Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-16
CROWDS WILL CONE.
Great Interest Fslt Throughout lne
South In The Veteran Reunion.
TRAVEL ron A CENT A MILE
u, Richardson's Trip Was Entirely
satisfactory-No New so"sh' ""'
the Old south Encrsife"'
Were All for whitney.

4 MIR. j.. ;. Goocmah' ""''~ 80,
he Chamber Of Commerce. VINO
4 10 TAMPA. Fla, 90 appear peioie N'o
r,o.,i,y Of passengcr-agents OF the trans
,..t,,,-ii'es % cndcavor 10 secure the
Il -, r.,es for those who nigrt desire 10
i 80 a., reunion. 10 be held In Rich
mon6 In June next returned 10 t"e
otv Friday evening.
a, p,charasou was at his ONCE carry
4 ,..,t,y morning, and was Dus.ly en-
sseea IN dspodng Of the mass o. Work
snlcb had accumulated In his Absence
h., found time to give TO Dispatch man
-, account u his trip and the result OF
bis mission.
".r.u me something Of your visit to
Florida" asked the Dispatch man.
well" said the geaiai attorney, ex-
ousinc himself TO a client. Il did not ex-
pect 10 be caught up quite so suddenly
ON that subject. Mr.. Goodman Is gong
g. write book of travels or tourist
guide. but the newspapers can't walt for
such stale news as that. How We 40 rush
everything In this country, any way.
I'VE started from Richmond over the
Southern line last Sunday, and on Mon
day afternoon were In the land OF palms
and orange-groves, basking in the sun
shine OF a beautiful springllGe DAG.
and breathing the balmy breezes from the
Guf Of Mexico.
A PLEASANT TRIP.
"Our trip down was very pleasant, Dut
devoid OF incident worth mentioning. cap
tain Blair, OF the Southern railway,
most courteous and ACCOMMODATING
nj y.
There we met Captain Nestoury, VINO 10
SO well known In Richmond, waiting 10
starr North with his train. charhe Is ch-
thusiasuc over the maenihcence OF the
coaches of the Florida special "hlcn hs
Is running and would NOT rest sdtlsneu
until we had Inspected MS tfali anu Iis1-
pned 10 his eloquent dissertation upon
his .spnIares on wheels" All Columbia, .
G. the Florida Central and Peninsular
railroad begins. and, crossing South
Qoralina and Georgia, ttaVerses Centrd4
florida. from its northern boundary TO
IL southern coasts
There is a strong competition between
this line and the Plant system. which runs
almost uarallel with il. Both are we'll
conducted lines. but there cannot be Iound
anywhere more accommodating officials
Than those OF the Florida Central and Pc
risular railroad. Why, on our train the
conductor knew the distance between
every station. and the exact time we
would arrive there. and took delig"t IN
answering the same questions twenty
times an hour. He played with the
babies loaded himself with bundles Wnen
passengers wished 10 alight. told droil
stories ana expressed his regret AT not
helne able TO run his train little nearer
=, the objects Of interest which appeared
OH the Wayside. You may think am
romancing but am not, when say .iias
even the brakeman distributed laihp"
cigars among the gentlemen on the tram
and an expression OF oIendeu uisnn'y s"u
dened his features at the suggestion oi
pay. Fact. sir, l assure you' niaiNeio"''
A CHEAP RATE.
..Teu me something about the conven-
tion. and about the rate of traNei agreed
upon.' suggest 4 the Dispatch man.
.erbat IS right" replied MIR. Richardson.
,.'Rring me back 10 terra iirma from clouu-
land. aud TO the humdrum or business
from the realm Of poesy. Nel' the con
xerfion. which consisted OF perhaps TWEEN
ty-Ave gentlemen, repfesenuAs an u IL.
transportation lines in the Soutn, met
TUESDAY morning and soon after 1t was
called 10 order our committee was given
a courteous hearing. 1 did most OF the
talking, but Dir. Goodman, "a practical ran
road man. had the facts and ngures. ana
uut in the most effective ticks. We had
previously button-holed most OF the
agents. and felt sure of their sympathy.
hfter We and other delegations on similar
errands had been heard, the convention
went into secret session. and the result
~ our appllcation was not communicated
until the afternoon of the following day.
The convention agreed TO fiA the rate AT
/ cent per mile each way, the shortest
line 10 lie the basis OF computation, win
a maximum limit OF afteen days. we had
been specially directed TO ask less rate
for persons living IN The 1ransmisslssppi
lepartment and did urge that point WIZ
much earnestness, but no concession OF
less than / cent per mile could be made
in any case The Southwestern Passenger
Agents Association, which is a distinct
organization. can alone fix more liberal
tate for persons living across the Mlssis-
sippi. There were many details connected
with the sales Of tickets which have not
been settled. but which the commissioner,
Judge Bailey Thomas, Of Georgia. VIII
communicate TO the committee.
The difficulty Of agreeing upon rate,
aud the conditions OF the sales OF tickets,
may be- appreciated when / tell you that
every proposition OF that character must
have the unanimous assent OF every agent
o. these competing lines.
The fixing Of rate 10 Richmond has
involved more difficulty OF detail than
that TO any other point in which re-
union has been held. The trouble was TO
prevent the ticket from being used for |
other purposes than to visit Richmond.
Il am sure that the rate fixed Is the |
hest that could have been obtained under |
The circumstances"
VETS WILL BE HERE.
"Dld you hear many expressions of In
terrst In the reunlOn?"
"Well. not at Tampa, for the |
quests are chiefly from the North, |
but the old Confed.' Is true
30 the haliowed memories Of our strug-
Ee.
Florida. as you know, furnished many
gallant men 20 the southern army While l
some Of them have acquired a compe-
tency the majority OF them are poor.
The destruction of the orange-groves last
winter was a great calamity, and many
an Old soldier whose heart yearns for
Richmond would attend the reunion, but
WI not be able 20 avail himself OF the
opportunity and liberal rates. | saw an
on soldier az Starke. who had fought and
bten wounded IN Virginia. When j men
TONED tue name Of Richmond. his eyes
b'tmed with qualification, but when l
1,a hin II he expected to come. he
,.NN'l sigh, and, pointing 10 his
o,aslea orchard. said: How can ]? All
OF my money Il there
hu' many VIII come. Thousands will
,~S s".i Wees To yisit again the Con-
ieaesaie Mecca. and Richmond must show
hvt appreciation OF their devotion. No
cry on this Continent Is regarded By 80
many brave men with such love. with
suVh aHeeuon. We must welcome them
",thih OUT gates and extend our hospi-
,aiIuos Win liberal hand. would not
nave our people make this holy sentiment
subject Of barter. bu, public spirit should