The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-10-19
HoYT g. CO., P'rtoprieftors.

..ff!Ift't't ~ sst'' go
z..Jrol.5 For the Anderson I'atelligeneer.
IS = - - Home Views. -7' - =
'-7,st ~. ,.-,,H NO. VI -
The Nahantahala River and valley have long
.been celebrated as peculiar and favored haunt
fo. ,sportsmen and stock-raisers in Western
Nerth Carolina, but is little known outside OF
Hbatiihnaediate locality. TheNriver rises some
ten or twelve miles from Clayton, Ga, Belts
ss creek making up from this side of the noun m
taip until It nearly reaches the head;spring, Of
Nahantahala; but there is no road, and. vlsli-
tors are forced to 60 by waysof franklin, N. O.,
.shen take the Turnpike towards Murphy, ma
king circuit of over forty miles, when 1t there
was q road graded across the mountain up
-s,ettis, creek. this famous fishing and hunting
ground could be reached in fifteen miles from
Clayton. efr .~ssty ~. i..i.f,-eue y 40
This, river, as, we have before stated is so
elevated that its bed is really but a trough be
4reen two mountains level of the eHiwas-
see on one side, and. the little Tennessee on the
other, being hundreds Of feet lower: For IN
stance, III approaching the river from the Hi
wassse !, YOU ascend by winding road, it is
true, the Tusquitta Mountain for four long t
miles, attaining great elevation above the
Hiwassee; whilst thedescent to 1.-THE Nahanta-
haIa is Shorthand easy, and certainly not more
thapone-half the elevation. Then leaving the
Nabantahala, the ascent of the mountain on
the western side is short and easy, whilst to
reach the valley of the little Tennessee, at the
source r ii The Cartoojaja, takes seven long and
dificIlt miles. Having no means OF measure ne
men, but the eye and distances Travelled, ofI
course no accurate opinion can pc expressed;
hut, the strange elevation of this stream Is ,apd
has long been noted by visitors and travellers.
The course Of the river is thirty or forty miles
long without cascades or falls, but one contin-
nous. rapid descent until it empties into the
little Tennessee, twenty. five miles below Frank
Ain. ss.,.sl,s.. 4aiasoH ., .si..s. i..:,'
This range of mountains, on both sides OF
shis river, formed The great hunting and fishing
GROUNDS pf the Cherokee Indians, and is yet
most spagsels settled indeed, for.m miles nj
with thousands of acres of rich pasturage lands,
not q house is seem the only sign Of visitation
being shelter fer hunters or licklogs for stock.
Deer, bears and wildcats abound, with pleas
ants and anails for the hunter, and the speckled
brook trout are so plenty that We fear to tell
what was told. to ns%-fffom fifty to three hun
dred In one one days fishing was not Unusual
Tie mouihtain girls mount their ponies ana
ride no from from Hiwassee and Franklin, and actu- y
aIiy fish on horseback, riding down the shallow
stream. whist the harder race wade. 1t isn0ti
uncommon when yoa throw your Hy into the,
stream for several trout to strike, actually jump
.clearof the.wuter. This delightful summer
retrest can NOW be reached from WelhaH9a an
fvo days. easy travel, and wS hope, in another
season OF two, from Clayton or franklin. But
she real lover cf these exciting sports should
not.Eais uatil,a railroad shall bring its noisy
and dpsomisscnOusi crowds, but: shOdld g&now,I
and enjoy them in their present seclusion.
For eolony Of Swiss or Scotch; We know OF
no place more dssirable. The river affords
towards its head, large bodies Of table lands
of great fertility, some ten OF twelve thousand
acres, which can Row be purchased at extreme
ly low prices. sThe native pastarage is so fine
that the stock-raiser actually cuts, the hay.
(wild ;psarines stscks; it in the woods, and
uses it for any cattle, colts, or sheep he may
leave there during the winter. The. timber Is
most plentiful and really magnifcen-oak,
hickory poplar, birch, and some 'sprnce or
Northern pine. Some ten or twelve thousand
acres of this fich, alluvial land can now, as we
are informed, be purchased for one Or two doll
lars per acre. ere !, What an opportunity for dairy
and cheese. purposes; but, underlying this rich
soil, is the marvellous mineral wealth, almost
indigencus, to this river and adjacent country
gold, silver, copper and iron, with marble OF
every hue, among Others q fesh-tiate Variety,
which exactly resembles flesh and blood, ana II
used for statuary, would represent the perfect
htie and stintspf the human FORM Besides
these different varieties Of fhe marble contain
gold and other precious metals, confusing the
best of minsralogsts. The climate is unsur'
passed for health aud vigor,, with Opportunities
for wealth, and exciting and pleasurable sports,
rarely equalled in atty country. The medicinal
herbs and roots abound, especially that root so
urized in China that good specimens will com
malnrd fabulous prices and the common variety
enc dollarper pound, Mahdragera. =. -,
But, Mr. Editor, we feel almost ashamed az at
the meagsedescripdon of this marvellous Sec
t;on of Western North Carolina. People must
come aud see for themselves that our descrlp-
tion is not exaggerated. - = - -'''.>-,@ >,
After a few hours of delightful sport with
the trout in this celebrated river, having no
appliances fer cooking, we left and commenced
the ascent of the mountain of the same name.
.rr. .e..,s dr;r;nor cattle To market SO fat