The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-08-31
J5r tie Andcrson MteMqencer.
Home Views.

through every llOoh illhi Coihci VI 'iiS "i"N
world in search of novelty, health and pleasure,
from turning their steps 10 the now unknown,
rnvisitcd, but grand and lovely scenery to be
foundin the Blue Ridge mountains OF South
Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. The
completion of a few more railroads by the ell
terprising people Of each of the three States
named above, will throw open this terra tftc6g-
nita, tcaming with beauty, wealth. ~andegran-'
dcur to the public, and the regret and wonder
will be that it was not earlier known and ap-
preciatcd.
Within eight miles of Walhalla, there rises
the long, level ridge of mountain, some
1900 feet above the level of the sea, and 700
feet above the level O. the town ITSELF present
ing views at every turn, of unsurpassing love-
illness, traversed by streams and rivulets of
pure, clear, icy water, groves of magnificent
forest trees, beautiful sites for country houses
within few miles of streams abounding in
fish and woods with deer and pheasants, and
yet not summer house is seen, and visitors
are as rare as Fifteenth Amendments. Now
and then, it is said a few curious people un-
dertake to do the mountain and tunnel in q
day, and actually accomplish the feat. If the
sweltering people FROM closely packed cities
and towns along the Southern seashorc could
only enjoy the bracing atmosphere, the clear,
cold water, the luxurious nights, by cheap
transit of single day and night, as VIC hope
soon will be realized, how much both sections
would be improved in all that makes life en-
oyabe; but We started out 10 describe some of
the distinctive features of this home scenery,
not to speculate or philosophize.
This mountain, yclept Stump House, a legend
about which we shall not tarry to relate or
create is but spur of the great Blue Ridge
mountains, and divides Oconee county nearly
in half, east and west, each knob. having dis
tinctive name, as Underwood mountain, Poor
mountain, &C., and is now most easily and
pleasantly assembled by a new and well graded
road constructed by Mr.. Steers, contractor, un-
der the direction of Maj. Thos. B. Lee En-
ginecr.
This road carries the visitor in view of many
extensive scenes of mountain and valley, and
up rayincs remarkable for the fertility of the
soil and growth and variety of timber trees
Hickory, white oak, black walnut, locust, pop
lar, all aboundetl, of astonishing height and
size Abont half way from the base to the
summit this mountain, in the early spring time,
exhibits strange, though beautiful condition oi
hasty and luxurious verdurc. Weeks before
the valley below, or the heights above, show in
dications of returning spring, in bud Or foliage,
this belt is covered with green, and presents a
striking contrast with the bleak and wintry ap-
pearance of the country around and above. The
enterprising owner of these broad acres, Mai.
Grisham, has long talked of planting this
southern belt in fruit trees, and should he do
so and succeed, it would be another evidence Of
the existence OF that isothcrmal belt or frost
line, so long claimed by many as characteristic
of our Southern range of mountains.
Upon the crest of this mountain, and ex-
tending cast and west for moro than two miles,
it is said that the Blue Ridge Railroad Compa-
ny owns sixteen hundred acres of land, once
what depleted by the Use for tire-wood and
building material during the work on the great
tunnel, one mile in length, passing under the
mountain. This land is elninently fitted for
country seats, and hotel during the hot sum-
mer months, and is productive in the cereals
and fruits. 1t is also rumored here, that this
Company is now offering to give alternate lots
to actual summer residents and fifty acres, with
abundant building material in wood and stone,
to any responsible company who will erect q
hotel for accommodation of visitors during tho
summer months This site even now so acccs-
sible, with such commanding scenery and
healthful atmosphere, should at once be occu-
pied and improved, and opened to visitors the
next season.
But the uncompleted Tunnel is the great
object Of notice, inquiry and remark of the
very few who visit it, and of the many who
only have heard of this gigantic work, under
taken by the little State of South Carolina.
With its arched way driven through the hard
est granite for moro than onc-half mile, its
four shafts from tho summit of the mountain
to grade from 100 to $50 feet perpcndicularly
it does present bold and difficult work to be
encountered so long ago by human hands, with
out the machinery and appliances of the pres
ent day. But now that new line is discovered
and located scaling the mountain heights
without Il tunnel, saving few miles in dis
tancc, and over S3OO,O 900 in cost over compile
ting the old line, how few of those who are
daily casting obloquy and reproach upon those
great men who originated the enterprise, for
want of skill, judgment and foresight, stop to
inquire the real causes which produced this
change in the line, and abandonment of the
large amount Of work already. performed.
How few know, or choose to consider, that the
Engineer, nearly twenty years ago, was restrict