Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-07-26
O., G. q. and c. Il. II,


when deciphered, mean the Cincinnati,
Cumberland Gap and Charleston Rail-
road, /" which is just forty miles long, and
reaches from Morristown to Wolf Creek.
OF the prospective usefulness of the road
can say nothing, rs l have not lived to
its getting through, l know but little, and
shall not attempt to instruct your thou
sands of readers on that point
OF its financial condition | know but
little and the stockholders know less. All
these are important items, understood and
cared for only by those who are authorized
to go behind the curtains and pull the
greasy ropes.
| will merely enlighten you a little OH
the present appearance and usefulness of
so much of the road as has been finished.
This is all that amounts to much in the
history of any railroad. OF course 1 don't
mean to speak of the grading, rotten ties
or pine pole trestles, or narrow bridges
nor even of the change of schedule, which
has almost ruined the road-but of the
towns and villages which are springing up
as if by magic along the road.
Morristown, which is the nearest point
on the road to the future Southern terminus,
owes its prosperity in n large measure to
this road.
There are few more interesting villages
in East Tennessee. 1t affords three chur-
ches, two hotels one post office, two bowl
ing alleys, two depOts, one paper, two
good schools, one photograph gallery, one
| large merchant mill, and various other es-
! Establishments, all of which are situated
around Dave Renee's store. This place is
the capital of Hamblin Territory, and the
home of Prof. Wilson.
! From Morristown the &. G. & G. II. r.,
alias, the Buncombe Road, runs something
| like south course, over the levelest track
| in East Tennessee. "Wouldn't you like
a ride ?" Come, let US have ticket. 1.-Two
! dollars, says Squire Witt, "to Wolf
Creek" "All aboard" shouts Captain
Taylor, which means "drive up and let the
engine drink" Offat last-6 miles-Witt's
Foundry. \ depot, two dwcllins a store
and foundry, owned by one of the best
mechanics in the South, complete the di
rectory of the first station. On again-get
out Ofthe way cOw-one mile nuw-Sui-
phur Springs-doesn't it smell loud-two
IN lies to Dandridge Crossing, an embryo
city, and then three more to Leadvale
which is two miles square and contains
seventy-fve live inhabitants more or less,
besides Il nice lead mine and water tank
just before you get TO the French Broad
bridge and trestle, which is nearly mile
long. How slow they go-now they're
over and laundering through the richest
bottom in East Tennessee.
Four miles to rankin's-on to Clifton
rich land all the way.
, Never were better corn crops seen than
grow on the French Broad this year, and
1t is we'll, for there was no wheat Here is
Gorman's alias, Clifton, atlas, Newport
now that the former Newport has become
the "Oi1 Port". A thriving town mile
long and hundred yards wide-full OF
thriving people, is Clifton.
j is situated on Big Pigeon, and will at
some day not distant, be the county seat of
Cooke county and then it will bea wealthy
place, for Cooke has more ready money in
it than any other county in East Tennes-
. see.
No time to talk-gone again-over Pigeon
bridge-through the hills-out again, and
I, dashing up the French Broad -",Bridge-
port" says the brakesmau.
, Look out-nothing but depot to pay
! you for the trouble-yes. there is bran
new bridge, worth $4,000. .00-who built il :
Huff x Co." says some one.
, Take in your head rattle, and roar
t whoever would have thought thata train
could get around that bluff?
See how it hangs over-seven miles to
Big Creek, alias, Shingleburg, which is a
clump of houses in the midst of one of the
most delightful cOves in all the mountains.
This Big Creek cove is full of Burnetts
: Hufis, and Stokelys, and the creek is
: full of mountain trout, and the whole
, thing is shut in by the highest noun.
: tains you ever saw. Who ever saw
as much white pine" Why the
l man VINO goes on 10 Won creek, Wnlch Is
six miles further. He sees the hills and
C gets the good fare. Forty miles from the
/ center of civilization, and here is as good
/ fare us you will find at Morristown. Now
D it is plain that the Buncombe road is worth
+ something after all the talk. 1t is the short
est, the levelest, the poorest, the most ro,
mantle, the quickest, and the safest road
5 on the continent. Come and it. Come
/ and eat some honey and catch some trout
+ Come and share our mountain hospitality
{ Come and gather our flewers and drink
: our water, and break your necks over oul
t bluffs. Come one-come all, and vel
n come, BUNCoMBE,