Cañon City record., 1907-05-09
SOME OLD TOWNS
seen n Fl0})A

OF course everyone who goes to
Florida will go to St. Augustine.
did not intend to go this time. for l
had been there and had seen 1t all
BEFORE but the old town is SO close
to Jacksonville that l could not resist
the temptation to run up for day
AS lady remarked: st. Augustine
is surely "a little dear of an old town.
1t has the reputation of being the old
est city in the United States, having
been founded in 1865.
There are many old relics to be
seen. the city gates, old Ft. Marion,
the plaza, the old cathedral, the slave
market ton which probably no slaves
were ever Sold, and other things.
They are all worth seeing. but what
| like best is the present-day life of
St. Augustine.
The town has a summer population
of FIVE or 81 xthousand and in winter
population of two or three times
that number. There are many big,
fine hotels here, worth several millions
of dollars. All are closed down in
summer and many of the stores close
up till the tourists begin fiocking in
in September and October.
Most all the streets are yer ynarrow.
some SO narrow a vehicle cannot drive
down them. The principal business
street in the town is St. George and
it cannot be over eighteen feet. In
some portions there are narrow side
walks along the sides, but in most
places the buildings come right up
everybody walks along in the middle
of the street
At ST Augustine learned that an
old friend. a fellow teacher of long
ago. now represents that city or dis
trict in the Florida legislature. SO.
On my return. | stopped off at Talla-
hassee for day.
Tallahassee is about as big as
Florence, and hundred years old.
III lHt Dltl Hdy 1t was an
town, many rich planters living here
and many fine old southern homes are
to be seen But it is a country town
in most every respect
time the capital will be moved nearer
the center Of the state and it is this
feeling. pr0bab that keeps the law
makers from spending money on the
present building. The senate and
house Of representative chambers are
room.
met Governor Broward and quite
number OF the senator's and repre-
! sentatives. Found them to be very
clever set of fellows The speaker of
the house and half dozen other mem
bers are newspaper men from the
smaller cities.
In some ways the legislature OF
| Florida, as we'll as that of other south
ern states. Is superior to our own. 1t
comes nearer representing the people
and is less subject to corporation In
huence and corruption. Being freer
from such influences the legislation is
more in the interest OF the people.
The capitol is nothing to brag about.
1t is old and out of repair. Some
Florida and several other southern
states have very stringent anti-pass
laws. No senator or representative in
Florida rides on pass. for to do 30
one is subject to a heavy fine. And
they are all In sympathy with the law.
Such a law would be of beneft to
Colorado. During the late session Of
the legislature every senator and reps
resentative could get all the passes
he wanted for himself or friends, and
many used the favors freely. 1t was
, said that one railroad issued an aver
age OF 200 passes day during the
session. OF course these passes are
not given out for nothing.