The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-03-05
The City Enjoyed
Street Cars.
But the Horses and Mules Soon Gave
OCT h Pulling Our Cars Over Our
Beautiful Hills.


Beautiful Hills.
The suggestion Of en- electric street
car line for Tallahassee by The True
Democrat, has revived interest in the
days when Tallahassee enjoyed the
unique distinction Of possessing q street
car system operated BY horses;
About this system Phillip ~, Ball con
tributes the following q the Sunday
edition Of The Jacksonville rinne8- Union:
jacksonville Is indeed fortunate yes,
IN more ways than one, Tor she isione Of
che most up-t0-date cities in the south
land, and leaving all other impFgYe-
menta aside, she has one OF the beat
street car systems In the South, with
modern air-brake cars being operated
on ail lines, giving the patrons excel
lent transportation facilities
In the early days Of Florida, not 90
many years ago, Jacksonville, Ike %
many Of the larger places, operated
horse cars, but this little history OF
horse car traffic Il not Of Jacksonville,
but Of Tallahassee and Pensacola.
Today Tallahassee has no street car
line, and 10 those who have recently
moved 90 the capital city, the history
Of the Transportation line, which start
ed out with such bright prospects, win
be Of intefest.
Some time about 1889 or 1890 the IT.
tie city Was delighted when the an
nouncement was made that g party Of
capitalists would start Immediately %
construct o street car line from the
passenger depot 10 the city, travorsing
the principal streets, and running %
Longs grove, In the northern section Of
the city.
The line was completed In a short
while and the cars arrived four IN num-
Der, Of the latest design, large r0Omy
ones and handsome too.
SOME FINE HORSES.
Stables were built near the depot. IN
which some Of Leon c0unty'a finest
stock was placed Horaee, large, heavy
Ones. toO, were hitched % the cars. and
on the initial trip through the city's
streets, Newspaper men and prominent
citizens were given the frst ride.
The first conductor on this line, and
the man who pulled the bell cord In the
car that made the initial trip, Il now q
resident Of Jacksonville. Then but
boy In knee trousers, he was ambitious,
and with hiB uniform Df blue and bis
polite manner soon won the hearts Of the
passengers who daily rode on this novel
carriage through the streeta % Ialla-
haasoc This man, or boy, was David
w, Bernreauter, well known % many
residents Of Jacksonville.
HORSES PLAYED OUT.
An went well with TIE Tallahaasee
Street Car Company until the Blk,
aleek horsea commenced % fan under
the poll up the long clay hille, and soon
gave out. Then came the mules, much
stronger and more accustomed % hard
work. They hauled the cars up and down
for several weeks, but they TOO gave
out under the strain. New conductors
were given positions, the hrst men hav-
Jog become tired Of the sloW riding, ~
Il was not what they expected Il % be.
/ Instead OF operating four ears, t1e
number was reduced 70 one, and within
q short while Il was found necessary 20
place four mules 20 the ear % get y
over the hills. Finally the conductors.
services was dispersed with and en- old
negro was placed ir charge Of the car.
/ As time wore on the car could he seen
sometimes twice a day. bat eeld0uf
more than once, With Uuele Jim, van
long cowboy whip. Whlatling end coax
Z INK TIC NiItN WNiNHi tNNfi NAHHN-At p" W.
harness, up the steep hills.
AMUSING INCIDENTS.
Many amusing incidents are recalled
during the operation Of mis- line, Il was
often the ease, while Uncle Jim APP
pearod 20 be the only one interested IN
the line, that some lady would call from
her home % the old darkey:
Uncle Jim, wait just a minute until
! get ms hat on, l want 20 80 az
town.
TIE car would be stopped immediate
~. and. no matter whether Il was i've
rniuutes or 3 half hour. Uncle Jim
would await the arrival 81 tlot cent
fare. When the lady would reach the
fpoine desired Uncle Jim would stop The
ear, turn BIS mules AROUND and wait lor
her 10 finish her shopping
THIS ran o. for some time, bul ile
line wna finally abandoned uli lsc tack
tern 49,
Often. when the ear NIUI1
up with paneenEpra nj
taken a TIE cIi4
nn Enn EII'r0