The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-01-26
Atlanta Constitution. Jan. 1911
A NEW RAILWAY.
An Interview with Colonel John
G. Whitmer.

Col. John @. Whitner has recently made a
visit to Tallahassee, Florida, the town in which
he was born. Thirty-seven years ago he left
Tallahassee, and the greater part OF that time
has lived in Atlanta. Colonel Whitner is a great
traveller: Every year he travels from $4,000
to 10000 miles, and covers almost every State In
the Union.
1T is my opinion" said Col. Whitner to a
reporter last night, "that no place on this globe
can compare with that part ofFlorida in which
Tallahassee is situated A short while ago
made visit to my old home, aud as l stood in
the street, where my feet had trod 10 my boy
hood days, realized how slowly the grand old
town had progressed in the last fort years It
is about the same place now it was then. Few
improvements have been made and the popula-
ton has not materially increased"
"Why SOP" was asked
because Tallahassee is cut off from the
world. 1t needs railway connection. To reach
Tallahassee from Atlanta one must go nearly
two hundred miles out of the way. 1t is only
thirty five miles across the country from ITALIA
hassee TO Townsville, Ga. There is no reason
in the world why this road should not be built.
1t would open up new country which is equal
to the finest country in the United States"
Twill this road be built, COLONEL"
at 10 my opinion that it will be, if the people
enterprise. The residents Of Tallahassee stand
ready with fifty thousand dollars, and if the peo-
pie of Georgia will come forward and aid the
project it will undoubtedly be built"
Ut you will take" he said. -" map you will
be surprised, probably, to see what a detour one
has to make starting from Cincinnati or Chicago
to reach this the ovliest part of Florida. If the
route be through Atlanta, the traveller has to
strike through East Florida, and of course Jack
sonville and its entire tributary country south
ward has the first chance to hold him. Or if he 60
by Montgomery, then Pensacola, Mobile, New
OIL. ,x~vsIt az. I'D. -1~:
at the map, you will find that by connection
direct with Atlanta, or with Macon, entirely in
dependent of the Georgia Central, the East Ten
nessee and Georgia, and the Plant system of
railroads. Tallahassee is seen at once by the
health and pleasure seeker Of Cincinnati and
Chicago, and all that section of country, as the
proper and most accessible and in fact the near :
est point in this Italy of America for them to
reach. From Chicago through the roads
via Henderson or Louisville. KY, and from
Cincinnati by the Louisville and Nash
vile and its own grand southern road,
with their oustretchiDg connections
extending from st. Paul. west, even to New
York. east, you will see how easy it is 10 make
this dear old city the distributing point for all the
travel and traffic which would naturally come to
Florida. This range of hills, starting mile be-
low that city, runs in as clearly marked and dis
tinctive a range rs do the Blue Ridge or Rocky
Mountains, on up through, say, Houston county,
"a, AIKEN, .. u, durham, N. o., richmond Va,
etc. with like features of good water, dry, bamy
air, and good health combined.
All Northern people are not travellers for
profit. Most Of them come to rest Overworked
brains or worn out nerves, or to recuperate be-
fore consumption mark them for the grave.
Residences they may and do build, and often add
orange-growing and farming for recreation, and
sometimes for profit. But health and pleasure
are their main objects. Acquainted with all Of
Florida from childhood, l risk nothing in the de-
claraton that this dry, elevated country sur
rounding Tallahassee will suit them better than
anywhere else on this continent Let them
know of it. Let those people give, if need be,
year by year, selfimposed tribute to effect the
connection above indicated and you will soon
see this old place what it was in years gone by,
the leader Of the State in every respect, and sur.
rounded by homes surpassed by nothing this side
OF Paradise itself. l am earnest for it is my ma
ture to be 80, but although 1t may be hard to
make your people think So am not extrava-
CANT in my views as to the possibilities of that
country"
Colonel Whitner leaves the city To. day for
New Orleans to be absent several days. When
he returns he will make an effort 10 interest At
lanta capitalists in his pet project.