The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-05-16

Prof, Van Brunt offered prizes ag.
gregating $50 in gold for the best
essays ON Palatka and Civic Improve.
ment. Four first prizes of So in gold
and four second prizes of $3.50 in
gold were offered.
The committee on awards appoint
ed by Hon. Howell A. Davis, presi-
dent of the board oil trade, was COM
posed of W. B. Register, chairman;
Rev Father P. Barry, Rev William
Wyllie, Miss Susie Walton and Mrs.
M. S. Brown. The rules governing
were a first and second prize for each
grade, the ninth, tenth, eleventh and
twelfth grades.
The papers were equally distrbut-
ed to the committee. There were no
names attached and the awards we're
made by number, the committee not
knowing the authors until the prizes
were awarded Tuesday night.
Following are the four first prize
papers,:
Following are two papers that took
first prizes in the essay contest by
pupils of the Putnam High School:
Paper No. l Ninth Grade).
PALATKA BEFORE AND AFTER.
Seven years ago Palatka was con-
sldered one of the most dirty, muddy,
desolate little towns in the south.
The depot was wooden and very
much in need OF paint, the fields
around the buildings We're overgrown
with weeds and the streets from Le-
mon street to the depot were paved
with mud.
Near there a blazing sign would
attract your attention and your first
of Lemon street was "The
Hub" "a saloon). Lemon street was
paved with shell which was much the
worse for wear. For seven blocks
you saw nothing but little rattle-trap
stores, saloons and cheap boarding
houses which were kept by negroes
The court house consisted of a
twO-story building which had
once been white. The grounds around
it were overrun with weeds, except
where the school children, not hav-
ing play grounds enough around the
school, had tramped them down. The
business section of Lemon street was
lined with low, squatty stores and sa-
OonS.
In the residential part of the town
the sidewalks were paths cut in the |
weeds, the streets of deep sand were |
also cut in the weeds, and just wide
enough for one team to pass. The |
houses were unkempt, also the lawns; |
he fences were falling down and the |
whole town presented dilapidated |
aspect.
On arriving in Palatka today you
would see the prettiest depot pre-
;ented by any city between Jackson
lille and Tampa. Through the un-
leasing efforts of the Woman's Club
md the Board of Trade, the grounds
ire being leveled off and made into
| park. The streets are now paved |
With brick and clay and instead Of
seeing "The Hub" near there you
will see a prospecting grocery store.
Although the buildings on upper
4emon street could be very much i'm,
you can see decided change
n even them The court house is
beautiful building that any city
hould be proud of. The grounds
lave been made into a park, while
he city hall is also surrounded by
,ark
Lemon street is paved with brick
nd the stores are better than you
an find in any other city Of its size
n the state. In the residential sec.
ion you will find streets paved witt
rick, also paved sidewalks; you car
ee well kept lawns and beautiful
ZONES.
New railroads, which are the Ocala
Northern, the Georgia Southern anG
Florida; new manufacturing indus
rics, consisting Of the Palatka Colo
'torage Co., the Peat Factory, Buck
t Factory, also a great manufactur-
ng plant for the purpose of manu-
acturing portable houses. The coun-
y bridge is also helping to improve
he commercial standing; in fact, Pa
atka has grown and is growing so
apidIy that the people who are
Rowling in day after day have to be
urned away because houses cannot
e built fast enough to accommodate
hem.
In the near future Palatka expects
o have a new school building with
play grounds and new
'overnment building, also the Masons
re expecting to build sky-scraper,
wo floors of which the new business
ollege, which is a decided success,
light occupy. Another new building
will soon occupy the corner Of Le-
aon and Second streets.
The childrens play ground back of
he Presbyterian church is near COM
letion and will help much in i'm
rowing the looks of First and Second
treets
The Board of Trade and Woman's
Tub have done a great deal in work
ng these wonders in such short
ime.
Besides these marked improve
nents, new theaters, garages, church
S and banks have been built, also a
lew fire department has been estab-
shed
We are proud to say that any one
topping from the Old Palatka to the
Jew would find themselves a stranger
n beautiful and prospecting city.