The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-03-24
THE OCOEE ROAD.

Editor oa:-The Ocoee ROad has been
open several months, while the product OF
the mines has but lately found its way over
it to the Hiwassee, thence down the river to
Charleston. A road of such importance rs
that which opens the copper district of Polk
county with the valley of East Tennessee,
cannot but form an item of some moment
and interest alike to the pIante: and miner.
Hereafter the line Of transit Of ores from the
mines now operated in the vicinity of Duck
town, will be via Benton to the banks Of the
Hiwassee, at Gen. Candles Landing. Nature
has made this point Of great advantage, by
an imperishable limestone quay, where boat
can lay with equal facility in all stages Of
water. This is 81 miles from Benton and
connected with it by an easy and excellent
road. From Benton to the mines, the course
is nearly south to Shields mills. The pres.
ent road being up Three Mile creek crossing
It frequently and thence over several lime.
stone ridges that could be easily avoided by
changing the read bed. This would not in.
crease the distance to the mills, which is seven
miles, but would very greatly improve the
road. At Shields mills the river is first seen,
and the Ocoee Road at present properly be-
gins. Here Sugarloaf mountain lit its conical
top above the South banks Of theOcoec,while
the road bends around huge rocky bluff
making quite down to the waters edge on
the North. The white rock here, a species
of porphyry, formes line of separation OF
the slate from the carbonissuous limestone
of the valley of East Tennessee. From this
point to the Great Falls, distance Of three
miles, the mountains do not crowd down up
on the river, but give room for narrow yet
fertile meadows. Passing the falls and wind
ing for half mile the abrupt sleeps which
here close upon the river, the eye delights to
rest upon the fertile yet narrow fields skirt
ing both banks of the Ocoee. These mead
ows finally end at the mouth Of Greasy creek
ls miles from the mines. The tickle wind.
ings and rapid falls Of the river here COM
mence, point seven miles from, and 100 feet
above Shields, now Bryant's mills, and $50
feet below the mines. Peak now looks over
peak, and cliff rests against cliff, to margin the
boisterous floods as they roll along their rocky
bed. OFT the foaming waters seem to issue
from the caverns Of these mountain piles rs
the eye struggles in vain to discover m open
ing in the mountains for the river. Several
small streams leap from rock to rock and are
lost in the Oeoee; and genernlly below the
mouth of these creeks narrow rocky
islands are formed, covered by small trees
that take root in the decaying fragments of
drift-wood. The road winds fourteen miles
along the North bank of the river, giving
rich variety of wild and grand scenery before
the mountains are passed or the abode Of
civilization reached. A remnant of the Chero-
KEGS still hold their lands South of the river
on Tumbling Creek, but only one of their
habtations can be seen from t Ie road. The
mountains passed ,Ocoee flows on in its deep
smooth bed. Several small knobs are cross.
cd and the mines arc reached. Although the
road way from Greasy Creek to the mines is
eighteen miles, yet straight line between
the two places is less than ten miles. The
Crude of the first seven miles, from Bryant's
mills, is 26 feet to the mile, making section
No. !. And that of section No. 2, which is
nine miles in length, is 62s feet to the mile:
While section No. 3, is seven miles and of
the uniform grade Of 36 l-6 feet per mile.
This road has been surveyed with view to
determine its practicabiIity for a Rail Road
route, and the estimates Of said proposed
road will in due time be submitted. In the
meantime have the pleasure to remain,
Yours, very respectfully, CAP.
Polk CO., March 10, 1854.