The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-07-12
the Old PALATKA
and the MODERN
Compared by a Recent Edi-
tOriaI Visitor.

editorial force, contains the follow inl
interesting comparison OF the old with
the new Palatka, comparison that will
have much interest TO all citizens of the
Mace, we are sure Mr.. Hare, who, be
sides his editorial duties finds time &c
manage The educational interests of his
c, unly as county superintendent, evi
IDENTIFY knew the Palalka OF old:
Comparisons are odious and in poor
taste. Ii is eminently true in the cases
where persons are involved And in
comparing towns, especially the new
and the old of the same name, we know
the people make the town. Again, ii i,
said, "Say nothing but good of the
dead" While in sympathy with both
sentiments, we cannot help writing
about one of the finest towns in Florida,
whose hospitality we shared for two
days and nights. We refer TO Palalka.
Last week we spoke of having attend.
ed the annual meeting of The Florida
Press Association. While mingline
with the brethren of the Faber from all
over Florida, we could but look at the
town, whose doors had been thrown
wide open. Everything in sight was
ours for the asking.
The Old Palatlxa.
We thought of Old Palatka. Old tim.
erS remember the pretty little town that
greeted the eyes as one assembled from
the steamer. One of the first things
noticed were the orange trees growing
along all the principle streets. True
they were the sour trees, but the green
leaves and yellow fruit made the new.
conner feel that he was in Florida.
Then the wagons with oranges for sale
and shipment were calculated to make
every one fall in love with the State.
The vehicles seemed to be mostly on
horse carts. One to be remembered
was that the man rode and did not
drive the animal. Then there were the
large oak shade trees, and the singing
birds. The stores were wooden and
not large, except in rare instances. The
houses, hotels and every building was
wooden. The light in use was the
candle, like the sort the grandma made
in the olden time. Or, more often the
dim. dirty kerosene lamp did duty in
house and street lights. The streets
were deep Florida sand, and the few
sidewalks were wooden and narrow.
Hogs, cows, fleas and such like abound
ed. There were many vacant lots en-
which the dog fenel or some other weed
grew as high as a man.
But worse than all else, was the booze
and brawls. Before the first temperance
measure, high license, every store sold
liquor. II was considered necessary for
business aud for health. Good mer-
chants, who prayed and lined out hymns
on Sunday, handled the stuff as an arti.
Gle of trade. AS one old fellow express
ed it, "WhiSkey is enc of the necessary
evils" After awhile the railroad came.
Population increased, but no one felt
that the oldest inhabitant would ever
live TO see king booze voted out. Such
a step would ruin the town, the poll.
tcian said. AS the State grew, Palat.
ka grew. II was great place of trade,
and quite an orange center.
The men of those days wrought well.
They were open hearted, generous fell
lows, who gave the glad hand to the
strange and investor. Colonel Hart, the
founder of the Hart Line of steamers,
was also large orange grower. w. H.
Wigg, the lawyer, who afterwards be-
come respectively states attorney, and
Judge of the criminal court, was a jolly
character. Then Judge Roberts, was
the rural lawyer, whose home was out
in the Pencil section. Ben P. Calhoun
was young lawyer, said to have been
the grandson of the famous John C. He
afterwards married daughter of Peter
man, the hotel man. There was Doc,
tor Moragne, the druggist. A notable
character, often seen on the streets was
L. +. Bishop, whose home was across
the river at San Mateo. He was a New
Yorker, college man, and a man oil
majestic appearance. Coming TO Flori
da as young minister, in search OF
health, he was one of the first to see the
future OF the orange business. AT the |
time OF his death he was one OF the
largest owners OF grove property in the
Slate. lie became an acknowledgements, |
although republican up North. Doc
tor Grill was practicing physician
lie joined Bishop, George Drew and |
other Northern-born men; they united |
with the Bloxhams, the Calls, the
Dykes, and drove the carpetbaggerS and |
were brave men. They rescued Florida |
from ruin, and started on a course OF
real progress. Nor should Captain Gray,
the steamboat owner, be forgotten. He
was one of natures noblemen. He
made friends of all passengers.
New Palatka.
IL is modern, in every respect. The
streets are paved with vitrified brick
he side walks are concrete. The town
is said to have more of these streets and
sidewalks than any other of the same
size. Fires and funerals have come Of
len, and the wooden business houses
are replaced with magnificent brick
blocks. The whole town is lighted
with electricity. The churches, court
house, city hall, railroad depotS are
mostly of stone and brick. About six
years since, the people awoke to their
true interest and voted out the bar
rooms The most of the improve
menlS have come since that day Sew. E;
erage has been put in or extended. A
orluge Tor teams and pedestrians has
Oeen built across the St. Johns river.
business has grown and the town has I
spread itself and is still growing. The S
IlCycle and automobile whiz through :
me streets, the looks of the people ind- |
cate their faith in the future. y
"A line system of public schools tell of I
interest in education. The new Palatka l
mas live board OF trade, with MIR. Da- |
us Us at its head. He believes in publicity t
lie carries his business methods of ad ?
cruising into his civic position. The l
my government has no red-nosed v
I9ozer as in former times, for mayor. n
! MS position is filled by Doctor War a
en-, who has weight, good looks and h
rams lie practices medicine and {
's :R filth, flies and fever for pastime. C
r, ne Two newspapers are well named.
ne lines Herald is the older paper, II
ucceeding and consolidating two pre-. n