accelerate
construction of Interstate 9. If we are aided by the location of the
;;§_ Thiokol industry in the State of Georgia north of Jacksonville the
urgency of the completion of Interstate 95 through Georgia will be as
apparent to Georgia officials as it is to us.
The planning of highways is not (and should not tel a hit or miss
I operation. Not only does the Road Department operate under a long-
range planning program, covering the entire State, but also it adOpts
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annual budgets which under law must govern it For the period covered
by the budget. The State Road Department will begin soon its hearing
preparatory to formulating a budget for the fiscal year 196263, and it
is my hOpe that in that budget year there can be included moneys which
will alleviate the critical traffic problem which we now face on 17-92
nother of Jacksonville, either by the construction of Interstate 95,
the four-laning of 17-99, or both.
I regret very much the recent bad publicity given to the State of
Florida by 3 Drew Pearson article. 0n Florida newspaper reported in
headlines that Florida road scandals were bored. This, in my opinion,
was somewhat like reporting that Seminole Indians have scalped Florida
Such a
citizens. report would, of course, be true, but a little bit
out of date. Every single item to which Mr. Pearson referred occurred
before this administration took office, and no reference was made to
' the fact that the Road Department under this administration has been
completely cleared so far as the activities of the Bureau of Public
Roads and the Blatnik Committee are concerned, and we are proceeding
now on a sound fiscal basis without the taint of acandal discoloring
the picture of the State of Florida.
The great highways into Florida's Future, however, are not all
asphalt and cement, but are of knowledge. The great challenges lie
in the field of education. I cannot too strongly commend Jacksonville
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For its support of Jacksonville University. As the State and Federal
governments increase their participation in the higher education processesi
if we are to maintain balance in Our educational system, it must be
thPOugh increased giving to private universities so that they may carry
out their historic role in the educational System of the state.
! The Junior college program Florida has launched is truly one of
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the miracles of this age. From five weekly supported Junior colleges
to 28 Junior colleges almost overnight is a spectacular record even
if achieved in an educational vacuum. But it is not. Our existing
universities have been growing at a tremendous pace, and new universities
are springing up from the rich cultural soil of Florida almost full
blown. The University of South Florida at Tampa is growing to maturity,
a new private Presbyterian College at St. Petersburg has become a
reality, Jacksonville University has achieved national recognition, a
new college is being established from private gifts in the Sarasota
area; the Legislature has appropriated money for a new university at
Boca Baton; the Budget Cemmission just the other day released money
for planning a new four-year college in the Pensacola area, yet all
of these things together are not enough.
The Board of Education has created a new uniVersity which has the
entire state as its campus, calling it the Institute for Continuing
University Studies. It is the purpose or this Institute to extend the
advantages and opportunity of a college education and graduate work
into every area of Florida where the demand is critical and the
resources of the State permit. We plan this new university of all
Florida as an extension of the academic capabilities of our existing
universities, but with our resources marshaled in a way that has not
been possible under prior administrative structure. I would hope that
this new institute in the State, so as to take advantage of their
facilities and resources on the spot on the one hand and to lend the
strength of our state supported institutions to these far-flung
educational outposts on the other.
Our educational television program is outstanding in the nation.
Not only was Jacksonville in the forefront of those cemmunities
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establishing educational television, but your own citizen, Judson
Freeman, has been providing state-wide leadership in this field. The
five educational television stations now in operation in Florida give
Florida more of these tools than any other state in the nation, yet we
have only begun to scrape the surface.
Perhaps as significant as any effort this administration has
made has been that to secure year-round utilization of our institutions
of higher education. By September of 1962 it will be possible for a
student to pursue his studies the year-round, and thus reach the
fulfillment of his preparatory goals while he is still in the peak of
his broader capacity. Equally important is the fact that buildings and
faculties which have heretofore been idel several months out or the
year will now be utilized on a full-time basis, and Florida will have
achieved multi-millions of dollars in capital investment as a result
of this program. Additionally, we aneuld be able to pay our academic
staff higher salaries on a year-round basis because we will be demanding
more production of them throughout the year.
During the last Legislative session I proposed to that body that
it appropriate funds which have accumulated and are being accumulated
under the Escheat Bill passed by the Legislature for the purpose of
building the most critically needed college facilities. Unfortunately,
that measure, having passed the Senate, failed passage in the House by
a few moments for lack of time on the session's final day, and we were
faced with the necessity of meeting this urgent need in some other
fashion. I have proposed that this be done through a revenue certificate
program which will enable us to do now what needs to be done now. The
impace of developments at Cape Canaveral and the focusing of attention
upon this state by industries which want to be located near Canaveral
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has been felt since the Legislature met, and the urgent need apparent
then has become more urgent and more apparent now. I am very hopeful
that within the next couple of weeks we can announce conclusion of
the financial plans which will enable us to do the Job that must be
done in this area.
You know, of c0urse, that the Legislature increased its appropria-
tions for teachers' salaries to provide an extra $200 per year, and
in addition provided for certain merit raises. We have not been
unmindful of the necessity for improved elementary and secondary
education. A Committee on Quality Education, headed by Dean Ralph Page
of the University of Florida and with former FSU President Doak
Campbell of Tallahassee as its executive offier has begun an intensive
.A study of means that may be used to increase the quality of education
which our children receive with the tools, facilities and talents now
. available to them. I am very hopeful that from this committee will
come recommendations as helpful in these areas as I feel the programs
that I have outlined for you have promise of being in the area of
higher education.
Florida shOuld take great pride in its economic stability.
Throughout the years it has become the pattern of this state to meet
each new problem with a new tax, but if I have clearly understood the
~ people of Florida, they have indicated a very keen desire to attempt
to solve the problems that we face with the resources that we have
E j?3 previously dedicated. This we are doing. I am very hopeful that the
g. economic growth we are experiencing will be Such as to pour into the
coffers of the state sufficient moneys from the sales tax, its
gasoline taxes, its beverage tax, its motor vehicle licenses, its
"'. gambling taxes, its cigarette taxes, its intangible taxes and others
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5 GR AIOUKi [disEmi JAClGO[WILle' niinA CEAle"~E OF 00[OERCE JANUAM _:5, 196/1 Chairma:1 C.bell, me:-:bare or '.cc Board of DirectorE of use JackEorville Area Cha:=ber oP Cuii.[nerec drio :'ty fellot; Ploridia:ia .Jt. 30 a i-ood ibir:-; -Jor inc to see this evidence of the prjde you take in Jacksor:ville .'ae _lve a n a rather s i.r:r-go dny V:hon in so mE.n;-; areas of our life we are told that pride is so-T-el:ung to -oc -Jor'Gotten, -:e be as":omed of. There are those whc seem to feca O:lt V:c abould deny pride in our nEtjor: ar:0 oumaven er.:i ti our race, but i. Cpite of all tills I want you i.o Know thnt -tske oride ir. scar pride 1: Jackscraville. Ercathea there a nian olth soul so dead -sho neve r be h:1-:me i.f no said ~~this 10 :::y owri, my 1:.t .-m la:id, oL-, .i:i our Cmic cars :::;; not '.ve city? 10 there in, sm:h go; .a ion u ..ive ; n af.ek-:sonvi...'c e Mul, you ocmii. WEL you ao ej id::ent: of no "icari ci t;; 'mo ;-.ure 1 0: Lhor.c who havc kr.cWn arr3 -ove:) Jackce::ville on-:. Wro have a:st.ec-a :-| _Tom recogrdze that your boast is a ost or.e, and your ;;i-i.ue puoper. becliuso, you -ee, ;;our or'.de makes :1 dirEere::ee .-t kea.. e :.;o-.1r r.treeto cears. I don't hel item 701: can pens naam;h lose; Lo .as si.roei.s oleun en.ess the -.eople take polUe '.a :./Diar al-.y .Er de ~eeeps Zareera filled with fic--:ere, tar:nc cut. 1 -/xe carpete;: Il a ir i :15 tenutiful :-trM torimle, 1-;ka ;-;nure -:lid mi..ceums, like tale Cet:aller Muneum -and ULLversible:c, Uke 3:muorville Univer y. -A.:i prido doca so::ettiirs elle: 3t :aakes the :.1; eat of taisi pri:~m more det ra-o.1e to mother .I auspoot each a ou har bna 1.he:aper i ence that I ARvo utardi ri; argraria ;! riepti rr.r.or.1 :-i.ore 3 :some e --.y
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