Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-09-09
EDGEFIELD, S. I
Pandcmonium. And
this mountain.
beautiful sights

One Of the most sin; peautl1ul slgnts
to be seen about Clayte !" mmense volume
of fog, that comes up cue, ''Sany morning
from the valley of Little T. ,sscci and tumbles
over the cross and sleeps about Rabun Gap like
the waters of some mighty river. This phe-
nomenon is supposed to be 'owingto the SUMS
shining on the South side of the Blue Ridge,
while the opposite side is yet comparatively in
the shade. Be that asst may, this great rolling
stream of mist never fails to excite the wonder
and admiration of all beholders. Quite NUM-
Der of Contractors are "going ahead" with their
work on the railroad in the neighborhood of
Clayton. G. W. Caradwie has in progress
large culvcrt; two cuts, one of 6S feet and the
other 40 feet; also fill of 40 feet. The Messrs.
Alexanders have contract for the grading OF
about Smiles, and will finish tue. whole of it
next Spring. Mr.. Craig is making the cul7erts
on this contract. Messrs. Shaw & Son have the
heaviest contract on the entire route, except
some of the larger Tunnels. Besides cut Of
considerable depth, half a mile long; they have
fill 1900 feet in length, which is to contain
25OOOO cubic yards of earth. THIS is called
the Whitmirefll," and its greatest depth is
9l feet, with base of 2S2 feet The Messrs.
Sloans are concentrating all their forces at this
point, and will doubtless have all their work
done in time for the superstructure Of the road.
David W. Sloau, my friend and former school
mate, pointed out to me right respectable hill,
the greater portion which he expects to remove
and pile up into ridge for the convenience of
the "bull-gine." At Sicoa, Messrs. Price y
Shaw are building culvert lib feet long. They
have large amount of material ready, and one
Of the finest quarries in the country, no powder
being used in getting out the rock. This is the
last contract in progress at this time. The
work has been let to the North Carolina line,
and before the end of the year will all be in
operation. Some portions Of the work have
been suspended since spring at thepleasure OF
the contractors on account Of the scarcity OF pro-
visions The Rabun Gap is not quite miles
from Clayton, and stranger in passing through
this famous notch in the Blue Ridge would ner-
or suppose that he had left the great Atlantic
slope until he saw the little streams strayne
off towards the North. For considerable dis
tancc there the bed of the railroad is not more
than or feet deep, and just about the culm'-
mating point there is slight iill. Sfesl no: co
down the Tennessee valley any distance, but
could sec that its inclination was not ut all ab-
rupt \ man standing at the source OF the
Tennessee can throw rock to the first spring
Of the Sticoa, which is a tributary OF the Sa-
vannal. Looking to the North West from Ra-
bun Gap, You may see mountain, at no great
distance, which is lofty, PERCEPTIONS and peculiar
| in its conformation. This towering eminence l.
known as "Pickenss Nose," and it is 50 called
| from its tancied resemblance to the Roman nose
of old General PickeMs When was at the
top of the Pinnacle peak, not far from Habun
Gap, was not only brought face TO face with
many bcctng crag aud mountain height, hut
wa, sufficiently elevated to have most strk-
ing view of that remarkable valley, which lEl-
ture had marked out seemingly OIL purpose Tor
some great commercial highway. The compar-
atvc height Of fabun Gapina be seen at glance
| lv the following: