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

| -S5't Az - SOaepesu as We ueeccDu the
French Broad on the other side. Peah
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
e distinguished tourist who lost his life
in il, exploration. His remains lie upon
ihe summit. It is 6,70O feet above the
ses. The purest water gusnes from these
mountain sides in ten thousand !riynlets,
freely dispensing their lifo-giyiug prop.
critics to man and beast.
The following extracts from the letter
Of q correspondent to the (Columbia)
Southern Fres6yterian, describing Western
North Carolina, are graphic and true to
the letter: X.
In support of tho 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 i'm
it's 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 mora
than 1000 feet; the mountains which
| leach 5000 feet are counted by scores.
and the loitiest peaks rise to 6.7OO feet.
while ct 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"
Ihe tirat 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
lnx1lriance Of vegetation, and by . pen
eral aspect not Of rugged and me1an-
choly desolation, but Of mingled gran
deur, verdure, beauty and ioveliness.
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 nuinerous
transverse or cross chains, and east of the
Biuo Ridge arc divers spurs, such as the
Iryon range. These constitute four dis
unct ciasses of ranges and elevations, the
| Mhole FORMING the mountainous region of
Norfh Carolina. which, entering the
State from Virginia, continues t5ror,e.h
It's extreme western part into Georgfa.
The length Of these highlands lying in
/ North Carolina is about $50 or 200 miles.
with an average breadth of 40 to so
\ miles.
The most elevated of all the chains ia
the Black Mountain, which is cross
chain northeast of Asheville md the
valley of the French Broad. It contains
o number oflofty peaks. the highest of
which 10 Black Dome, Tor Mitchell's
High Peak, or Ciingman's of State
maps S,707 feet, being the most elevated
point in the eastern division of the Uni
ted States. The peak takes it's name
from the dark color of the balsam fire
which, above certain line of elevation
grow. tbickly and luxnriantly, and covers
its sides and summit. On the latter IS
the. grave of Professor Mitchell, of tine
University of North Carolina, who LOST
his life in exploring the peak in 1857.
and whose reiaains were buried on It's
t2p. There is another peak called Mount
Mitchell, but it is four miles distant from
the other, and 125 feet lower. Tho 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,oS1 feet, and is the highest summit OF
! thaS. chain. though twelve nthar neals
are over 5000 feet. Mount Hardy.
Bouthwest of the French Broad, was onss
regarded as the highest peek OF tha Bl,,a
Ridge, but the Grandfather has besn
found to be tho highest. D. ss'N
This is tLe view expressed by Profess
sor Guyot, who save: "Beyond the
French Broad rises the most massive
cluster of highlands and of mount. a
chains. Here the chain of the Great
Smoky Mountaih, which extends fro;a
the deep cut of the French Broad al
Eaint Rock to that not less remarkable
Of the Little Tennessee, is the master
chain of that region of the whole Alle..
] ghany systems Though its highese si,nS.
niits are few feet below the highest
peaks of the Black Mountain. it presenfs
on that extent of sfxty-f:ye miles 3 CON.
tinuoua sertes of high peaks. and an ave.
rage elevation not to be found in anv
other district, and which give TO IL q
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 oi
which exceeds 1000 feet, is indeed very
large. ss ~
"Op che opposite side to the northeast
the bluo hidge also offers its greatest
eleIIaftSon in the CON p..at cluster of,nonn.
tains s:hich fill the southern porti6n Of
Hnywot and Jackson counties. ATeani
Hardy, hi the Blue Ridge. which. ac.
cofding to Mr., SSsuaslle7, rises 10 4 257
feet, though this elevation may be fonnd
too great, seems to be the cfilminatsng
point of the Blue Ridge, q 80
Six principal rivers, With numerous
tributaries, take their rise in the wesierT
slopes OF the Blue Ridge aud iu ths cfoss
chains, and after, passing in deep lorgesss
through tho Smoky Mountain range. help
TO form, the great continental stream az
the Tennessee River, which. after flow.
ing s thousand miics, emptses into the
\ Ohio at Padecah, KY. These are INC
Etiwasaee. Little Tennessee. BIC PiSann
French Broad, Nolechucky and sVatsuga'
Another. New River, having its head
springs in and around Grandfather
Mountain, flows northward through Vir-
lginia into tie K9nagha Riyara which
empties into the Ohio. Zach Of these
rivers drains o basin or valley df consid-
erabie extent, bearing seyerally she mans
I of the river that runs through Iit. The
soil OF the river and creek bottoms is
usually fertile, aud the same is tine of \