The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-11-28
A Trip TO Mariana and Apa.
ZACH icOlR
APALACHICoLA, FLA. Nov. 13.

Editor Flo tdian: Arriving in Tallahassee a
few days before the election, found the city
very quiet, except on the night of the fire, all
the available "big guns" Of the Democratic
ranks being on the warp,th doing battle for Da
wilson and other nominees of the party Left
the Capital on Saturday the 4th inst, for Mari
anna. Reached Chattahoochce on schedule time,
but found no reg liar connection with the train
on the new road beyond Indeed there will not
be for some time, not until the bridge across the
Apalachicoia shall have been completed. The
present arrangement is for parties to hire Uncle
Dan," or some one else having a small row-boat,
to send them to SIMPSONS Landing, about two
miles dswn the river, to which a temporary
branch of the p. & A. Railroad has been built,
and to which point the construction train ON
the said road runs to receive rails and other ma
terials Having been thus informed, chartered
batteau into which slowed myself and bag
gage, and with the assistance of two yeung dar-
kies was soon sailing down The river" but not
ION the Ohio" The current being strong, we
were not long in reaching Sampson, but sull too
late for the days train. The accommodations
for those who have to wait here for either train
or boats. are neither ample NOR s,-class. In
fact, there were none at all; " we were not good
looking, and couldn't come in"
In company with another unfortunate travel
ler, went into the interior a mile and half,
aud spent the night with jackson county
farmer, who fed and lodged US comfortably, Civ
ing us. among other things, buttermiIk and hoe
cake, and a soft feather bed These are luxuries
many city people do not enjoy Returning to
the landing next morning, it was not long until
the train from Mariana arrived, bearing among
Others, Judge White and the "Chief'' of the
FLoRDIAN. They had been on special duty and
seemed to be proud of the scalps taken
About noon the train, includidg the new pas
senger coach on it's first trip, returned to Mari
anna. Quite number of gentlemen from that
town, including Captain T. J. Bates, of the con-
struction force, were aboard and although the
road was new, the train made excellent time, ar
irving about 10 O'Clock P. NJ. But two or three
dwellings are to be seen on the way, nothing
but undulating pine lands, with here and there
cypress swamp. The whistle of the iron horse
is new music to many of the people in jackson
county. Not few never before saw, much less
rode on train. Even the cattle and sheep
along the way seemed astonshed OF the smoke
and noise Of the monster! However, this will
all soon become familiar to their ears, and new
habitations will spring up along the road, con-
vertiDg the wilderness into fruitful farms. Mari
anna is small town of about 600 inhabitants,
and although little it bears the marks of age.
Nevertheless, next to Tallahassee, il is the most
eligible site for & town have YET seen in Flori-
da. The new spirit infused into it by the con-
struction Of the p. & A. r ,lroad will doubtless
cause II to take al second growth" At present
1t labors under many disadvantages, has no p.
O.. Money Order" facilities, no bank, no ex-
press Office, and no suitable hotel for lie travel
ling public. True, there are number of board
ing houses, some Of them good, but not conven-
iently situated. A building with the usual
modern facilities Is needed, so that when one
pays hotel prices he may receive hotel accommo-
dctions l was there on election day, and never
saw one more quiet and orderly, even up in Ten
nessee--GOds country. Having !" done" the
town, drove out about six miles east of the
same to Zee Blue Spring, better known as the
Long MOss Spring. through work of Caroline
Lee Hentz, entitled Marcus Warland, or
The tLong Moss Spring" II is indeed bold,
beautiful stream. rising abruptly from the foot OF
q bluG. surrounded BY . grove Of forest trees
drsped 10 lsag sosE The water 10 Of sky.blue
color. vary clear. and OF su1icient volume to
turn ! lssge mill II boIls up with such force a.
to throw ne water ont II eyexy direction. and II
ons wesp - all Into this boil y would not sink,
bst ~ dsinsd Inward ne margin cf the spring.
IN m sonndlnx 6Sdnty \ lsssl' II andulAting,
nd n ~ d1ys ~ dontl H. = ! One.
et1to uf cn3sfyni q. !. & e - 81
Vittln4 ~ espSleey y the EplscopAl church
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