The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-07-16
For tho anderson MteMgencer.
A Trip to the Mountains--No. 1.

Mr. EDITOR: On the morning of the 23rd
of June, a small party of us left Anderson for
an excursion among the neighboring noun
tans of Georgia, North and South Carolina.
Messrs. S. and II. were our only companions.
The first night we spent with an old friend and
relative near Townvile, where we were hand
somely entertained even asked us to
come again. The second night we spent with
Mr. Jarrett, where we met with good accom-
modations and reasonable charges.
We found nothing on the trip thus far to
excite any very special interest, except the
growing and harvested crops. They were all
that the most covetous heart could desire. I
don't remember having passed single ordinary
crop on the way. They all showed the highest
state of cultivation. Our people seem to have
learned since the war to plough deeper and
more thoroughly than ever before. I would
call especial attention to the Fork country. 1t
is certainly the garden spot of Anderson, if
not of upper South Carolina. Many years
have passed since / visited that part of our
County. 1t is sad thought that not only
many good citizens have sold out and left this
garden spot, for the far West, but many more.
both old and young, from different parts pro-
pose to follow them 1 believe their chief
reason for going is our bad government That
is plausible, but we must believe that by wis
dom and patience on our part an all-wlse
Providence will, sooner or later, work out a
remedy by way of State reform that will enable
us to become that prosperous, intelligent peo-
pie that our genial climate and fertile soil will
Justify. Why, Sir there are thousands upon
thousands of acres of this Fork country still
in native forests. There are probably not more
than three -fourths or four-fifths in cultivation
Judging from the well-tilled farms, and the
cozy farm houses dotting the wayside here and
there, giving every evidence of comfort and
plenty, we think it folly for our young men,
much less the old ones, to pass us by and seek
their fortunes in the far off, uncertain West.
Having spent a very pleasant night with
Mr. Jarrett, our next point was Toccoa City
and Falls, over seven miles of semi-mountan-
Gus road. We reached it in good order and
fine spirits. We were, however, very much
struck by the fact that Anderson should be
called village, while these half dozen white
houses stuck on the side of the railroad are
called city. We must remember this is
fast age!
After having tarricd at the City ~ but a
short while, we passed on two miles to the
beautiful falls Indeed, they arc we'll named,
since the Indian name, Toccoa, means beauti-
full. The thick growth on the mountainous
cliffs that overhung our pathway, obscured the
view until we were almost at the base, when
suddenly the gorgeous stream, lcaping from
the verge of a perpendicular precipice of one
hundred and eighty-six feet in height, burst
upon our view How grand The limpid
waters, as they descend, rejecting thousands OF
Jewels in the merry sumbeams, break into spray
long before they reach the base. To add to the
grandeur of the scence, the almost perpendicu-