The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-09-01
For the Lancaster Ledger.
WARM STRINGS. Aug. IT, lS.


Mn. EDIroE My last report was from
AshvilIe, the distance from which place to
this, is thirty six miles, right down along
the French Broad River following the mean-
drings Of that beautiful stream, sanaing
now within n few feet Of the water, then
on the side of mountains still within sight,
again through the valleys of the mountains,
leaving the rh er for n short distance the
roar Of the waters being heard nearly all
the time. The river runs apparently the
wrong course, at least to person accus-
toned to streams making n southern drsc.
tion for The Atlantic ard Gulf This river
runs to every poirt Of the compass, except
to the Sonth, but mostly Northwest di.
rection. The scenery is truly beautiful, on
both sides are nigh and craggy mountains
with occasionally perpendicular and over
hanging rocks OF immense height, the na.
tive growth Of the hills and mountains, be
ing undisturbcd and untouched. The
stream is from 100 to probably 800 yards
wide, there is little or no bottom or cul,iva.
|
] doubt If there is 1000 ncress of cultiva.
ted land from hshville to this -,Iace.-
what Is worked is chiefly garden spots, po
tatoe, watermelon and roasting ear patches
and they are from necessity of the shoe
string order, long but very narrow; near
Ashyille the bottoms are wider and there is
some very excellent corn, planted about
81 or feet in the drill and very close in
the row, one or two fields | thought was
good for 80 bushels per acre. There are q
good many houses along the road within a
stone throw Of the river. built for the nc.
commodation and entertainment Of travel.
lers and stock drivers all the horses, mules
and hogs, which go to our district, and in
fact to our State, have to pass this road
IL is a turnpike, there is but one gate be-
tween this and Ashvi!le, the "pikeage" for
n two.horse buggy is rs cents. On coming
down yesterday evening my mind was nb
sorbed, either with reflections upon the
magnificent scenery, at which I had been
gazing all day, and which was still around
me; or rejecting about "nothing al oil. ,
(probably the latter) when the driver sud
denly halted and man, the Pikeman, wa,
standing by the side Of the Buggy, ask ed
what was broke. tho driver replied nothing
then go ahead, but sir your pikeage, your
toll ! ., sir, said /, beg your pardon, ex.
cuse me, for ] am not accustomed to such
things In my country, the officer said was
entirely excusable, 30 the toll was paid and
on we came. The Road belongs in part 70
the State, and the other part to private
stockholders, ] do not know the propor-
hon's but believe this State adopts the two.
fifths system
The French Broad is one of the tributaries
OF the Tennessee, and then Of the Mi,sis-
sPpi Rivers its head waters rise on this
side OF the top OF the Blue Ridge al on.
place on this river is an Island, high and
rocky mountain with the river flowing on
either side, and the stream divided by n,
which makes it truly Mountain Island
occasionally 1t is smooth and placid
stream, then again the waters are hurried
along, and dashed agains, the rocks with
cataract like rapidity We had shower
Of rain in our journey along its banks. and
after the sun shone forth, beautiful sight
was to be seen in the thick foggs which
arose ffsm ,hs valleys, being penetrated and
lighted mp by the clear evening sun shine.
II was pretty sight, but probably ! have
not made 1t pretty IN my description, if so
any Of yonr readers who have a talent Cor
poetry and painting can make it pretty by
"trying it on" ] have sorter sks,ched tbe
ground work.
Old BuncOmbe is now divided into seye.
raj counties that portion nclt the Tennes-
see line, (and in which this place is situate)
is Madison county, the County seat is Mar.
shall, the Court House and Jail have been
erected within the las. year; there is only
room to bnlld up AM down the river, the
foot OF the mountain Icing ia $50 or 200
yards OF the water. The Court House be.
ing in stone throw and the Jail in splitting
DISTANCE Of the edge of the water. II Ia
therefore, obliged to be built and improved
after a kind Of shoe-string order, long but
not wide. The location is near TO Boards
store, and who keeps one Of the be.t eat.