The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-11-04

stsntial farmers were In, and all making
purchaser Okcoursa. the trade is mostly
barter, bacon being q leading article.
The complete failure Of the apple crop
ie sorely felt. Persons here look 70 the
frnit and apple brandy for ready money
to buy groceries with, just as we do to
rable talk and excitement about the rail
road from Clayton, to Duekto IN, end
every one seemed willing to aid and help.
We ban feelingly say one thing, that they
need railroad, il any people ever did.
Their trade goes mainly to Athens, be-
cause OF better road through Nacoo-
chez; but now that Gainesville, only
forty-four miles, is connected by rail
with Atlanta. of course everything will
go there, until the same facilities are
offered by WY of Clayton. This valley
is quite extensive, and lands in cultiva-
ton are rating at good prices. Copper
ore abounds, and is only awaiting Cheap
transportation to become the leading
article of commerce. One mine, very
near the village, has been opened, and
many tons of copper orc. of as good
quality as that of Lake Superior, is
lying there, utterly valueless. Gold and
silver also are found, it is believed, in
sufficient quantities to warrant further
enterprise and explorations. The time
spent here waiting for that wheel to be
repaired, passed we're pleasantly. We
were under great obligations to Mr..
Moo. merchant of the place. who en-
tcrtained us at his house. The views
from his door were charming. and one
could hardly tire looking out, with tho
ever changing hucs Of mountain, river
and valley.
There are certnin we'll marked and dis
tinctive features in these Southern noun.
tains and valley, scarcely existing in
moro Northern Chimes. The great ferti-
lity of the soil, from base to summit,
except in q few peaks of great elevation;
the luxnriance of pasturage, wild grasses
and pea-vines. enabling stock of all
kinds to live fat almost during tho entire
year; the great variety, size and mex
haustable supply of timber trees; and
an lsothermal line, or bolt. where the
apple, peach and pear never fail. We
passed along and through this belt in
various places, and found the finest fruit
In great abundance, whilst in the valleys
and in lower and higher temperatures,
on the mountain side, tho trees are per-
fectly bare.
The Hiwassee Valley, which we enter.
ed near its head, is of great extent, some
forty or fifty miles long and varying from
one-half mile to two miles in width. On
either side of the river, tributaries, such
as Shooting Greek, Tusquitta, Peach
Tree, &c., come in, oil affOrding valleys
Of great fertility and beauty. Every
acre of these valleys, whether on river,
creek or branch, having been cleared up
aud in cultivation, with comfortable
farm houses dotted here and there. Per.
haps the most remarkable and wonderful
valley in nll Western North Carolina is
found on Valley River, remarkable for
the length and width of rich alluvial
lands, farms and farm houses. One un-
broken cultivated valley for twenty miles,
and two miles in width. But this locali-
ty is also celebrated for the immense
beds Of valuable minerals-gold, silver,
copper, iron and marble, are oil mingled
and mixed together, so as to perplex and
oonfound those who attempt to explore
or describe them.
After leaving the town of Hiwassee,
great bend, being surprised to see lnrge
tracts of undulating country of oak.
hickory and chestnut, very much re-
sembling the forests of Anderson or
Greenville. In eight miles we reached
the little village Of Haysville, the Coun-
ty seat OF Clay County, in North Carroll
ma: being located very near the site of
old Fort Hembree. one of these over
the hills-stockades, erected before the
revolutionary war. It is very prettily
located, in the midst of grand noun
tsins. and in view of the clear and spark
ling Hiwassee. Several stores and dwell
lings, all painted white, with the nucleus
OF miniature court house, attest the
seat of justice and OF commerce. We
did not stop. but passed through the
quiet streets down to the river, which
we crossed on a neat and substantial
bridge. Great stretches of this rich, al
luvial soil can be here seen up and down
the river in corn and grasses: the wheat.
rye and oats having been harvested and
housed. Ascending the hill, where q
crowd of men we're busily at work on the
road. (conrt, it seems. being expented
there day or two afterward,) we ap-
preached the residence of Mrs. Sander.
son on the ,ummit. overlooking the little
town just passed. But what panorama
was there suddenly and unexpectedly
spread before MS. All the party, male.