The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-09-04
MoRGANroN, N. c., Aug.

The county OF Burke, in which the lcg hlul
town of MOrganton is situated, is enclosed on all
sides by mountains, which branch of southeast.
wardly from he Blue Ridge. The surfnce OF the
country is rugged, and nrersecied by numerous
water courses !; the soil is fertile, and The climate
cool and saubrious. These natural advantages
are enjoyed by thrifty and intelligent population
the upper classes OF which are educated and re.
fined, and possess in high degree lhat ndepen.
dent and courteous bearing which is characteris
tic OF Southern gen.ty.
Promine mt among the mountains OF the western
or LinVe range, about eighteen miles from Nor
canton, is Table Rock, which, from the pcculiari
~ of having lis summit capped with immense
rock Of the form of an oblong square, has reccv-
ed this appelaii1n, and been obj"ct of atrac
tion to travellers who visit this Interesting coun-
try. The first ten miles Of the road from Morgan
ton, Is over a succession OF wooded hills and fer
tile valles for the n+XI six miles TN" country Is
so broken that 'he journey can be made on Nurse
back only. As The mountain is approached, the
path stretches along elevated rides-In many pla
ces scarcely wide enough for four horses to stand
abreast-whch gradually ascending reach it near
its summit
The eastern side Of the mountain is precpitous
ly steep, presenting The appearance of having been
cleft from its summit TO its base lhroug hour lis
tire length. The other sides slope gradually
downwaTds, and are covered with verdure. Up.
on the very summit, rising 10 the height of three
hundred feet, Is the rock the length OF which run
ming north and south. is about five hundred feet
with width a, the top OF about one hundred feet.
The eastern side Of the rock being parallel TO and
corresponding with that of the body OF the noun
tam, presents continuous perpendicular surface
of nearly eight hundred feet. On the western
side there is an immense fssure extending down
wards for about two hundred feet with aver
age width OF ten feet. In this fissure there are
several caVerns and torunus passages, where the
drippingS from the rocks above collect and form
pools Of water. cool and refreshing To the 'drd
explorer, who selects this spot to take his lunch
and reeEuR his exhausted energies. II this fssure
were continued throughout the length and depth
of the mountain, and the outer fragment removed
the mountain would resemble a conical mass with
two OF its sid,s removed perpendicuIarly from a
point near its apex 10 its base. The base of the
mountain on all sides is OF much higher level
than the neighboring valleys, so that though the
elevation Of its summit is nearly rs great as that
of any Of the Blue Ridge, it is not 80 conspicuous
as il would be were it surrounded by deep val
Pys.
Ir The small pools Of water which collect in the
cavities and depressions the surface OF the rock
millions Of The lar,n Of mosquitoes are deposited.
In small cavity the topnost ledge, (about 500
feet above the level OF The s'n) containing not
of the young OF these insects nearly in condi-
ton to take wing. The fully developed insect
does not wander far from its place Of birth to an
nov The human species, but finds lis food in the
thick shru5bery which lines The shady slopes Of
these uninhabi'ed rcgi"ns.
From the summit of The rock, the county Of
Burke is seen stretching out South enstwardly y to
the range Of the Sobth mountains, twenty-five miles
distant. On all Other sides rise mountain after
tIo ni Tho
Grand father and the Roan-:he highes of the
Blue ,Bidge-are 10 full view, The LInnviIle
proper is Immediately Westward, and beyond is
the LinviIle Falls where the river Of that nnme is
precipitated over :hree rockey lodges the depth
Of three hundred feet. Near these Falls is an
explored cave, supposed to be very extensive,
which, from the picturesque scenery which sur
rounds its entrance invites exploration.
The view from the top OF the rock we'll repays
the toll of the ascent. Nothing but actual ohser.
varion can convey an idea Of the grand pnagns6-
cence Of this mountan scenery. fhs bright sun
DER head, the green valleys below. and the lnnu-
merable mountains looming ou, in'erminably into
The far distance, with their peaks either bathrd in
clouds or jutting into the clear sky above, present
too raany images, raise too niany emotions, and
give birth TO many reflections TO be expressed
in language The appearance presented on a
cloudy day is striklng similar to that OF burn
ing DlaLn-lDc VAPQTnub C:hutE SdIfu>
directions stimulating the flakes md columns oi
smoke arising from objects OF different elevations
and distances.
SIX miles north Of Table Rock. and lS m's
from Morgan.on, lie :he Piedmont Springs, whicn
are much resorted to by ihe invaid residents Of
the vicinity. There is o sui Phurous and chaly-
beat Spring-the water Of the fosuper being we'll
adapted 10 liver and skin diseases; that Of the irt.
ter 10 al! enemic aud debilitated conditions Of te
system.
The mountain ranges, and the almost Innccessi.
ble vallits Of this region. extend over space Of
about 625 squaf re miles and are nearly in n state
of nature, being inhabited amos, exclusively by
their aboriginal bestinl drnzens.To the lover "f
nature and the hunter, these wIlds present many
attractions, and when the contemplated r'I!r"nd
from Salisbury 10 tTorganton is completed, it will
doubtless be VISITED by thousands OF Carolinian'
who now yearly wander through less Interesting
scenes, and among people who are foreign 10 them
in principle and feeling.
ICorrcSpondencc Charleston Courier.
The London Times gays: Ia various parts ol
Sugth Wales The emlssaIIes ni the Mormonitrs
are most active in propagntng AID spreading the
doctrines o. the Lrtter Day Saints, end among the
loLor;r1 nonula atIor. thew have been uarGaiiyi bic