The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-08-15
From Tallahassee 60 Newpors Bows
1.-the Old Plank Road.

| Having suffered severely for several days with
rheumatic pains and tortures, on the 21st inst I
determined again TO try the sulphur springs at
Newport. | went in my own conveyance by
" the Old Plank Road" l struck il short dis
tance southeast of Bel Air For the frat rour
or five miles the road is quite heavy sand; the
travelled track is beside the one that was panked
1t is lined on each side by rows of young oak
trees, whose branches frequently extend across
the road; leaving this there is a vigorous growth
OF young pine timber the resi- of The way. which
makes the road resemble an avenue and look
quite beautiful. The sand becomes finer and
more compact, and makes good road for travel
ing over The panks sill remain in The road :
many of them quite sound. In many places
they are being pried up and carried of for fire
wood and other purposes. The country for
about eight miles is inclined To be rolling and is
covered with pine timber. North of the road is
a range OF small cypress swamps, commencing
near Bel Air aud extending to the ST Marks
river. Under them are evidences OF subterra-
mean river. Beautiful little lakes are scattered
through them, IN the middle of some of which
appears To exist the channel of Il river The road
crosses in a couple Of places a row of sinks, ex-
tending across the country north and south In
some places the earth has recently given way
and sunk
In a short distance of the ST. Marks river the
Character of the country changes to a level or
tiat, The soil 10 dark gray, unierlaid with mari
and limestone, and is covered with Il grow
of excellent grass for grazing. Small cypress
swamps are quite frequent. The lands, if cleared
and drained, would make excellent sugar and
rice lands. From Bel Air TO Newport, "a dis
tance OF about fifteen miles, there are only two
houses. There are Ia be seen here and there
along the road, what were once quite large
plantations, now growing up with timber,
and tie houses and fence, have entirely
disappeared In riding along The road aud seeing
the once evidence of Thrift and nice plantations,
| could not hel bui wonder why il was that the
country Was now abandoned and growing up as
it were, inlo wilderness. Here is road that
was once The most travelled OF any in Flori,la,
over which thousands ol bales of cotton were
annually hauled to market at Newport, and
beautiful carriages and fine coaches rolled carry
Ing gay and festive parties of ladies and gentle
men To and from The springs" Why has it all
been abandoned?
While dreaming over the pasi | arrived at the
springs suffering considerably with pain. |
hitched my horses took hearty drink of the
wafer, and was soon in it, and after taking two
or three dives, I was relieved and elt better than
had for weeks and came out almost entirely
free from pain 1t may be imagina,on but |
never have as yet after taking a hearty drink of
The water and then a good bath in the spring, it
made no difference how bad was suffering, but
what it relieved me- Nothing seems 10 give me
so much permanent relief it does | often
wonder why nvalids do not resort here more
than they do
At Mr.. Ledd7 met f. J. Hays ami hi, little
son, from Greenvlle, Florida l found him to
be Il very agreeable and companionable gentle
man, and he helped to make my stay very pleas
ant. He is suffering with Brights Disease"
and claims that the springs giving him great
relief Ii seems to me that the citizens of Talla-
hassee ought to repair up the g the Old Plank
Road" that is fix up he road without the planks.
1t would not cost much to make a very passable
carriage road of it, BY trimming up the trees, re-
moving the logs from across the road, fixing
some bridges. &c, il co Id be made nice drive
for those wishing to visit the springs feel con
fident that if the road was fixed up that it would
aid much to make Newport quite resort again.
Oar cilizens, when they telt tired and weary of
business, could take Carriages and drive to the
springs in a short time, and by spending several
hours there drinking heartily of the waters
anI taking IA few good baths, would return home
greatly relieved. H. &. RIPPEY.