The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-09-07
E5r the Aalcrson MteMgeaccr.
Home Views.
NO. II.

Tunnel Hill the name given to that part OF
the Stump House mountain under which the
great tunnel was to pass is clear of timber, and
furnishes panoramic view, in all directions, of
great beauty, not so extensive as Mount Hol-
yoke, the notch in the White Mountains, or
even Crsar's Head in our State, but sufficiently
wide and expansive to attract the attention Of
all admirers of the grand and picturcsque.-
Just here, where hotel should be erected, you
have almost under your feet, the lovely valleys
of Cane, Conneross and Oconee creeks, a little to
the cast, Jocassce and Chcohee, whilst almost
in touch, the spires and white walls of Walhal-
Ia rise in view. Then the modest villages OF
Pendlcton, Anderson and Grecnville can be
seen OH clear day, and the view southwark
loses itself in numerous farms and cottages,
scattered over seemingly vast and endless
plain. To the north and westward, you see
mountain piled on mountain, reaching far into
Georgia and North Carolina
In the meantime, you are standing on extern
siyc mounds Of stone, raised from the shafts of
the tunnel, of good building size and dimen-
sons, sufficient in quantity for goodly sized
town, and in view of immense beds of lime
stone; so that hotels and country houses could
here be completed at most reasonable cost.
The soil of this elevated ridge is fertile, as
the growing crops of grain, vegetables and
fruits will show, but what it could be made,
from the free use. of lime, so contiguous, VIC
leave others to imagine and calculate. But
the peculiar fitness and adaptation of this loca-
ton for other enterprises, we cannot refrain
from suggesting. This table land starting from
fifteen miles, almost without habitation or farm,
afording a boundless range of pasturage for
CATTLE horses, sheep and hogs; covered in the
summer with native grass and pea-vines, from
three to five feet in height, traverscd with small
streams, each furnishing sufficient alluyial bot
toms and hill-sides for grass and clover for
winter forage, for large numbers of such stock.
These lands arc worth now from one to three
dollars per acre, and little energy and enter
prise with very small capital, could be made
the nucleus of a business of no small dimen-
sions and profit. In close contiguity will be
found water powers for mills, carding machines
E and other manufactures.
In riding along this extensive plateau one
will scarcely see enough kline to cover one,
much less thousand hills; and it is source
of wonder and SURPRISE that such field should
be wholly untcnanted, unoccupied and altogcth-
er neglected. But this is not all, the unbroken
forests abound in chestnut oak, red and black
oak, all especially adapted for the manufacture
of leather. The bark of the chesnut oak con-
tanning the best and strongest tannin, being
now sought for by Northern leather dealers,
hundreds of miles from the tannery-its tannin
distilled and transported in barrels to be used
, in the manufacture of leather.
If we Southern people ever learn the ordira-
ry principles of economy, surely such advan-
tages will be seized and turned to proper &C
count. In this single section can be found ali
the ncedful materials and appliances: land,
timber trees, bark full of tannin, lime, water
powers and the cattle should be here, feeding
on these miles of virgin pasturage-to be
) slaughtered here, the meat to be sent in ice
cars to market, the hides and tallow used OH
the spot, and manufactured articles only trans
ported.
Such are only q few of tho great facilities
and natural advantages offered to an industrious
and enterprising people, in this particular To-
cation, now within few miles Of the Blue
Ridge Railroad, and very soon to be imme-
diately on its line; and what is said here will
truthfully apply to very much of the mountain
range, which this great road is intended to pen
citrate.
) The observant traveller will notice that the
country beyond Tunnel Hill does not break of
suddenly, as it does southwark, but that the
elevation is retained, until he approach Chatu-
ga River, the boundary line between South
Carolina and Georgia, distance of some ten
miles. 1t is true that Chauga Creek cuts the
plateau, but the elevation is only disturbed, to
be regaincd as soon as that stream is crossed
AT the crossing of Chauga, on the travelled, as
well as the Railroad the immense beds OF lime
before alluded to, first crop out and make their
appearancc. These beds are seven miles in
width at these points, and have been traced
from Georgia to Laurens County in this State
A few quarries have been opened, and kilns
burned, along the road, showing the good quail
ity of the lime, and its great abundance This
lime can be quarried and burned at cost OF
S or 10 cents per bushel at the kiln, and should
be delivered to farmers within so or Is miles at
20 cents per bushel, price at which planters
can purchase and apply fertilizers to clay lands
in the upper counties of South Carolina
Without pretending to speak for the Blue
Ridge Railroad Company, or the taxpayers OF
this State, yet in our Judgment it would be wise
policy to press the completion of this road to
these lime beds, if itncver reached any further.