Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-08-14
Lister fgom Cumberland Cap.
CAap HovAaD, ConBEaLAsD GAR, Ky.

CAMP HowAap, CoMsEaLAvD Gar, KY,
July 80, 1875.
NrssRs. FDlrags FnEE Press.
A few words as to locality. Our camp Is
situated within 300 yards OF tic Cumberland
CAP. a pass in the Cumberland mountains
through which the great highway from East
Tennessee to Kentucky passes. The road was,
before the DAYS of r. Rs, the thorougiare fer all
lhe travel from the Last to Kentucky. The
old citizens tell in tones of regret tor the good
times that have past, of the trains Of wagons
that thronged the road, making journeys to
Baltimore and other points East with produce
and returning with supplies OF groceries aud
dry goods They boast that then the road was
in splendid condition, DC, &c. However that
may be. | can testify that now it Is the most
yilIainous highway ever traversed bya four
wheeled, vehicle We hired a conveyance at
Morristown to bring us to this point, dis
tauce Of about forty miles, and | think that
the average amount Of walking done by each
individual Of the party would be about 81!
mics, neat calculation. They tell us that a.
long tbs route Daniel Boone made his journey
10 the famous bloody ground, aud not a lew
traditions OF the old hunters trials that have
never found their way into print might be ga
thered up by the diligent historian. am in
clned to think be deserved to be roughly treat
cd for yenturing Tito I country which afforded
no reader way ofaccess than this route.
Our camp occupies a shelf or table-land a.
bout l75 feet, vertical height, above the Gap,
admirably adapted by nature to the purpose
and improved by our industrious northern
friends during the late unpleasautness by fl
ling up The miry places with rocks and level
ing oil numerous spots for tents. They have
the consolation that though their labor was in
vain for military purposes, it, like all good
deeds in The end finds lis eward,-in this
case--in contributing TO the comfort OF the vo-
tary Of science. In the midst Of the camp and
within fifty feet Of any Of the tents, rises
spring of delightful freestone water which has
been neatly walled up aud has quite dOmes-
disappearance, the waters Of which, after do
ing service for dairy purposes we quickly u
tilted 90 afford us a delightful shower bath, as
it tUmbled over the rocks few hundred feet
below our cucampment Thus we have all the
appliances Of 6rst-class watering place for
health and luxury, at the moderate cost, bed
and board included aud the best fare as that
of-tel it not in Gath-S3 30 per week
SIX huudred feet above Us on what is known
as the Pinnacle, floats the signal llag Of the
Kentucky Geological Survey, of which our
camp is at present the headquarters. On the
West, lies the valley of Yellow Creek, q branch
of the Cumberland, $50 feet below the camp,
the bench or table land on which we are loca-
ted being very abrupt on this side, and afford
ing a splendid view Of the valley and of the
mountains beyond. From the Pinnacle or top
Of the bluff formed by the Gap, looking South
and East is an uninterrupted view across East
Tennessee to The Smoky Mountain and Mount
Mitchell Of North Carolina, distant about 100
miles, ailJrding, with the intervening noun
tain chains of the Iolston and Cliuch, a land
scape well worth long trip TO enjoy. Indeed,
mere outline Of the topography Of this coun-
try would suggest its va.ue as q subject OF
study to the Gecogist For, on the South we
have the Powell, Clinch and Holston Rivers
heading well up il Virginia, each withits well
defined watershed, taking their courses in al
most parallel lines for several hundred miles,
until uniting they form the Tennessee, which,
dipping low into Alabama, turns suddenly
northWard. crosses the states Of Tennessee and
Kentucky and discharges its waters in the
Ohio, but q few miles from the Cumberland,
which has pursued az almost parallel direc-
ton few miles North giving geological
structure Of the country but rarely found in
any other region.
Our party consists Of ab0ni 50 students and
professors The instructors are chiefly mem
bers o.! the kentucky Geological Survey, who
are at present working up this section Of the
Staten connection with member Of the Uni
ted States Coast Survey, and whose ass stance
and direction we are all kindly permitted to
cuioy.-tho' The school 10 snder the immediate
direction Of Harvard College, the Chief of the
Survey being distinguished Kenluckian,
who holds The chair Of Geology and Pacontol-
ogy at Harvard The students arc chiefly
teachers representing almost all the states as
far south as Tennessee, and have proven to be
as s0cable and agreeable as could be desired.
Among them are several College Professors e
some distinction in their special departments.
Oar mode Of study is as follows Wd rise ut
s.. joining the Professor at G foran hours talk
T ia the study which consists of large fly erect
cd on the bluti overlooking the VALLEY, and
which is fitted up with tables aud Ties and
q covered recess for maps and charlk The
talk consists Of questions on the TartIoi stu
dents, explanations of some recent wotk done,
and an explanation Of the geological IIhenon-
ena therein exhibited Then comes breakfast
at T. where We have everything that frves to
make a good morning meal. II il is 4arly in
the week expeditions in parties Of frorh 8 to II
are undertaken TO points within OF ( days
Journey for the study of The geological Iorma-
ton of that particular locality. If q Ic place
to be visited be among the mountains aS is al
most sure 10 be the case for like caHlon at
Balakava, there are mountains to tie right
# Us, mountains to the left Of us, m0uiI tains in
front and mountains in rear Of Us, wb load .
pack mule, with supplies for the trim. pair
of blankets, tent fly, &c, and equipped with
staff. compass and barometers and wifi a ma
Hre as guide we set ont on our journey Our
special work consists in determining the heights
By barometic readings, making and recording
observations Of the different geological furma-
tions, asceriaining the inclination. Of & O. STRAIT
jfca,ion, determining by the order ID which
they COW G aud their character to which Of the
great geological periods they belong. which,
with the many other data that | cam bt emu
meratc. enable the geologist to assert h what
manner the great forces Of nature have leen at
work that have lead TO mountain building and
mountain erosion, hew, At tins point, mighty
agencies have folded the earths crust rs the
hand may crumple piece Of paper, and at an
! other point these same agencies have teut in
! twain the surface and thrust Part thd uslhds
Of feet above its normal position. But Gcolo-
Il