The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-12-19
1ooKrrG FORWARD,
.....e I'm 19OO-Being Brief Ac-
Tsn At q visit from . Former
coe Resident.

Tsn.o ~ n visit from . Former
ooe Resident.
.;od with the Interchangeable same
~ and Improbable monotony OF lie In
~ - native place, had shaken the dust OF
u.,.ssee from my feet early in the 'SUs
aoroht new fields of labor in the far
sou,swest ~ My ventures proving fairly
go. .s.sf,l 1 had decided on spending q
~ needed holiday in the soothing quiet
=. I.'r If the dear old town. and the first
s.S s.v Of May, A. D. 1900, found me rousiag
o refreshing nap on the "New
orleans oIs and Jacksonville vestibuled Light
v Sing Flyer" just in time to perform my
niDs .,,;ns, ablutions before reaching my
destination.
sTo,,sbassee," shouted that ornamental
,.nasUe to oil well-regulated passenger
-.ss;Ds. s still known in rural districts as ",he
s-tsmsn," s. but now generally designated
!. nOet localities as "the guard" since the
-, use OF air brakes has taken away
- original occupation; and well-pleased
!, the prospect of treading again my native
=, fastened to leave the coach, trans
s.-r;np to the expectant porter the little
r;nk ticket representing his "tip," which,
rnder The recently adopted regulations
,,kes the place of small change and entities
.he bearer to receive ten per cent. OF its face
,,lue al the general Office of the company
,ha,nyeler on purchasing his ticket having
0.;d in IFS full value as part ofthe cost of
,,,nsportation. (This admirable arrange
nsnt as will be seen at a glance, secures
,be company from the long draeded danger
dbeinp supplanted in the ownership OF the
road by The porters.)
Judge of my astonishment when, in
s,ead Of disembarking upon anarrow plank
nl.,Iorm close to the ground, filled with
immense cracks and holes caused by the
SecayInp material, in the open air, and
surrounded by hungry company OF rag
eed and greasy looking negro hackmen.
each irving to out below the Others, and
each erssping strap or corner of the pas
sengels hand-baggage, and each pulling
the same In different direction, I alighted
e5dn the asphalt pavement Ola really ele-
nat and roonay union depot. with some
dozen or more parallel tracks, each par
tally filed With coaches bearing the names
Of different lines, prominent among which
Ihurredly noticed those Of the "Florida
Georgia & Western" "St. Marks g 81.
Teresa Short Line" Tallahassee North.
an," Tallahassee, ,Bainbridge & St. Louis,','
and several Others A courteous official
dressed in neat but plain uniform, met
me al the exit, and politely inquiring my
wishes, directed me TO one of the outer
doom where l found couple of highly
finished and comfortable cars of the "Tal-
hhsssee Electric Transfer Company
waiting for the score or more of my fellow
passengers, bound, like myself for the
Capital City.
lmust pass over without comment the
ten-minutes ride up the familiar hills Cook
ing strangely metropolitan with their
mooth pav-ments, and the picturesquely
tsraced grounds of stately and imposing
private residences). and give but line to
he incident of arrival at the mammoth
nsw hotel, Occupying the site where
tumerly stood the old "City Hotel" and
he square north OF II, formely occupied by
shrge livery-stable), and come at once to
he interesting incidents of short ramble
about town in company with the old friend
Who had greeted me with warm welcome
% l entered the lobby of the hotel after a
hearty and well served breakfast.
Come! said my friend, Judge L., safer
% long an absence, you will enjoy the
contemplation of the changes that have
aken place since you left us; and"-just at
tas moment an elegant carriage drawn by
q handsome pair of housekeeping grays,
oreT up at the entrance, and there emerged
nom il rather short. stout gentleman,
With spectacles and brisk manner, who
entered the hotel as if looking eagerly for
some one.
Who is that?' said I. "That is the
PRESIDENT OF the Capital City Consolidated
Phosphate Mining and Manufacturing
company" was the reply. "The company
was organized only about three years ago
OuI has already declared a scmi-annual
dividend of seven per cent, and its pror-
.1ty, as its name indicates, comprises Q
Afge number of the best mines In the
sase' situated in Leon, Wakulls, jefferson
.aylor and Lafayette counties, including
oe La Pierre mines, the Wacisss, Aucilla
rnnook, Sopchoppy and Sieinhatchie
nines and many others discovered since
sout departure. That fine building acrosa
,1s street Just opposite Munro's Opera
ak a. a -.