The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1836-02-12

the mountains Tor that purpose inc COUNTY P'e-
sents no difficulties greater than those which oc'
cur between the Yellow mountain gap, and the
same point And along either, have no doubt 1t
3! degrees is not TOO high graduation, suitable
I location could be readily found, The difficulty
with me is, that do not know whether that gra-
dualion be practicable In my want Of knowledge
upon that subject shall adopt that as the mari
num- and shall hcnceforth speak in reference to 1t.
+ From Gillespey's gap to Estellsyille then, we
can pet easily enough; but from that point, TO the
Cumberland mountain. the difficulties along the
roats examined By party several years ago, are
more seriors; and indeed they are considerable,
and of frequent occurrence. The whole space Is
4 filled with ridges, which steep and OF eonsid-
cradle elevation, and that elevation is very rarely
4 interrupted by gaps, the edges being generally
very regular and uniform in their height. OF this
section of the proposed route, my knowledge is
minute and accurate with the exception Of one
point in H. ofwhch will speak hereafter notonly
/ from the number of routes examined by US for the
Sandy Road, but from the fact that II lies chiefly
within my accustomed professional range; and
have often rode over II in various directions. do
not think i, practicable to find location along
any Of those routes at less than degrees. We
had some difficulty at two or three points on the
route selected by Col. Long as the preferable one,
IN finding ground at that grade and there Is no
good deep gap in any one OF the ridges We must
pass.
There is a route, however, which | think pre-.
sents the only chance, and quite good ono, as far
as know IL There is short distance, which
lies between the head OF Powell's River and the
head oil the Pound Fork OF Sandy OF which can
saw nothing bat am inclined 10 believe that no
lnsurmountable difficulties occur there; the only
objection is, that II is creuitous but suppose
that is unavoidable in a mountainous country
The route would lead US from Estellsvllle up
Little Moccasin Creek, and down Troublesome
Greek along the Valley at the northern base OF
Clineh mountalnl and turning through the Copper
ridge, along the latter creek up Clluch River TO
the mouth Of Stock Creek up that and the Buck
eve Hollow, and Hunters Valley, passing under
the Natural Bridge 10 the flat lick thence up the
north fork Of tlineh River, and the Wildcat val.
lev, 10 Powell's river thence down the south fork,
to The Big Stone Gap, through which the Stone
mountain along the most eligible route, tot here
DO not know the ground 10 the head Of the
Pound Fork OF sandy Ii We can reach this last
stream, all the difficulties wlll be passed, Ii
washes the south base o. Cumberland mountain,
and runs into the RusSels fork, al the point where
that stream breaks through the mountain, cutting
II down TO It's very base. suggest this route BE-
cause II seems 10 me 10 BE- peculiarly favorable 10
every respect, except that il Is clreuitcus The
gaps through the mountains and elevated ridges
are all except at the head Of the Pound Fork,
where have never been water gaps, and Gu; the
ridges TO their yery base. Through such gaps
{ pass Moccasln Ridge Copper Ridge, and ,he range
81 lofty steep hills between Cllach River and Hon.
,er's valley, PoReIs mountain, the Stone noun.
; tain, and Cumberland mountain. But one rIdge
crosses the roats aud there nature has construct
ed TaBHeI OF ampe sire for the Fassage Of
Locomotive engine As far as Know the ground
| thnk 10 difficulty whatever e1ists. Having pas.
sed through Cumberland mountain, at The Russell
Fork oil The VALLEY Of thAt stream carries MS 10.
wards the Ohio know nothing Of the country
2 from personal observation lower down than Pike.
vile that The extremity ct our reconnaissance
IN that quarter bot | have no doubt, from the
character Of the country that the head Of Licking
! River could b. easily reached That section o,
the country Is remarkable on account Of tie deep
j and favourable CUPS Al the heads believe mas
say of af the water cuurstt--eteu those which arc
small the ridges into Rhich the country is broken.
exhibits nothing OF the regular parasttsm = hleb
EXISTS so remarkably tho south eastern side OF
the Cumberland. There no coincidence ia their
deviation they are crooked. aud throan lnt high
concal points but at the heads OF the streams
they arc cut almost 10 the very base, by deep
: water gaPs.
! therefore think It strongly probable that there
would be no ,ilthcultY 10 getting to the Valley OF
the Licking When FIRST heard OF the project,
| also had fixed on this valley Of the Licking a.
atiording, most probably, the be-, location upon
J this section, On referring to Col Loags report,
the distance from Russel's iotk Gap, 10 Moceasiu
, Gap, is 20 or - mile. The route | have suggest.
/ cd would perhaps increase II Is miles. There are
but two general routes, sbich are practicable
one will pass through Moeeaslu Gap, and the 9th
1 er through Knoxville and Cumberland Gap
/ Cilnch mountain pfesen,aa barrier very turmld.
able every where else, surmouutabc only by a
great degree OF stationary power II IS a ridge
which extends from New River, IN Giles County,
E to point near Knoxville where 1t terminates and
]. is remarkable even in It's height along It's whole
length, having its summit only slightly scrrated
by small depresslons v hlch are Tar loo ineonstd.
cradle to afford any facility for its passage,
There are but two drep gaps which are passa-
bic for Rail Road--one is Moecasio Gap, and the
other is more than 100 miles north east OF It, in
- the Eastern part OF farewell county its height
J - generally about 1000 feet, and IFS sides very
steep. Between these two general routes. the
. country extends from Chnch to Gun bcrland noun.
+ tain, is filled with lofty Mountain Ridges, Cop.
y per Ridge, Moecastn Ridge, Purchase Ridge, Pow.
!, els mountain, Walkers RIDGE most OF which
), are free from gaps aud all would any where else
:, be called mountains. Poweis mountain partcu.
i: larry IL difficult, resembling Clineh much in lts
: character, and otiording but practicable gap
(, for orr pufpose---that Of which | have spoken
| near the Flat Lick on the route have described
n from Estellsylllc TO Cumberland Mountain, That
n route presents the only line Of gaps by which
p these Ridges can he hy aurh IN tfnuFnxf
It ment from Moecasn Gap,
9 Most Distressing Accidem-On Mon