The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-06-02

mountain CHAINS, anu Soon Satisueu myself
that 1 understood the cause of these phe-
nomena. ~
1t is known that current of
air saturated with moisture in rising
to pass over a mountain. is rarihed,
cooled, and will let go a portion OF
its moisture, which is thereupon condensed
into minute drops Of water, making fog, or
cloud. One often sees for hours in success
sion small patch of cloud lowering about
the top of mountain. even when strong
gale of wind is blowing, and some persons
wonder why the wind does not carry off this
| little mass of white cloud making mis-
take not unlike that of person who, OBJ
| serving the cataract of Niagara from dis
lance, should take it to be column of
water standing still all day. As soon
as this cloud is carried down into
warmer region, it at once disappears
by being reconverted into invisible vapor
the air ceasing to precipitate mois-
ture, and becoming one of evaporation
again, or drying air. This is illustrated on
large scale near the Rocky Mountains, ON
the western slopes of which the winds from
the Pacific Ocean deposit their moisture
while on the east there is so little rain that
extensive deserts exist The country around
Aslcville is under the influence of similar
causes but not to an extent sufficient to
make desert or even perceptibly to di.
minish vegetation. 1t is merely somewhat
drier than the surrounding regions
This condition results from such config-
uration of the country as will be apparent
to any one who examines it carefully. There
is belt of table land, about the center of
which is at Asheville, extending for nearly
seventy miles in length in a northwest
wardly and south-easterly direction, but
somewhat nearer to the northern and south
ern points than to the eastern and western.
1t is fifteen miles in breadth, perhaps twenty
at some points, and has an average elevation
oftwcnty-two or three hundred feet above the
sea. Though it seems broken to one travelling
over it, yet when one ascends an emincnce
he sees what appears to be level plateau
OF which Henderson county embraces the
southern,a and Buncombe the center and Mad.
ison the northern portion. Only, however,
the central parts of these counties lie within
the belt. The French Broad River in Hen
derSon is but little below the adjoining hills.
AT Ashevlle it has sunk two hundred and
nifty feet, and In the northern portions of
Madison 1t has cut channel eight or nine
hundred feet deep, below the hills half
mile distant from it. There is no cross noun
tain chain or any considerable obstruction
across this long plateau. Hence the winds
from the west and northwest, these being
the prevailing winds throughout the wear,
move unobstructed along this belt with a
rapid current and dry and exhierating air.
In TACT where the course of a current of air
comes near the direction of this belt, it seems
drawn into 1t and accelerated like the waters
oil river along narrow pass. About Asbe-
vile therefore, it is never sultry except for a
short period, sometimes, before thunder
shower.
Most OF the raias, however, of the Western
part OF this State are brought by winds
from the east and from the Southwest. Fiji
teen miles to the East and to the South east
OF Ashevllle extends the Blue Ridge Noun
tain,Wl an average elevation of fifteen hun
dred probably, above it. The easterly and
south easterly winds precipitate portion of
their moisture, on the eastern slopes of this
mountain, and after passing it and descend
ing to lower attitude, they become COM
paratively drier, and often cease to drop
rain at all. The most disagreeable weather
that visits the Atlantic States, however. is
That accompanied by the North easterly
winds. Against them there is still greater
barrier afforded by Craggy, the Black Noun
am and third ridge running to the North
.he highest portion of which is called
Gates Knob. This mass of mountains w.
ng on the North east of Ashevllle. and
attaining an elevation of more than six
thousand feet above the sea, or four thou-
and above the table land, presents barrier
against the North eastern storms, so formid.
IDLE that the clouds are broken to nieces
md fall over it in scattered fragments.
The South-westerly winds, however
'rlng much rain, often continuing for days at
time Against them, however, nature has
urnished protection. Fromthe great Smoky
at a point little to the North
II West from Asheville, the Balsam Noun
ain, the longest of the cross Chains. extends
tself entirely over the State to the borders
II South Carolina. 1t attains a general
eight ofat least six thousand feet and with
Is spurs extending somewhat towards Ash
lille, the Cold Mountain and Pi .gah ridges.
or hundred degrees in distance. it breaks
he force of the South western winds. It
hus happens that most of the rain bearing
Winds, before reaching this region, have. by
assing over higher lands, lost portion of
heir moisture, and the atmosphere, there
ore, of the tract, is comparatively q dry
ne. -..-
The Greenbrier White Sulpher SPRINGS in
'irginia, is only five hundred feet lower
nan Ashville, and yet, from its surround
lgs, 1t Is not only often damper, but also
luch hotter At huntsville, in Yancey
Dnnty, forty miles north of Asheville. and
hundred feet higher, and in winter much
older, have seen it in like manner warmer in
INNER, because surrounded by mountains.
men obstruct the currents of air. also
nee IN the Alps. while crossing ridge of '
'Veral thousand feet elevation, because en- ]
osea ny nigh mountains, found very sultry
GATHER
do not mean to have it understood that !
have not at Asheville often disagreeabIe
'rlods, but merely to state that there is less I
ID weather at that point than have OBJ.
rived at other places with which am nc.
tainted. think that a large percentage of =
ople who annually die of lung diseases in
C Northeastern States might attain the
erage longevity if they were to remove to
is region. Persons threatened with con. r
mptlon, whose means permit it, might de L
re quite as much advantage from visiting Il
at locality as the Southern planters who 8
We been accustomed to travel to the V;r.
MA Springs, to Saratoga and to Newnort
by Calling their attention to this sui;ect y
u may. Sir, render essential service to the r.
use of humanity =
Respectfully yours,
,, T. L.. CLINGMAN.
To Mr.. R. KINGsLAND. tt
III u
In Howard county, Mo-, a negro how ro g