The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-09-21
Chr 9Degtrru gGmutrat.
CHARLOTTE, n. c.
THE TEN TRANS-ALLEGHANY COUN-
TIES OF NORTH CAROLINA.

counties west of the Blue Ridge, which Will be
found interesting and instructive:
"Of the cighty-fve counties into which the
State is divided. ten are west OF the Blue Ridge.
These arranged in the order ofreatve white roPu-
lation taking the number of votes polled at the last
election ag the basis of computation, are Buncombe,
Ashe, Henderson, Cherokee, Iancey, Haywood,
jackson, Macon, Madison and Watauga The
aggregate number Of voters in the ten counties Is
something under ten thousand, and slightly less
than tenth Of the whole number i'll the State
The aggregate white population will, at the next
census be found to be equal to tenth OF the
white population Of the State.
The comparative fertility of the soil, if the valua-
ton for taxes can be relied upon as safe guide
will exhibit them in the following order: Bun
connie, Henderson, Ashe, Haywood, atauga,
Madison, Ya::cev, Cherokee, jackson and Macon
The assessed valuation of lands in Cherokee and
Macon j. probably too low, especially IN the latter
The Valley River bottoms extensive and fertile
The average value Of lands per acre. is not quite
SIN the entire State, nearly So so.
1t will be perceived by reference to the map of
the State chat the valley of single river and Its
tributaries constitute each of these counties-
Their geographical position would be much more
readily comprehcnded, if they were known by
the names of their rivers Ashc would be New
River; Watauga has its proper appelative; Yam
cey should be called Caney River; Henderson,
Buncombc and Madison Upper, Middle and Low
or French Broad; Haywood, Pigeon River; Jack
son, Tuckasccgcc; Macon, Tennessee; aud Chcro-
kcc, Uiwasscc.
No ono Of these counties has ever been fully OK
plored, much less clearly described. jackson Is
the least, and Buncombc the best known Of all
The latter will be much more generally and ac-
curatcly understood at no distant day. AshcTl!Ic,
the county scat, is one Of the most thriving VII
lagos in the State and one Of the prctticst in the
Union.
Grcenvilc, in South Carolina, and Grccnvillc
Tennessee, arc Just sixty miles distant-the for
mer directly South the latter directly North of
AshcvilIc. Daily stages carry the traveller TO
either place in II hours and "a hours is the time
thence to Charleston or Richmond. A third road
branching from the Columbia and Greenyille road
terminating at Spartanbure, 60 miles Southeast
of -ishcvc, is rapidly approaching completion
Morganton 80 miles directly East is the present
proposed terminus of the North Carolina system
Of roads The Blue Ridge road, which is to con-
meet Charleston with Knoxville, is in the process
of construction. 1t will pass along the valley Of
the Tennessee in Macon county and at po'Et
directly west, will approach Ashcville at distance
little greater than from there to Morgant0n.-
With Railroads within sixty miles, at the four
cardinal points, Bunccmbe cannot be long exclu
dcd from communication with the world Of traffic
and travel.
\ vein Of limestone shows itself Kings
Mountain, in the Southern part OF CASTOR County
and has been traced cropping ont at intervals along
our Southern boundary to the Southwestern cor
of Henderson County 1t is said that quar-
~ has recently been discovered in Cashiers Val
lev. 1t is earnestly to be hoped that it is If
as abundant in quantity and excellent in quality
as the beds in Buncombe, it will prove of much
greater value to the country than all the gold and
copper which likely to reward the search OF the
thousands in that region, so intent upon the dis
covcry Of mineral wealth
From Webster, the County seat of Jackson, the
distance to the South Carolina line is about thirty
miles The road, pursuing the general course Of
the IUckaSeegee, Is at present mountainous and
rough \ better one, turnpike, on the eastern
side of the river will soon be completed. y road
North Western to the Tennessee line, will open a
new and important route of travel between South
Carolina and Tennessee, and add greatly to the
wealth and population of the intervening country.
Qualla Town, the scat of the Cherokee colony, is
few miles below Webster and the bject of greatest
interest in the northern portion of the county.
Proceeding South from Webster, we pass thro'
the comparatively fertile valley of the CuIywhee,
and at the distance of ten miles reach the summit
of the steep and high mountain of the same name.
From the top of the Cullywhee to the summit Of
The Blue Ridge, We have plateau of ten miles in
length, known as the Hamburg valley. This is
probably the most elevated body of table land on
the continent cast OF the Mississippi \ good
road will in due time divide it lon9itudinay, in
nearly equal sections and exhibit along its mar
gins numerous beautiful aud productive grazing
farms. The soil is fertile, and will produce all the
cultivated grasses in the greatest luxuriance.-
White clover is indigenous and may be found
everywhere in the valley and on the mountain
tops, contending successfully with the other wild
grasses. The atmosphere is so cool that there are
few summer DAYS when fire at daylight and after
sunset will not contribute to comfort. OF the
water, the milk, the butter, the beef and the veni
son in which the region abounds, it is Il luxury
even TO think. 1t Is exclusively grazing coun-
try, however. Oats, wheat, rye, Irish potatoes.
cabbages and most culinary vegetables may be
produced in great perfection and abundance, but
is very uncertain crop During the last
three years, very little has escaped the autumnal
irosts, and the Scanty supplies obtained, have been
purchased in South Carolina and on the Gully
vince, and brought in wagons over the Cu!lywhee
mountains on the North or the Blue Ridge on the
South. This difficulty will doubt be overcome
to some extent, before great while. Seed corn
may probably be obtained from Vermont, Cana
da, which will mature and yield we'll in the fertile
soil of Hamburg.
From the top of the Blue Ridge to the South
Carolina line, have third, and the most attrac-
tive, valley of about ten miles in extent. This is
known as Cashiers valley. The origin of the
l. bup,I,la op5 he