Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-05-26
For the Journal.
ASHEVlLLE.


= ern North CaroIina Railroad.
Mr.. EO1ToR:-Entertain desi
to see something of the mounta
country of our own State, and also
the much talked.of Western Nor
Carolina railroad, its location, prt
gress and prospects for early owe
coming the formidable bar" to i
entrance into the haven of its ultima
destination, ''The Mississippi valley
I recently made flying visit to Ash
vile, and only regret that I underest
mated the time necessary to full
gratifv my desire.
The road from Wilmington to Cha
lotte passes over a country from lev
to somewhat rolling. the soil varyin
from sand, light and heavy clay, mucl
loan and rocky. all sufficient
undulsting and fertile for health an
agricultural purposesinp perfection, an
with great water powers, rich forest
of trees and underground as variabl
in character as the soils upon whicl
they grow.
From the many evidences of thrift
upon the line of this road in the spring
ing up like mushrooms of new town
and villages everywhere, the growtl
and Improvement of old ones, tn,
general Improvement of farm build
ings, fences, ditching, clearing up anl
tillage, I should think the countr,
abundantly able to sustain the roac
from its local traffic alone. besides
being competent to sustain large in
hux of Immigrants to utilize the idle
forests and mineral districts.
Much credit is due the accomplished
superintendent for his industry and
perseverance in placing his road il
such good condition and keeping it sc
under the most obstinate difficulties
and trying circumstances, at the same
time securing countless friends
through a generous and courteous in
tercourse with the people.
From Charlotte to Statesville, thence
on the line of the Western North Car
DINA railroad acroes the Catawba river
and up to Morgsnton which may be
said to be at the foot of the mountains,
is as fine belt of country for agricul-
tural and manufacturing purposes as
can be found any where, as beautiful
and attractive to tourists and tempo
rary visitors, as pleasant, agreeable and
profitable to permanent settlers as can
be found any where else on top of this
earth, I reckon.
From Morgsnton to Henry Station,
(the present head of the road and six
miles above Old Fort almost to the
mouth of the great tunneD, we are in
the wilds of the ''Switzerland of Amer
ica." which for the grandeur of its
towering mountains, the magnificent
mountain views, its rich and ever
varying romantic scenery. its beautiful
valleys and still more beautiful noun
tain streams of clear, limpid water
dancing merrily..over pebbly bottoms,
presenting here and there charming
cascades, laughing and glittering in the
morning subeams, has no super ior, if it
be equalled anywhere. Its true picture
like that of Niagara has never been
written and never will be; it must be
seen to be appreciated. One single
view in this belt which will not un>
dertake to describe. will amply COM
pensate the tourist for the expense of
q visit.
The great popularity of the road is,
that while it passes through this wild
mountain region it is by no means an
''air-line' in the common acceptation
of that term. Adopting first one and
then another of the mountain streams,
and with them winding around noun
tains and across valleys untilit ascends
to the very base of the mountain-ridge
which is being tunneled, thus avoiding
all those disagreeable and dangerous
cliffs, high embankments and tressel-
ing. 30 common to ''air-i lines" through
q region like this, and which is so great
3 terror to the timid traveller.
Between Henry Station and Swan
nanoa Gap (Which is the crest of the
q distance of three miles
BY the stage road is the formidable
bar" above alluded to. The elevation to
be overcome is about one thousand
feet, to accomplish which it becomes
necessary to increase the distance to
eight miles instead of three by wind
ing around and tunneling through
several mountains.
AS far as could see and learn the
work of tunneling by the contractors,
Col. Wilson and others, under the
of Col. Allen, is being
prosecuted with much energy. The
convict labor, under the skillful man.
agement of Major Miller, is doing
valuable service for the State, but it
is much to be regretted that there are
so few convicts at work here. Double
the present number could be advan-
employed with decided
benefit to the material interest of the
State, and / should think the interest
of the State would be greatly enhanced
by some immediate steps being taken
by the proper authorities to enlarge
the force for removing this formidable
at the earliest possible
so as to utilize the entire
road and make it profitable at once as
most of the grading beyond this point
is already complete, and but q very
short time would then be required to
open communication with the Missis-
sippi valley and the great cities
thereof.
As far as my observation goes, the
State may claim the road as one of
real merit, and if proper connections
are made to direct its traffic to her
own seaport the local business alone, 1
8 lould think, would be sufficient to
sustain it harmoniously with ordina-
ri Y judicious management.
From Henry Station safe and by
no means unpleasant ride of twenty
you to Asheville, the "Queen City of
ouE LII IL
We took a near road over Beau catcher
Mountain. which overlcoks the town,
from the top of which We had splen-
did view of the town and its surround
irgs, sitting there, as it were, in
quiet dignity, ON an apparently hollow
square plateau of Irregularities, the
charming Swannanoa dancing merrily
along her southern border, and the
world renowned French Broad her
western, surrounded on every side by
giant mountains. towering far above
the surrounding country and looking
like SO many sentinels protecting their
cherished sovereign from the offensive
intrusion or vulgar gaze of the outer
world. -. .---.-,- g. ,.1.-
How would it do. Mr.. Editor, to
claim and adopt this little orphan into
our Cape Fear family? It strikes me
as appropriate and proper that we
should at once set to work and Guilt
vate social and com n ercial relation
ship. In these days OF railroads and
modern progress we may lose the
prize by delay, the little thing can't
stay out in the cold much longer and
may accept the first offer of protection