Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-09-29
wALuALLA SOUTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1871

to its very spring before we can turn down
into the lovely valley of lliwassee. But VIC
did notice, at this very point, with all tho
appliances of gold diggcrs around US, that
there was Il large and extensive area Of ricl,
alluvial soil, more than one hundred acres
which perhaps if skillfuly used in agricul
turol purposes, would yield more than the
gold fields, 50 pcrtinaciousIy worked by the
cntcrprlSing lessee. But that is his business,
not ours, Tor We arc mere passers-by.
After leaving these extensive gold fields,
we approach point where the water is taken
for all these washers and fumes, aud we cn :
Enthusiastically believe that we are near the
summit of Dicks Creek. But not so-we as
cend great hill, and then we find the road
beautifully graded along the side of a consd
cradle mountain, with these huge timber trees
in full view, hickory, poplar, locust, birci,,
walnut, the creek (Dick's) tumblng and
dashing and foaming hundreds of feet below,
and then wo come out into a valley and see
the mountain still above u.s. We ascend
come to magnificent orchard of peach and
apple trees, all laden with frut-stop-
regret that we had not with us a pocket baro-
meter, to show the clcvatiOn-but here it is,
| fruit IN tho greatest abundance. a short
| drive anu VIC arc on the summit dividing
| the waters of the Atlantic from the Iulf of
Mexico.
After leaving Clayton this morning, the
number and bcauty Of the branches we were
crossing, induced Master Frank, who was
with us, to keep count; and at this point, II
miles from Clayton, he reported 50 streams,
an'i only numbering one crossing of Dick y
Creek, although that stream WIS crossed II
times in miles. TO this day Frank cannot
exactly makc up his mind, whether it was the
road or the creek which was so crooked
But we LETT that stream behind us, and
now arc descending the Il'owcr, (pcrhaps
Etown,) branch of the IIiwnSsce We
strike it at its head. and meet with the scenes
OF valleys and hills, the valleys gradually
opening and widening, and the settlements
morc frequent. In passing over one Of the
spurs or hills jntting iuto the valley, we hear
a crash, Il small scream, aud down comes the
carriagc. One wheel broken, crushed, moth.
ing hut tiro and hub left. No shop nc. .mc
chnno or blacksmith for Z miles Weth@;
prov'sc drag and get on. The views are
lovely, tut we don't enjoy them much.
Night comes Oh, and tired and "eary we drag
along until near nine O'clock, before we ar.
rive at Maj C's. where re were kindly and
Hospitality entertained Near this excellent
firm, The lIitowcr e.,ptcs Into tue lliwassre,
the main prong 81 branch, however, of lii
wasSce rcachire for several miles in the dircc
lion of the beautiful Nocoochc, with Gne aud
extensive farms on both aides Next morn.
ing, tn'9 miles down the river brought us to
tn. snug little village Of IIiwasssce, in Towncs
county, Geo, with itstour stores, Court House
I Jail, neat dwellings,, &c. The river is close
| hy, and mountains all around The trade
| here seemed brisk. as many substantial farm
crs were in, all making purchases. Of course
the trade is mostly barter, bacon being lead
ing article. The complete f,ilurc of the ap
pie crop is sorcly felt. Persons here look to
the fruit and apple brandy for ready money
! to hny groceries with, just as we do to our
bag of cotton. There was considerable talk
and excitement about the railroad from Clay.
ton TO Ducktown, and every one seemed vii.
ling to aid and help. We can fec!ingly say
one thing, that they need n Railroad, if any
people ever did. Their trade goes mainly to
Athens, because of a better road through Ma.
cooche; but now that Gainesville, only Al
miles, is connected by rail with Atlanta, Of
course everything will go there, unit, the
same facilities are offered by way of Clayton.
| This valley is quite extensive, and lands in
cultivation arc rating at good prices. Copper
ore abonnds, and is only awaiting cheap
transportation to become the leading articls
OF commerce. One NINE, very near the vii.
lage, has been opened and many tons of cop.
per ore, of as good quality as that of Lake
Superior, is lying there utterly valulcss -
Gold and silver also are found, it is believed,
in sufficient quantities, to warrant further On.
tcrpriso and explorations. The time spent
here waiting for tho wheel to bo repaired
pnsscd very pleasantly. We were under great
obligations to Mr.. McC., a merchant of the
place, who entertained us ut his house. The
views from his door were charming, and one
could hardly tire looking out, with the eve,
changing hucs of mountain, river and valley
Gs1- The foreign correspondent of the