The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-25
THE 4 NORTH 81 a T TE'. 4.
rRIP re ..BITNco siBE.

-, ssnS sInrn caRoLISA--THE HEAD OF THE
80. :, $. arsss lND SOMETHING ABOUT THAT
nIrrp-PgoM THE TUNNEL TO AsHFfLLE---
3 r,yar T0wE AND IT'S sAIpBRITY--THE
FRENCH BROAD AND IT'S BOLD SCENERY
a TRIP ALONG IT'S SHORE -THE WARY
spRISas--uPo 4 DANGEROUS BaIDGE-A
rEw goURs AT THE SPRISGs-TaE PLACE
no BscoMs MORE POPULAR AND FAMOUS
RETURN BIZ THE REMARKABLE RIVER soAD..
A NIGHT At NARSHALL--THE FRkNcn
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. lee NJ AN "
q GLeD WITH DRovEs OF HoGs-soMh Az a.,
CorSy or rT--soME MORE ABOUT ASH
rIrI.s--DRUNMERS. AND REMARKS UPof',
TueM-sUNC,oMBE ITS FAME, ITS GREET
MEN. IT'S cASpIDATEs FOR UNITED STATES
SENATE. AND THE LOYALTY 1T INSPiRE5S---5
Youx,ysRD RDUND--S4 LIsBGRY, IT'S FoRfdER
cuaRAcrgR--as THE TYPE OF NORTH CAR
S,I.rSA T0wy- AND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
ERS NORTH ACCOMPLISHMENTS BET EEN
VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, AID THE
RECIPROCAL. NATURE OF THEIR BUSINESS AND
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
rCorrespondencc Of the Richmond Dtpatca.)
NOVEMBER 1fS, 1878.
II your readers, Mr. Dispatch, will toie-
rate me for awhile, I will endeay or, to say
few words Of rapid journey through an
interesting region OF dear old North Caro-
lina-dear to me from early memories and
from Journeys performed at different times
through different sections OF the revered
Commonwealth. This last hurried expedi-
ton was by the Danyille railroad to Sails
bury, and thence by the Western North
Carolina railway to the present terminus az
the foot OF the mountain anti at The head OF
the Catawba riyer-that very lively river
which, after leaving North Carolina, ira
verses half Of the Palmetto State to where,
without any apparent reason, 1t Is named
Wateree. Proceeding by Camden. S. c., ia
n short distance it joins The Copgaree,
which. coming along b. Columbia, unites
with the aforesaid Wateree-diuted water
they take the name OF Santee, and that
moves sluggishly to the Atlantic north OF
Charleston. / confess any indignation at
the long-existing wrong which, without
reason, robbed Catavba OF its name ana
sent it. under that wishy-washy one OF We
teree to pay its large tribute to the Santee:
1t was great wrong that thus exlingnsned
q pleasant name borne for so many miles by
n bold and lovely river. 1t is almost the
only wrong that know Of to be laid at the
door Of heroic South Carolina. In perpe-
trating tie wrong the name Of Wateree was
given, as it were, to make the theft incon-
siderable!
AT this point begins the tunnel that passes
under Swananoa gap (Which is very low to
the west side Of the mountain. There the
line Of the railway strikes the Swananoa
river and follows its valley to Ashyille, the
county-seat OF BUNCoMBE. The tunnel
will be finished, it is promised, in spring.
and as soon afterwards rs possible the road
will he built to the town. The embank-
ment is already made for good part OF the
distance, and can be rapidly finished when
the force now upon the tunnel is put upon
it. This force consists OF about 500 peni-
Tertiary conyicts. t
It is twenty-one miles from this tunnel to
Ashviile, and pretty bad road it is, 81
thank YOU" Though as force is soon to be
concentrated upon the railroad, all will be
content TO stand the road in hopes OF its
early completion.
ASHvILLE
is pleasant town embosomed amidst noun
tains. whose towering tops lift up their
heads in sunshine and storm and enthuse
the mind Of the observer, exciting cheerful
ness and buoyancy. that are well sustained
by the agreeable temperature that prevails
In the charming locality. There it appears
that winter winds are blunted-the ardor
OF summers heat is pacitied. 4
=. "There simmer first unfauld her robes,
And there the Largest larry"
It is not surprising, therefore, that Ash
vile is considered happy place for inva-
lids and delicate persons, though at present
the. getting there is not pleasant under
taking.
The town, being the county-seat of
Buaconabe county, is place have long
wanted to see. Tt is situated near the
French Broad rivera stream that abounds
in scenery OF the most romantic and insplr-
Ing nature. 1t rises OH the southern border
OF the State, and, ticking northwesterlv
course, crosses the western border near the
Warm Springs which are within nine miles
of the East Tennessee and Virginia rail-
way.
>---s THE FRENCH BROAD
is remarkably bold for its length, having
it's sources in the mountains. 1t is about
forty miles from Ashyille to the Warm
Springs, and the road between them
lies right upon the shore OF the beauti-
ful river. The reader may imagine that
a journey along that road would be
delightful to any lover OF rugged, weird,
and admirable scenery. The river is bold,
clear, and rapid. 1t was called by the In
dians RACING RIVER" and very appropri-
atelys for when the traveller looks along its
rapids, the dashing ,white-capped waves,
leaping down the incline, resemble the fly
ing malr OF gallant steeas striving to pass
one another in their wild chase. Every i'm
aginable phase of bright and dashing wa
tiers is presented in succession to the eye
for long, long miles, and the route never
becomes wearisome. Both shores OF the
stream are abrupt and towering, and al
though there are not us many Gifts as you
find upon New river, or. Virginia mountain
waters, they are neverthelessbold and love-
" for taieir.slevatons and foliage. People
are ever contrasting the scenes OF the
French Aroad with those of Italy. know
not with what j ustice. But certainly the
French Rro2d Is satisfactory enalgh for me.
and feel eilst it WaEld not be; leEs soft the
traveller was lat q slass what to- compare it
with.
Adown this brave stream a;fFend and
myself travelled. TO tAeiNarm Springs. In
the Journey you may. be sure we,:saw and
enjoyed heartily all the beauty and gram
6eur Of the remarkable g Racing. siyer."
Bot such road as we travelled was one
that no man would like to travel ascend
time. unless his IoNe2i Natlare in her lovely
phases STEPPED his memory OF jolts and
aches liz forgetfuiness. The H'rench Bread
passes rapidly, rs Etweae, thr0agh trough,
and its current clears its way Of everything
4hatis meYable. SO every rise washes ayys. |
the earth and leaves The Geaks bare. A rail- |
way being projected and partly constructed
upoptts shore into Tennessee, there is little
attention paid to the road, and our vehicle {
nearly all the way danced assout ,Hson the T
rocks Ikea fishing. cork upon rough ayater.
But journeys on all bad ROADS bring trav-
eiiefs to theH destination IL they live Eongl