The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1845-03-28
The Mountainous Region
Ofhe United States, extending from Ma
ryland to Georgia.

g Ofhe United States, extending from Ma
S ryiand TO Georgia.
The establishment Of Railroads and Ca
mails, offering grea. facilities for bearing i'm.
migrant population 10 few days, from the
Atlantic border, to our public domain in
the West, has had the effect Of directing
attention 10 the region above named
than witch there is not u more delightful
one on the Globe.
Attention was drawn 10 it, partially, 10
February last, by correspondence between
the Hon. i. l.. Clingnan, of the House of
Representative and Mr.. Skinner Of Wash
lngton, which served 10 elicit some very
Interesting observations, from the former,
on the height Of the mountains, and the ma
ture Of the climate, soil and productions OF
his District, consisting OF the counties in
the Northwestern part Of the State referred
TO here, iu the letter Of Professor Mitchell.
|, will be remembered that six thousand
feet, the elevation of some Of these noun.
talns, IS equal TO fifteen degrees of latitude;
bu. taking the mean altitude Of these
mountains we have the latitude and mean
temperature Of Vermont and northern n.
York, and Michigan, without their ex.
,remes Of heat and cold. With the very
name Of a mountain district, how apt We
are to associate the idea of snow cap'd peaks
and rocky prccipices unsulted 10 all cuIllva.
ton +; yet how far from the truth The OBJ
Jec, Of Professor Mitchell was more par,i.
cularly TO ascertain the altitude Of the
mountains, and thus 10 make, as he has
done, valuable additions Of more exac, geo.
graphical knowledge. In Mr.. Clingman's
letter, before referred 10, he says, "The
top OF Roam Mountain is covered by prai.
RE Of ten miles, which affords rich pas.
ture during the greater part Of the year
The ascent TO it is SO gradual that persons
ride to it on horse back from almost any
direction. The same may be said Of many
other mountains. The soil Of the country
IS generally uncommonly fertile, producing, I
with tolerable cultivation, abundant crops.
The sides OF the mountains, the timber be.
ing generally large, with little underground,
and brushwood, are peculiarly fitted for
pasture grounds; and The vegetation is 10
many places as luxurinnt as il is in the
.
respect TO the prices Of land, can assure
you that large bodies OF uncleared rich
land have been sold at prices varying from
% cents to so cents an acre.
The SOIL Of every par. Of the county is .
not unlavourable TO the production of grain,
bu, peculiarly fitted for grasses. Timothy .
is supposed 10 make the larges. yield, two .
tons of hay being easily produced on IN
acre, but herds.grass, or red top and clover,
succeed equally well; blue grass has no,
been much tried, but tits sqid does remark
ably well. friend showed me several .
spears which he informed me were produced |
in the northern part Of the county, and
which, by measurement, were found to ex,
coed 20 inches in length. Oats, rye, po,a.
toes, turuips, &C., are produced in the
greatest perfection aud abundance.
How strange that in country where the
growth of population is so unexampled in
the world, and where the people are ANNA.
ted by an almost universal spirit Of migra
ton, a region so blessed in climate and soil
as is that Of Virginia, the Carolinas and
Tennessee making it, in fact, the Italy Of
this hemisphere, should remain as il were
locked up and shut out from observation,
fSm the mere difference Of accessibility
especially when il is considered that the
products TO which It is so well adapted as
wool-ilaX, hemp, cattle, sheep, horses and
mules, are either concentrated in value as 10
admit OF transportation, or capable OF being
driven conveniently 10 market, for Mr..
Clingman elsewhere observes, in his letter I
to MIR. Skinner" For q number of years (
past the value of live stock, as ascertained
from the books Of the turnpike company,
that is driven through Buncombe county, is I
from two TO three millions Of dollars. But
to Professor Mitchell's letter and Mr.. Oar.
by's, in some respects illustrative of il:
To HoN. T. l., CLINGMAN:
Ny Deer Sir promised my friends in
the Western counties that they should hear
from me shrough the Highland Messenger,
and TO the Editor Of that paper that he
should receive one or two communications.
As the person who undertakes 10 inform
the public on subjects not strictly in the
line Of his profession is likely to fall into
some errors, and to say some things which
will no, be though! very wise, have wish.
ed that wha, have to offer might, before
going to press, pass under the eye Of one,
who, like yourself, has long taken deep
nteres, in every thing connected with the
mountain region, is well acquainted with
the larger part Of il, and in whose friendly
feeling | could fully rely. The statements
and remarks that are TO follow, will fall ma
y
of the Country and Height of the Moua-
tains, Soil and Agriculture, Minerals and
Scenery.
The elevation of the highest mountain
peaks was ascertaned by me within certain
limits Of accuracy about them before tina,
time, that the Grandfather was commonly
regarded as the highest Of oil. With a view