The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-10-09

French Broad on the other side. Peak
after peak, and range upon range, lie
upon each other, and each apparently
striving for the mastery in the grand
panorama. The highest peak perhaps in
the United States is Mitchell, called after
a distinguished tourist who lost his life
in its exploration. His remains lie upon
the summit. 1t is $500 feet above the
sea. The purest water gushes from these
mountain sides in ten thousand rivnlets,
freely dispensing their life giving prop
critics to man and beast.
The following extracts from the letter
of a correspondent to the (Columbia)
Southern Presbyterian, describing Western
North Carolina, are graphic and true to
the letter: X.
In support of the truth of this state
ment is the following testimony of Pro-
fessor Guyot, of the College of New Jer-
sey, who is an authority in such matters.
After describing this mountain region in
its general dimensions and most striking
features, he says: "Here, then, through
au extent of more than one hundred and
fifty miles, the mean height of the valley
from which the mountains rise is more
than 1000 feet; the mountains which
reach 5000 feet are counted by scores,
and the loftiest peaks rise to $500 feet,
while at the North, in the group of the
White Mountains, the base is scarcely
1000 feet, the gaps 1000 feet, and Mount
Washington, the only one which rises
above 5000 feet, is still 400 feet below
the height of the Black Dome of the
Black Mountains. Here, then, in all re-
spects, is the eliminating region of the
vast Appalachian system"
The first striking characteristic of this
region is its mountains, which are distin-
guished by elevation, variety of chains
and groups, the countless number of
peaks and knobs, fertility of soil, and
luxuriance of vegetation, and by gen.
eraI aspect, not of rugged aud melan-
choly desolation, but Of mingled gran
deur, verdure, beauty and loveliness.
On the west is the chain of the Great
Smoky Mountain, the crest of which is
the dividing line between North Carolina
and Tennessee. On the east is the Blue
Ridge; between these are numerous
transverse or cross chains, and east of the
Blue Ridge are divers spurs, such as the
Tryon range. These constitute four dis
tinct classes of ranges and elevations, the
whole forming the mountainous region of
North Carolina, which, entering the
State from Virginia, continues through
its extreme western part into Georgia.
The length of these highlands lying in
North Carolina is about 1S0 or 200 miles,
with an average breadth of 40 to 60
miles.
The most elevated of all the chains is
the Black Mountain, which is a cross
chain northeast of Asheville and the
valley of the French Broad. Itcontains
a number of lofty peaks, the highest of
which is Black Dome, Tor Mitchelps
High Peak, or Clingman's of State
maps, 6,707 feet, being the most elevated
point in the eastern division of the Uni
ted States. The peak takes its name
from the dark color of the balsam frs
which, above q certain line of elevation,
grow thickly and luxuriantly, and covers
its sides and summit. On the latter is
the grave of Professor Mitchell, of the
University of North Carolina, who lost
his life in exploring the peak in 1857,
and whose remains were buried on its
top. There is another peak called Mount
Mitchell, but it is four miles distant from
the other, and 125 feet lower. The dis
tance of the Black Dome from Asheville
is about 25 miles.
The Grandfather mountain is peak
of the Blue Ridge still further to the
northeast from Asheville, measuring
5,S97 feet, and is the highest summit Of
that chain, though twelve other peaks
are over 5000 feet. Mount Hardy,
southwest of the French Broad, was once
regarded as the highest pesk of the Blue
Ridge, but the Grandfather has been
found to be the highest.
This is the view expressed by Profes-
sor Guyot, who says: Beyond the
French Broad rises the most massive
cluster of highlands and of mountain
chains. Here the chain of the Great
Smoky Mounte;' which extends from
the deep cut he French Broad at
Paint Rock to tL..v not less remarkable
of the Little Tennessee, is the master
chain of that region of the whole Allie
ghany system. Though its highest sum-
mits are few feet below the highest
peaks of the Black Mountain, it presents
on that extent of sixty-fve miles a con-
tinuous series of high peaks, and an ave-
rage elevation not to be found in any
other district, and which give to it a
greater Importance in the geographical
structure of that vast system of noun
tains. The gaps or depressions never
fall below 5000 feet, except towards the
southwest and beyond Forney Ridge,
and the number of peaks, the altitude of
which exceeds 5000 feet, is indeed very
large.
"On the opposite side to the northeast
the Blue Ridge also offers its greatest
elevation in the compact cluster of noun
tains which fill the southern portion of
Haywood and Jackson counties. Mount
Hardy, in the Blue Ridge, which, ac-
cording to Mr.. Buckley, rises to 6,257
feet, though this elevation may be found
too great. seems to be the eliminating
point of the Blue Ridge"
Six principal rivers, with numerous
tributaries, take their rise in the western
slopes of the Blue Ridge and in the cross
chains, and after passing in deep gorges
through the Smoky Mountain range, help
to form the great continental stream of
the Tennessee River, which, after flow
ing thousand miles, empties into the
Ohio at Paducah, KY. These are the
Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, Big Pigeon,
French Broad, Nolechucky and Watauga.
Another, New River, having its head
springs in and around Grandfather
Mountain, flows northward through Vir-
ginia into the Kanawha River, which
empties into the Ohio. Each of these
rivers drains basin or valley of consid-
erable extent, bearing severally the name
of the river that runs through it. The
soil of the river and creek bottoms is