The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-12-20


Constructor Graham soon found he
had swapped the witch for the devil.
for the Dutch went out on strike
twice every day, throwing down picks
and spades at ten in the morning,
positively refusing TO work until each
individual was served with stein OF
beer. At p. m. the same demand
was made, backed by 8 refusal to
work without the liquid refreshment.
A perplexing state OF affairs that
led Mr.. Graham to ask the captain
IF he could take his d Dutchmen
and drown Them" and the captain,
who it seems had his share of the
trouble, replied most willingly" IL
only Mr. Graham would show him the
law for il.
So much for human endeavor All
tbs fret and fume amounted TO naught.
In the financial panic of 1887. the
project fell through for lack of funds
to carry ii to completion.
Reconstruction Undertaken.
1t was not until 1856 that the re-
construction of the road was under ;;
taken Although financed by the 4
same company, and under the sanes
management as the earlier road. tha.3
route was changed. Instead of run !
ming through the eastern part of the
town, the course lay northward, as
does the present road. After various
delays it was completed to Pollard,
| Ala, in 1861.
During the civil war the tracks on
| this road were torn up. presumably By
the Confederates, with the object or
| hampering the movements of the
northern foe. The rolling stock was
either stolen or destroyed.
A third attempt to connect Pensa-
L ole NV nnFfhorn TaninfS
was made shortly after the close or
| the war, and has proved more perIna-
nent This road Terminated at Flom-
| atom. then more Familiarity spoken or
as the Junction.
city Subscribed $4,000.
| This last venture was entirely a
southern enterprise. much or the stock
| being Subscribed by southern plant
ers. The city of Pensacola subscribed
| $4,000, issuing bonds for that
| amount. which were afterwards in
J creased.
| Through a series of business ma
nipulauons. an astute hGancier Sc
cured the controlling interest, eventfi-
ally selling out at immense personal
/ profit, to the L. and N system, under
which it is stu operated.
The constrpcflke periods of these
railroads, mark three epochs in the
i history of Pensacola The first, de-
markation of the Spanish era proper,
and the beginning of the distintegra-
ton of a family, for such were the
resident people of Spanish towns.
Through marriage and intermarriage.
| more or less nearly akin, they fra,
! ternized as the children of one home.
i bearing each others burdens, sharing
4 each others joys ITO laugh with
those who laugh and sigh with those
who sigh was a Christian precept.
that was put into daily practice m those
early days. when men were. 1t would
seem, less selfish, ever ready TO lend
a helping hand to one another.
/ In social life the same spirit of
| true democracy existed. The bluest
blood might run in the veins of some.
but it did not forbid a courteous de-
4 meanor toward those in whose veins
i the life-giving fluid ran in more pie
J bian tint. Bon ton and elite. as apple
able to social status. had not yet been
4 written in the vocabulary OF the town.
A ball was an occasion for q general
gathering-not a function participate
i ed in by select few Men took time
i for such things then. The pater
1 familias and the matron danced with
i youths and maiden, and .all went
merry as marriage bell"
4 Americans in Charge.
Later, in 1921, we hear of disrup-
tions The Americans are masters Of
j the town, and some high spirited
| members of the family have broken
i the circle and moved to parts un-
i known There is a day when those
i who have remained, stand with
i bowed heads and sorrowful hearts
1 near the flag stan in the center of the
4 Plaza, TO watch the Spanish flag come
| down. But tina the great healer,
i closes the wound, and native and alien
i mingle in social intercourse. We can
imagine the little group that clustered
on street corners. or in the Plaza. 70
discuss an entertainment at which
Mrs. Jackson was guest of honor. In
i low tones, they tell of the hosts
embarrassment when that lady request
ed pipe that she might take her ac-
customed smoke after dinner. A hasfy
search had only been productive of
common clay pipe, such as was used
by the slaves in their quarters.
4 As these gentlemen narrate the I'm
4 cidcnt they smoke cigarettes. made
OF the best Cuban tobacco. rolled in
dainty strips, cut from dried corn
shucks-
4 That was a time when mutual trust
Il and confidence characterized all bust
ness transactions. Where, in these
q days OF iron-bound contracts and
grinding mortgage, shall we hear the
/ like of this:
"Mr. wish you would lend
me some cash. / need it in my BUSH
4 ness.
4 alright; how much do you wants"
$500 will do, I think"
Heres my key; help yourself.
Il The lender never turned in his
chair A year later the debtor return
ed
4 mir here's that $500 I Dor
rowed.r
-Oh, all right Take the key and
puf it where you got it,
Perhaps this was the same man
who refused TO take a mans note be-
oantiuussd aa Psas Fff.eaa