The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1905-08-18
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) THE CAPITAL CITY rv,r.so. nrtr. :
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F L O K d A. DAILY SUN .

Like Rome upon her seven hills"
with the mystic glamour OF the old
days about her, holding fast through
all the vicisitudes and changes that
have came about in the breaking up
of the old associations and the pass
ing of the old ideals. to the domi-
nant characteristics of her people,
famed for their culture and generous
hospitality. sits Tallahassee, the capt.
tai city.
This, the political center of the
state, was the ancient Mecca of all
that stood for wealth, culture, birth,
exclusiveness-the stronghold of the
aristocracy of Florida.
Tallahassee was chosen the site for
the capital in 1924 by commissioners
appointed by the legislative council
which met first at Pensacola in 1922.
The commissioners, after thorough
examination of the country found no
place more beautiful than the aban-
doned field of the Tallahassee Indians.
Here in the center of the hill country
was begun the settlement of the
quantity beautiful city of Tallahassee,
so honored for famous Indian chief
tain.
In the musical Indian tongue the
name is said to signify beautiful land.
Whether that be the meaning L know
not, if SO it aptly applies to this Sec
ton of the state.
The traveller approaching the town
is impressed with The beauty of the
surrounding Country; placid lakes,
Nesting at the feet of precipitous
hills, surrounded with splendid forests
of timber, broad fields where the
plenteous harvest yields generous re-
turus-and, if the season be spring
time-hedges of roses, Cherokees and
dainty ramblers, dogwoOd, wild azal-
cas-, crab apple and honeysuckle, $50
perfumed that the woods are lovesick
with them''
Nearer, one sees to the west the
buildings of the state college Gaping
hill, southwark the state normal for
negroes upon another hill; and, look
ing toward the north, the dome of
the capitol glistning in the broad sum
shine.
The statehouse occupies handsome
square in the center of the town,
upon the site where in 1924 was built
the log cabin that for a time served
as the official home of the state gov
eminent. In 1926 the corner stone of
the present building was laid, the
building being completed in 1912 and
remodeled to its present imposing
proportions in 1902.
There is an indefinable something
about capital cities that sets them
apart as different from other places;
perhaps it is the wonder of the child
ish mind and the lastingness of early
impressions, for who does not look
look backward to the dear, dim days
of childhood when we learned in ge-
ography of Tallahassee. the capital
of Florida?" ard recalls clearly the
faded cut of the old statehouse at the
top of the page? The strength OF
that impression was strong factor
in keeping the seat of government
there in the capital removal fights
that have at various times agitated
the state from center TO circumfer-
ence.
An impression prevails to some ex-
te- t that Tallahassee is veritable
Ieepy Hollow, and that business
stagnates; yet statistics show vol
ume of over S2,OOO,0OO annually of
business done here. No one claims
for her the up-to-date progressive
ness of Jacksonville and Tampa. She
has other claims to distinction. Mod
ern innovations would destroy half
her charm. One chooses rather to
see the cumbersome carriage of the