The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-05-07
BIG CROWD RIDES
INTERURBAN CARS
JUST FOR THE FUN
THOUSANDS TAKE SPIN OUT TO
FRANKLIN ON YELLOW
TRoLLEYS.
FORMAL OPENING AUSPICIOUS
storm-swept District Viewed on Sun
day by Many and Equally as Many
More Kept Away by No Trans
portation.

| NASHVILLE, Tenn, MAY 3.-That
the Nashyille-Franklin Interurban is
an accomplished fact and about the
most popular institution that has been
inaugurated for the amusement and
| use OF the people of this city was
proven to the entire satisfaction Of
upwards of over a thousand people
Sunday, and to the keen disappoint-
ment of at least twice as many more,
who were unable to obtain a foot or
hand hold upon the big yellow cars,
/ as they left the transfer station. New
/ er before in the history OF Nashville
and its street cars, was there such
Ia rush upon any line, and the cars
which ran upon the schedule as an
nounced during the entire day, were
utterly inadequate to meet the de-
mands placed upon them. 1t seemed
as if every person within the city, and
more besides, who was able to be out
Of doors Sunday decided that nothing
was worth while in the world but a
trip over the interurban, and that the
trip must be made at once at all
hazards
Although the line to Franklin open
ed Saturday. and the travel on that
day was heavy, it was nothing as COM
pared to the day following. Sunday
was an ideal day for the trip. The
weather was balmy and with just
enough of the recent chill in it to give
the day a snap and vigor. The sun
shone bright and warm and Nashville
turned out in gala attire to honor the
occasion. The crowds began to throng
the transfer station early in the morn
ing and the car leaving al 500 was
crowded. From this hour on the
dense throngs increased, and by 2
o'clock in the afternoon it was prac-
tically impossible to secure a seat.
Long before the Franklin car was
due the crowds lined the transfer sta
ton tracks twenty deep, and the mo-
ment that the big yellow flyer poked
it's nose into the station the waiting
masses literally mobbed it. In
twinkling the crowd surged forward
and covered the car like ants. Men,
throwing courtesy to the winds, ele-
bowed. clawed and fought their way
to the windows and climbed through
into the laps of people who had been
fortunate enough to get seats inside.
The platforms were packed to suffoca-
ton, as was every foot of room inside
and if the railway people had allowed
/ it, the people would have covered the
roof as well. This was not one car,
but every one that left the city during
the day. People coming from Frank
lin remained on the cars fearful that
they would not be able to get room to
return. People who went to Franklin
to see the work of the storm were
compelled to wait over two or three
cars before they could fight their way
to a seat and come home.
But it was worth it, the cars were
comfortable and we'll appointed, the
track so smooth and well constructed
that the big interurbans glided along
without vibration or noise, like the
flight of some monster bird or the
restful rush of an ocean greyhound.
There is no noise, no dust, no dirt no
smoke. no cinders. Nothing but the
rush of the car through the sweet,
fresh air of the country, while the eve
is permitted to rest upon panorama
as gorgeous as any in the world. There
is no part of the world that is more
beautiful than that which lies around
Nashville. and at this season 1t is a
paradise. Rolling fields Of velvety
grass. fresh and green, and breathing
fragrance like nothing else in the
world; wonderful woodlands, where
the giant forest trees have clothed
themselves in their spring suits OF
verdant foliage; picturesque, stately
old mansions: neat, clean-loohng
farmhouses that diffuse an atmos
phere of industry and prosperity; cool
looking hedges, where the birds are
busy all day long with their coming
housekeeping. new plowed fields,
speaking of good husbandry and crops
yet to come; all glide by in an end
less and ever-varying procession, each
more beautiful than the last.