The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-10-08
800. frnna Cumberland Gap. Tenn.
SNtN ,....A ac il,a Richnnnnd DiSpatcll.l

xSYrp1
'~"' CrxRrRtASp.GA TESN.,l
October ). 1872.
,~,co. natural outlet between
Kentucky and Virginia anu ie,', n,.,o,, ,s,1'
the objective point OF >cvcf'i ,''t,. ,''' ,,,,ne
road connections. is likely 10 nF'"',' 80 ,r;,.c
of no small importance, PIT i"l,9,S, ,,no,t2 nr
YOU some account OF the ,,'"o'" ~ won.
the adjacent country a. "''' - "
derin! natural beauties. ,,,,s;o,
:, aao,nS ,f,at Nv some mighty CONFUSION
,, =, the country along the line OF the
=, mountains has parted from IT.
,r,,n ,.c,orical position and upheaved 10 the
tn;cbt NJ $50 lcct, forming thereby anear'!
.,r,anI;cu,ar cliff of 800 feet on the len.
i,c,tn,. and Virginia side. and then siopihS
,Lo holanca of the way to the valley below.
4. q natural consequence the country on inc
E,n,ucky side was thrown down with gen
,ln slopc north, thereby forming these noun
Trims. By the same mighty CONFUSION 'it
range, was parted in twain, leaving great
,,a:I,r,, ontlct where otherwise would nave
hcen nm impsSablc barrier. The rage or
,orroy backbone OF the mountains marks
.he division between the limestone ana sand
stone formations.
Al the foot of the cliff on the south or
Virginia and Tennessee Side Is beautiful
level valley, about three MmdTed yafaS
wide. and which gradually risca into hlSh
hills as you leave the gap going south Tor
about two miles, when they. too, su1deh'F
break off or throw down, forming the rover
valley and river, noted for its agricultural
wealth. The scenery from these MIS- loon
ing north towards the gap, Surias'e' any
thing of the kind J have ever seen, hot eA-
certinr tue celebrated Hawk Hc>', on Ne"
river. ,,drod
AT the foot OF the cliff, and three hundred
feet above the level OF the fa'icv'a i"r2v;
clear stream. sufficient TO turn &i'st mn
and earding machine, guShes ont from h'lse
cave under the mountain, ana Iu>hS' o'ci
the rocks TO the valley below. The cave Is
said bv those who have explored i to excel
in size and beauty the Mammoth Cave OF
Kentucky, A gentleman told ne he had cX-
rlored il for three miles, but shall DC better
able to speak Of it tomorrow, as parry OF
rs contemplate visiting it tonight.
Near the centre of the valley, facing the
cliff, rs very fine sulphur Sprn%. bold ana
strongly ilnpregnated. Ovcrlyili& tho range
CT hills mentioned rs running tack from ne
GAP and occasionally cutting then, = most
wonderful vein of brown and red hrnfilli"
iron ores, the latter better known rs he aye,
stone ore. Your correspondent examined
these veins for miles, and can truly say thcy
surra,s ANYTHING of the kind he has ever
seen in richness and quantity. he ven l.
from three TO sixteen fee; thick and extends
for twenty miles along this range OF Hills,
d;ppiu@ north with the hills. and apparently
running under the CumbcrlHnd muNniHin>:
The ore is almost pure iron, ana has yIrlaCu
in the cruciiI". by BiadlcyS process, ~
wounds Of steel from 100 pounds OF Gre, ana
from 90 to - per cent. OF NJ non. me
vein is thrcc-qtiartcrS OF nile Wi0c ny l"iiS
twenty long. -,
In close proximity to these ores. when
are remarkably free from all impurities. are
iucxllali>tihlc supplies Of both btumlnouS
and canuc Goals, AS well rs an abundance OF
,jmlcr for charcoal, and limestone for llurs.
and Grc-clay also. An English company has
recently purchased Il portion OF the lands Tor
S2JU, 900. che entire country from mere 10
Mi. sterling is undcl'laid With 4'liiily
@! camel and UituninOus coal, mostly above
water icSc.
Your correspondent hes Just rode over the
entire ine Of survey Of the {. {. and cum
btrlund Gap railroad, Thch is remarkably
favorable with cas- grades.
The country along the entire route
ahoundS i'll white 0aS black walnut. Whllc
pine, ash. chcsn,tt, aud Wild Cherry, III M
Incnsc forests. The salt worhS i'll Clay com
" are extensively worked. and the valley OF
tn" supposed saltwater basin extends for
thirty miles. In this county lour CORE
s,onl,alit passed the celebrated Earning
springs. which ate continually boiling and
rI,@ins ~, and rs the !norninG "&s colo,
warmed himself Ly il cheerful blaze. |
have neycr seen any country better able to
support 4 road. and with it, great mineral
wealth, timhcr, &C.. and backed by the great
B.,!e Hrts. country. ii is only wondcr ii
iEs never been built heretofore. ;.