The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-02-23
THE TROPICAL TRUNK LINE
JACKSONVILLE AND PALATK A
UNITED TO SANFORD.
First Train Into Sanford and For
NAL Opening Of tho j.. L. n IA
w R'y.. Binding Sanford
With Bands OF Steel to Pa
Iatka and Jacksonville.

less familiar with the history Of the
Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West
railwayfrom its inception, so that a
brief summary gathered from a sou
venir given the guests of the special ex
cursion yesterday will serve 10 remind
all Of the main facts OF its construction.
The grading between Jacksonville and
Palatka was begun the later part OF
March, 1883, and the rails were laid and
the first train came into Palatka on
March 8, 1884, putting in operation fifty
six miles of the road. The work of
grading the road bed between Palatka
and Sanford was begun The first of May
following, which was continued until
September /, 1884, from which time work
was suspended until June, 1885. Track
laying on the extension began Septem-
Der 9th, of last year, and the road open
ed to Seville on November 2nd, reached
DeLand December 18th, then opened to
Enterprise the first of the present month,
but owing to the delay in finishing the
bridge across the st. Johns river at Lake
Monroe, the road was unable to put a
train into Sanford until yesterday, Feb
ruary %. The Jacksonville, Tampa and
Key West railway system now consists
Of the main line OF l25 miles between
Jacksonville and Sanford, a fvs mile
spur to Enterprise, the Indian River
Division, from Enterprise to TitusvilIe,
consisting of thirty-six miles, and the ST.
Augustine Division, from jacksonville
to st. Augustine, thirty-six miles, max
making total of zoe miles of railway
operated by the company. Such in brief
is the history and present status of the
j., T. & X. Y. R'y system.
A special train. the first through train
from jacksonville to Sanford, consisting
of the good engine No, ., a baggage car,
coach and two parlor cars, the 'Palat
ka' and the Sanford" left Jacksonville
yesterday morning at $50 o'clock and ar
rived in Palatka a. 9:55. The officers of
the road on board were General Man
ager G.. w. Bentley, Vice President Ma
son, Superintendent NJ. Z. Moran, and
the assistant passengeo and ticket agent,
Mr.. L. c. Deming, all of whom were un-
firing in their attentions to their guest.
Among the guests on board the train
were Col. F. III. Orvis, d. G.. Amber, A.
b. Mason, F. w. Mumby, r. d. Knight,
II. r. Mallory, Of the Mallory Steamship
Company, j. NJ. Lee, of the Everstte
Hotel and Sanford, Col. John L. Graves,
editor of the Jacksonville Herald, r. H.
Call. Col. II. T. Baya, DIR. }. NJ. Fairlie,
secretary OF the Jacksonville Board of
Trade, Geo. w. Jones and Mr.. Choate. of
the Times-Union, Capt. Fitzgerald, su-
perintendsnt OF the Peoples Line steam
ers, and . large number of gentlemen
from Jacksonville and other cities.
These were joined at Pala;ka by Nessrs,
Vinegar. Conant, Webb, Dean, Donrei-
~, Col. Pratt, ard a representative of
The News. At Seville Mr.. S. C. Chan
dlsr. Of this city, and Messrs. Lente,
Hall and others joined the party. which,
with the delegation from Sanford headed
by Drs Wylly and Bishop, which met the
party here, served to fill all the ears COM
fortably full.
It was a jolly, good natured crowd of
gentlemen aboard, and all enjoyed
thoroughly the beautiful scenery affcr-
d.d by the high pine plains, the green
groves and lovely homes, the forests and
lakes, swamps and marshes that passed
in panoramic succession. n short stop
was made at Seville, and the excursion
lists alighted to take look at the novel
and beautiful log depot>a and to catch n
glimpse of the many improvements un-
der way there. Notwithstanding we
were running over a new laid track, and
at very high rate of speed, tbs smooth
ness with which the train glided over
the rails was q subject Of general remark
on the part of the excursiopists, and the
officers were heartily congratulated on
the substantial manner in which the
road had been constructed
But ION to Sanford- The sober con
'versations, the bright remarks and witty
sayings Of the excursionists, the spark
ling champaign that was served from
time to time, made the time seem very
where the officers and guests os The
road were received amid the booming oi
cannon, the tattoo Of iuLumerable steam
whistles. the inspiring strains of martial
music by the brass band, and the hearty
cheers and waving handkerchief of the
immense throng OF citizens who had rs
sembled to meet the first train upon th'
new road that is destined to do SO mucl
toward the material development OF tn,
''Gate City" Of South Florida. The
streets and houses were elaborately dec
Grated with bunting, and the little cit!
was in her holiday attire, bubbling owe
with hapDiness that che had at last beer