The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-01-12
A VISIT TO TALLAHASSEE AND
QUINCY


diately afforded a promising field for
the cultivation of the fieecy staple,
and many owners of slaves in the old
er states began a quest for new loca-
tons.
Those who came to taat part of this
state originally known as Middle
Florida were from Virginia. North
Carolina and Tennessee, but princi-
pally from the former state.
Their eyes had been accustomed to
feast on the exquisite grandeur of the
Blue Ridge mountains, so it was not
unnatural when they beheld the red
clay hills and picturesque landscape
that encircle Tallahassee and Quin-
cy. they were content to strike tents
and exclaim: Here we rest,'
Attractive, indeed, are the APP
proaches that lead to these two cities
and productive are the lands that
surround them.
Grand and substantial citizens were
those pioneers, and they have left an
imprint on our social and political in
situations which have been a rich in
heritance to those who have followed
them.
Uncle Joe" Dixon, who is now a
resident of Quincy. and an editorial
writer for the Gadsden County Times,
was in Florida for nearly fourteen
years before visiting the capital, and
when he beheld the beautiful little
city and its picturesque environments
he was amazed at his own ignorance
It is. indeed, a fair and beautiful
land. blessed of God and flowing
whit milk and honey.
Through the courtesy of Governor
Trammell, and in company with Com
missioner McRae and Mr. Martin Car
rabello of Tampa, we took an auto
mobile trip to Quincy over the "Old
Spanish Trail" which, when complet-
ed, will be the greatest thoroughfare
ir the United States, and we hope the
one most popular 1t will stretch
from the farthest point in the state
of Washington to the most distant
point in Florida 1t will have many
lateral branches and in a year or
two will add nightly to the pleasures
of automobiling.
Leon and Gadsden counties are act
lively at work. and the trail" will
soon be completed through both coun-
ties, and as soon as the bridge is con-
structed across the Alphabetical rib
er at Chattahoochee. one can travel
in comfort from Miami or Tampa. via
Tallahassee and Quincy to pensacola
and on and on to the Pacific slope
The middle section of Florida is not
asleep. One item will suffice
Just out from Tallahassee a pecan
orchard of five thousand acres is
among the activities that were called
to our attention.
1t is Immediately upon the shores
of Lake Jackson. The land is very
fertile. and it lays claim to being the
highest point in Florida.
1t has been more than fifty years
since we left Quincy to reside in
Ocala. and we expected to find very
few who were men then still living
But almost the first one we saw
was Judge P W White. Judge White
was practicing law before we were
born. At the age of 81 he is still hale
and vigorous.
We cite this instance to show how
conducive that section is to longevity
We saw other friends of the long
ago, and our visit was in every way
most pleasant
The town is growing. 1t has some
palatial homes and has always been
remarkable for its culture, refine
ment adm wealth.
W eOnly had the pleasure of meet
ing Governor Cats in a nofficial ca
pacity.
1t was reported that under the sup
position that new broom sweeps
clean. that he intended TO make a
general house-cleaning a. the capitol
as soon as he was inaugurated but
he has had the good sense not to have
put this threat into execution.
With the exception of the private
secretary. all the old attaches are in
their accustomed places, and the
change of administration has not
been at all sensational, and to all out
ward appearances the ship of state Is
moving along in the same old chan
mel
The political atmosphere, however,
is charged with rumors more or less
sensational