The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-10-04

course. s,.Rabun Gap. .is buts 2,OAA feet
above tide water, and was depressed by
the Great Creator expressly for rail-
road to pass through it. The Tennes-
see River has only eight feet fall to the
mile in twenty miles TO franklin. and
the average se!! tcr eighty mile: o. ie
but sixteen feet TO the mile. It would
seem as II God had opened this gently
descending valley also expressly for the
iron horse to traverse: The North Caro-.
lima Legislature had granted to his (Dr.
Love's) application o most liberal char.
ter for the portion passing through that
State, and had forever exempted il from
taxation. He illustrated the anxiety
and the hopes of his people by little
aneodote Of certain old Tom" CO.
lored man Of his acquaintance, who had
not always strictly regarded the laws OF
property. When water.melons, fruits
pigs and poultry, with their sayory
temptations, weighed in the balance, to.
gether with Toms undisciplined appe-
tites, the slight sense Of the difference
which he felt between meum and tuun,,
kicked the beam, and Toms honesty
went up With it. This old sinner was ut
last brought under conviction at a camp.
meeting. Seeking retired place. he
wrestled earnestly against his evil pro.
pensities. In this he was encouraged
by one Of the clergy, who felt an inte-
rest in him. He urged Tom to pcrse-
we're, saying to him. among other things,
that in Heaven there was no distiction
of color; that all who reached it would
have white robes and have fair skins,
SO. Old Toms face lighted up will, q
smile which shone through his tears at
this prospect. and he blubbered to his
friend: "Bress dc Lord, massa, tink 1
SEQ de white a-comiDg." The Doctor,
who is Senator in the State Legisla-
turs of North Carolina for his County,
with much force and q good deal OF
humor. showed the urgent need of y
road through the mountains. He would
have been more just, however, if he
had Disseminated. in bis implied cen
sure OF the Blue Ridge Road, between
the original conception of the road a nd
its earlier management, and the more
recent fagrant misms agemeut and
fraud which have impeded its further
progress. He was little disposed, too,
to deprccinte the Butt Mountain Gap
and the practicability of railroad
through it from Spartauhurg to Ashe
vile and on to Wolf Greek. But iu our
view both roads are necessary, aud both
will be built. Columbia is hardly less
interested in the latter than she is ID tue
development OF her fine water power.
Charleston, too. is bound to come TO the
rescue Of this road. The Western side
OF the State, also, greatly needs, and
must have, ere great while, road
from this point or Anderson, or one
from both, to Augusta or it's neighbor-
hood, connecting with Port Royal and
Charleston, aud in the other direction
stretching across the mountains to
Knoxville, whence it will take its
course to the cities of the North. west.
DIR. Ansell, nntive of the town, made
few remarks, and the meeting ad-
journed to dinner. All passed off ag, CO.
ably.
We had the pleasure, few days ago,
OF meeting Col. G. F. Hampton, lust
down from Cashiers Valley. He and
Col. Burt, of Abbeville, represent the
temperature there this summer to have
becn delightful, the thermometer never
rising higher than 76. There are valua.
BILE minerals in nil this mountain region.
Col. Hampton had some beautiful speci.
mems OF corundam, richly oolored, some
quite rnby-liko and talcose slate. We
have also been shown some excellent
specimens of mica. got out near here,
and rocks rich in gold and silver.
We have met with much Kindness in
this place, and leave its excellent peo-
pie and beautiful mountain views, now
becoming richor and more varied rs the
autumnal days advance, with real re-
gret.