The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-08-30

springs, IN my own conveyance, on q
health seeking tour" I took the old St
Augustine road and passed over country
just rolling enough to make it attractive
to the eye. These hills are of considera-
BILE height, and give fine view Of the
surrounding country. There are . num-
Der of beautiful valleys between the hills
and some nice groves of excellent hard.
wood timber. The road on each side is
lined with plantations, no fences around
them and the dwellings of the planters
are back some distance in q grove that
hides them from public view. $
Twelve miles from Tallahassee l left
the red clay hills, and passed into the
fiat piney-woods. Here was the first
house of planter that had seen on the
road. 1t looked rather cozy and inviting,
surrounded by beaatiful grove of live
oak trees. For FIVE miles around the
road was over fiat country, sandy soil.
Some places along the road, there ap-
peared to be beds of streams that had
long ceased to exist. On leaving the
fiat-woods came again into high, roll
ing country, somewhat similar to that
around Tallahassee. There were large
plantations on each side of the road en-
closed with rail fences.
had good nights rest at Waukeenah,
good breakfast and an early start, and
felt very grateful to the good people who
kept me over night, for their kindness.
Waukeenah contains three stores, bar
room, blacksmith shop, &C., and quite a
number Of houses. There is a beautiful
country around it, the high, rolling land
continues for several miles east, to within
short distance Of the Aucilla river,
when the country again becomes fiat and
the soil sandy Near the river is little
settlement called Lickskillet," contain
ing halfdozen houses, store, cotton gin,
&c. The Aucilla river is narrow, deep
stream, the water dark, reddish color.
Crossing the river, the road continues
through the fat-woods. The soil is q
light, fine sand mixed with vegetable
mold, which makes it produce well. The
country is quite thickly settled with small
farmers, who have fair crops of corn and
excellent cotton. In several places saw
white women in the field picking cotton.
About thirty miles from Waukeenah
came to Mosley Hall, little country
village scattered along the road for half
mile or more, situated on quite high
hill, surrounded by good country and
some large plantations. There are three
stores, large building containing Ma
sonic Hall and several dwellings. East
of the village short distance is the res
idence and plantation of Judge McGee.
The house was at one time one of the
largest and finest in Florida, it contained
forty elegantly furnished rooms, and from
appearances was really princely man.
sion. 1t is situated on hill surrounded
by beautiful grove of live-oak timber.
The house and premises are now sadly
out of repair.
again soon entered the pine woods,
the country was quite thickly settled with
small farmers. Many of them had nice
front yards and although living in log
buildings, there was an air of neatness
and comfort about their premises. AL
most every one had orange trees planted
out which were but little injured by the
freeze last winter.
After good nights rest and an excellent
breakfast at way.side farmhouse, and
thanking ''mine host" for his kindness, l
followed the St. Augustine road for nine
miles and then turned northeast and
took the road to Ellaville. The settle
ments soon disappeared, the soil was less
fertile, the sand coarser and the grass
thinner and not so luxuriant, until with
in short distance of Ellaville.
/ crossed the Suwannee river short
distance below the railroad bridge, on the
ferry. The banks of the river on each
side are very steep and it seemed almost
impossible for team to go up or down
them.
From the Suwannee river to Live Oak
is through the piney-woods. Some places,
the sand is very deep, the soil very poor,
in others the soil is quite good and the
clay crops out in many places. There
are several new settlements near the road.
There is very large turpentine farm 9
miles from the river and little village
on the railroad called "Custer.'' It has
store, large turpentine distillery and
quite a number of small houses. Then
three miles further east are the Empire
saw mills of Messrs. Drew q Bucki, where
immense quantities Of lumber are manu-
factured. There is large store at this
point, doing splendid business, and
quite number Of houses
Three miles further on brought me to
Live Oak, which appears to be steadily
improving and bids fair TO become quite
little city. The citizens seem to think
that a railroad from Live Oak to Row
lands Bluff and TO Charlotte Harbor is
certain to be built at an early day; and at
no distant day one from Live Oak TO the
mouth of Steinbatchse river on Dead
Man,a Ba, Thav are also talking of