The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-27

The two street car companies or Montgomery were yesterday made to realize the fact that gentle spring had an early arrival in Montgomery. Sc far as the street car companies were concerned yesterday might have been Sunday late in April or early in May.
 Notwithstanding the fact that neither of the large parks near the city had been formally opened between three and four thousand people caught the infection of spring and took the cars for a breath of fresh air and a glimpse of the gren beauties of early spring. The car service of the Montgomery Street Railway Company to Electric Park and the service of the Montgcm- cry Traction Company to Pickett Springs were both taxed to the utmost, and this on a Sunday afternoon nearly a month previous to the formal open- ing of the two parks.
 The larger crowd went to Pickett Springs yesterday. The Montgomery Traction Company with commendable foresight had looked for the warm and sunny afternoon that came on time and had announced that the Bijou orchestra would play late in the afternoon in the Pickett Springs pavilion. It was expected that several hundred people would go out for the first glimpse of spring in the country and to hear the music. but the officials were hardly prepared for the great rush to Pickett Springs. They soon had out all the available cars. but they were made quate to handle the crowds bound to Pickett Springs.
 A splendid program was rendered by Professor Lindner's orchestra. The same excellence was manifest as has marked all the work of the orchestra.
 Since the Traction Company changed hands arrangements have been made to increase the equipment and repair and rehabiltate the old cars of the company. Four of the old cars are now being repainted in the shops of the Western Railroad. In turn every car of the company will be overhauled and repainted.
 -Four of the fine new cars which the Traction Company has bought" said General Manager w. H. Ragland yes terday. will be delivered in Montgom- cry on May 1. Each of these cars will be fitted up with four motors, which will enable them to pull four of the large trailers, on rush days. such as Sunday afternoons and baseball days
 "Of course, Pickett Springs Is not. yet formally opened; that is, the sum mer theatre will not be opened for some time. and the refreshment pavil- ion has not yet been established. How ever. the public is cordially welcomed at the springs, and the company will do all in its power to give them a good car service.
 I've thought that today might be a sunny and inviting afternoon, and so we arranged for the Bijou orchestra to play during the afternoon. You may announce. too. that the Traction Com pany has secured the Bijou orchestra to play at Pickett Springs throughout the summer"
 Those who did not mind the crowded cars to and from Pickett Springs spent a delightful afternoon. They found that the full beauties of spring had not yet been marshalled. but that tho ad- vance guard of verdure and blossoms were sufficiently beautiful and restful to eyes so long accustomed to bricks and stones and electric lights. They found the fruit trees in bloom and the ground, except where 1t was freshly turned with the blow, covered with thin and delicate carpet of green. The handsome pines at Pickett Springs were as stately and as green as in the heart of summer, but the rich verdure of the elms and the oaks and the gum trees were there only in a fuzzy prom ise.
 The dark waters of tho lake are as yet unspotted by the white brilliance
 
 Ike bears in late spring and summer. but in the valleys and on the hills be- yond the lacy whiteness of the dog wood blossoms stood out clear and dis tinct as the earliest and the surest har- binger of spring. And the hills and valleys beyond were crossed and re- crossed by children and children of old CT growth, on the hunt for the blue and ofndest violet of the woods that burst into bloom with the dogwood.
 The rush to Electric Park was only less pronounced than the hegira to Pickett Springs And yet tho open ing of Electric Park Is over two weeks off. But 1t was a beautiful day, a day of sun light and clear skies and a day on which people were determined to go to the parks
 Electric Park as is well known is owned and controlled by the Montgom- cry Amusement Company. All the peasure devices. the roller coaster the merry go round. the Ferris wheel and the others have not yet been walked from their winter seep.
 Notwithstanding this. the attractive grounds were filled with recreation seekers throughout the entire after noon.
 General Manager Ginnivan of the Montgomery Street Railway. said late in the afternoon that the crowd which visited Electric Park was largely in excess of the expectations of the of ficials of the company The company. he said. had run cars from Court Scuare to Electric Park every seven minutes and all the cars had been well