The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-02-19
ot. Petersburg's Benches
And Their History

gu hudny, many years ago. but from
it grew the rows and rows of bench
IS that line the avenue. And in fact
to this day when it rains and the
water pours down the streets, bench
es are used to ford the impromptu
rivers that spring up. City commits
sions have been too busy since that
date to build modern underground
storm sewer system as the size Of the
town justifies. So the lead Of Mr..
Skinner is still followed.
Thus out Of necessity grew one of
the institutions of the city. But the
custom did not become universal un.
til about 10 years ago, when the an
nual flow Of tourists began to be a
determining factor in the financial
life Of the city.
The second stage in the growth Of
the bench institution came about
when the city ambitiously paved Cen.
trail avenue so feet wide with brick.
I This left 10.foot sidewalks on either
side. Partly to attract trade and
partly to conceal the fact that those
sidewalks were not filled solidly with
people, the ranks of the benches were
added to. Merchants began to add
to their supply because of the valu-
able advertising space gained.
Naturally each merchant followed
his own ideas as to the length and
color of the benches and some of the
combinations were truly alarming.
One day the voters of the city lined
themselves up and elected A. F. Lang
mayor of the city. One of his early
reforms had to do with the regula-
ton of benches. After one of st..
Petersburgs typical summer cy-
clones an ordinance was finally
passed regulating them. The main
features were that the bench must
be just so long, have certain min.
imum number of nails in it, advertis-
ing thereon must be placed at a
place where the first sitter will hide
it, and alNmust ne painted g,een,
etc.
So now the city is happy. All
benches look alike so IL a merchant
gets short of benches he can steal
those of his neighbor, and If he gets
caught perfect alibi is on hand.
Well, | declare, thought those were
my benches. They all look alike.
You can take them back now If you
wish"
One of the regular stunts is for q
flush tourists society or organiza-
ton to present the city with num-
Der of benches instead of a check to
help endow a home for friendless
cats or something useful like that.
For home folks one of the great.
est winter outdoor sports is to take
a half hour off and select seat in
the middle of forest of benches
and listen in" on the conversations
of the winter visitor friends. It's
really wonderful how they can ex
plain things, especially If they are
not too heavily burdened with facts
For instance, there sit couple
complaining because woman asked
them $50 for single room for the
balance of the season.
ITS just plain robbery, that's what
it is. These people try to make all
their profit in three or four months
so they can live in idleness all the
rest of the year."
The home folks person is tempted
to say, Brother, If we don't make
it in three or four months we do moi
make 1t at all, and that period oI
idleness' is spent preparing addition
al comforts and attractions for you
next year"
A New York man remarks: "The
street car company ought to rur
cars in town every five minutes"
The explanation that it has gone
into the hands of receiver tryinl
to maintain the present service
makes no difference nor does tn.
statement that the company has only
about IL cars make any impression
that's the way It should be in spit
of courts, profits, excessive expenses