The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-01-23
THE KENTUCKY. AND T'ENNES-
SEE MACADAM ROAD.
LIRE VALLEY, Tenn, Jan. 8, 1878.

To the Editor Of the Aorf1stoWn 6azetts.
Having just returned from Cumber-
land Gap, Virginia-Tennessee-Keni
lucky, the corner of three States, we /
will, according to promise, give you a
few lettings gathered on our trip.
{ Col. VIM. Greene and Mr.. Silas Flour
the Tennessee and Kentucky Mac
Adamized Road Company" kindly Of
fered US a seat in their carriage, which
we accepted; and, although the roads
were in fearful bad condition, Stokes
spanking team of bays carried US through
triumphantly.
First item, because the principal OBJ
ject of our trip, we witnessed the draw
ing of the above mentioned company;
the drawing for prizes were conducted
upon the same plan followed by the
Louisville Library Association" and
was superintendent by Col. Greene and
Mr.. Flournoy, on part of the company,
and Capt. T. ]. Berry and Geo. A. Muir
ray, Esq, on behalf of the shareholders.
We have no hesitation in saying, that
this, the first drawing of the company,
was fairly and honorably conducted; and
in view of the laudable character of the
undertaking, to build first class Mac
Adamized Turnpike, from Cumberland
Ford to the East Tennessee, Virginia
and Georgia Railroad, we hope their fu-
ture drawings will be ILLEGALLY patron
lied by the public.
There is an abundance of rock for
macadamizing purposes, all along the
proposed route, which by the way, trav-
erses some of the finest agricultural
mineral, and timber lands in the South.
Bad roads, or no roads, are the curse OF
all this section of country, and the fulfil
ity of our State road laws, give us no
hope of better roads, until they are built
by private enterprises; therefore, we
again urge upon the people in this part
of the country, to wake up to their own
interests. and lend helping hand to
those who are willing to help them; in
short, buy some shares in the next draw
ing of the Tennessee and Kentucky
MacAdamized Road Company"
We would next like to portray for your
readers some of the romantic scenery OF
this historic spot; but we must leave the
task to an ADLER pen to describe the AL
pine grandeur of the Cumberland noun
tain at this point; frowning cliffs OF
solid limestone, snow.capped, hundred:
of feet high, seem to hang over, and
threaten to tumble into the narrow
winding road that leads up to anC
through the Gap. The old Notifications
thrown up during the war, on the sum
mits commanding the pass, are still il
tolerable preservation, and the little
campfire places, and the tent pins of th'
soldiers, are still standing in many
places.
We met a warm welcome as we drove
up to that first class hotel, kept at the
foot of the mountain by the venerable
DR.. Morrison; who, with his most esti
mable better-half, has remained at thu
same post, giving the best of entertain
: ment to hungry travellers, before the
war, during the war, and ever since tn
? war.
. Mrs. Morrison is exactly our beau idea
Z of a model landlady; with great informa
8 ton, and splendid conversational pow
ers, a few of her anecdotes of war times
t are well worth hotel bill any time.
While at the Gap we were pleased t
meet our good Democratic friend, Hon
HenIy Patton, late Representative o
! Hancock and Claiborne, and present d
: jure member; he was undoubtedly re
elected by a handsome majority owe
,, Mr.. Rogers, de .factO incumbent, but wa
= counted ont by little Radical moonshin
returning board ever on the Kentuck
q border We think it fortunate for MI
Patton that his friends didn't learn til
facts of the fraud until it was too lat
to successfully contest the seat; as II
thereby escaped the odium of participat
ing in the late dnaented repudidting eGtr
= session. East Tennessee has few young
/ men of purer character or brighter fl
ture prospects than Henry Patton, an
we are glad TO know that the DemOt
racy of the mountain counties have a
ready selected him as their next Sen;
torial standard bearer in this Senator's
8 district.
Being of an inquisitive turn, we aske
a number of prominent gentlemen, VIII
! they were for for Governor, &C.; an
!, we found a large majority of those W
Intercepted, in favor of Hon. A.
! Kyle for Governor, and Hon. VIM Nj
Farland, for Congress.
-, We cannot close our list of personal
ties, without a compliment to Rev. D
T. p. Ensor, of PowePs Valley; our a
. quaintance was short, but our opport,
nifty was well improved; after the shol
seven miles travelled in his COMPANY
/ we were Convinced that his genius as
poet, wit, and scholar, entitled hiI
- to rank among the literary stars of IL
!, period. Hope to meet the youthful 0
:. Doctor again.
9 We will conclude our scribble by O
|, fering the thanks of our party to I'll
!, kind hearted gentleman and lady wi
a entertained us two nights, going and r
= turning; we allnde to Mr.. Hugh Parke
and lady, at the ford of Powels rive
a be it understood, this is no puff, as III
Parkey doesn't keep hotel, more is I'll
= pity, as We can guarantee he d make
u good landlord. Respectfully yours, etc
CLINCH.
,e R The Municipal election
y Knoxville last Saturday is reporte
r TO have been very quiet but vel