Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1881-02-22
Prom Fornsy's PhilsdolphiH Progross,
Down in Old Virginia.
EsriLLNiLLH, scorr COUNTY, Va.
January 0, 1881
Jol. j. w. Fornsv:

Col. J. w. Fornsv:
DRAR SIR;---I address you personally
rather than "editorily,' because your
name recalls 30 many pleasant memories
of that glorious Centennial summer In
Philadelphia. The place from which |
date this letter IL unfamiliar to you and
your thousands Of readers of the great
world. II In, as you may see by looking
IN any map Of Virginia, away down in
the southwest corner Of the "Old Do
minion, I'm the sharp angular nook that
lies In between tho State lines of Ken
sucky and Tennessee, and In the midst
or that District represented some thirty
years ago by Fayettc McMullln, the
''wagoner" Congressman, who always
boasted of his District ns "Llttle Ten
nessee." IL Is u region Of hills and
mountains, of green, luXuriant valleys
and rapid rivers Of purest crystal watcr; !;
largely populated, II Is true, but ms
primitive In thought and bab,t as in the
DAYS when Daniel Boone, n native Of
your own Bcrks County, "blazed the
irecB that marked the location of
''Boone's trail" from North Carolina
aud Virginia, across the successive lofty
ranges OF Clinch, Powel's, Wallcn's
aud the grcnt Cumberland Mountains,
Into Kentucky, the "dark and bloody
ground" 10 congcnial TO his tastes
aud habits. This old "trall" Is still II
brldal-path nnd thoroughfare across
many rugged and towering ridge; and
some of the great pioneers camping
grounds on the rlver-banks are still dis
iinctly marked by memorial bcech-trces
OF huge Dimensions, bearing In their
anarled bark, with almost startling dis
tlnctncss, the moss-c0vcrcd and rusty
incislons u. b., l7G0," and d. Boone.
l7S0,n the two years In which he first
aud last traversed the "trall."
From the line Of the Atlantic Mlssis-
nIppi and Ohio Railway, part Of the
great modern highway from Chesapeake
Bay 10 tho Gulf of Mexico, vast re-
rion lies of 20 the westward, partly In
Virginia and partly In Kentucky aud
Tennessee, larger In extent than all New
England, In which the sound of steam
whlstle has never been heard; for In n
bolt extending from Middle Virginia 300
miles away down into Tennessee, and
Iron near the western base of the blend-
ell Blue Ridge and Allcghany Noun
ialns 200 miles into the heart Of Kentucky
Nv, All area OF 10000 square miles, not
one mile Of railroad has ever yet been
completed, though this solfsamo region
fnrnlshed many OF the heroes Of Kings
Mountain. under the gallant Campbell,
ono hundred years ago.
And stranger still, this vast mountain
distrlct, Inhabited by our own race so
ionR, and yet 10 little known beyond It's
own limits, abounds In elements Of
wealth that would enrich an empire |;
norpassng In variety aud extent those
al other regions lying thousands OF
mllce away back from the Atlantic coast,
that have cntlced millions OF cntcrprls-
Ing men and women 10 brave all the rlg-
ora OF frontier life. Here we have u
prolific soil adapted 10 all the wants Of
ngrlculturc; q growth of timber trees,
Walnut, ash, hickory, oak, poplar, etc.,
nofhapa nowhere else cquallcd on tho
rontlncnt at this day; and Iron ores
oQnal In quality and surprising In ex-
sent all that Pennsylvania ever contain
ed and Goals almost beyond compula-
lion In quantity, and--on the testimony
Of your own State chemist, Mr.. Me-
Crcath--rlcher IN fixed carbon and freer
from sulphur than any other Goals yet
fonnd In the world.
II n 10 inform your Thousands Of road-
tfn OF the existence heru OF the wonder
lul undcvclopcd elements of wealth,
uiihin single days railway travel
f'em Philadelphia, that | address you
lhia open letter, knowing that you will
nppreciato their value 10 our common
cointry, and bo gratlned 10 learn that
VAr-wofn and lately dceolatcd old yir-
ainla cannot fnll 20 regain all her lost
wealth aud much OF her historic pres
ilge and influence a. n member Of now
indesoluhle Union ht M early day. Aud
A adds 10 tho interest Of the subject, no
aoubt, 90 inform you that II " ponnsyl-
yanla enterprise and capital that have
lcd, within year, 10 the thorough oX-
DlanRtlon and discovery here Of the I'm.
told millions of buried wealth that hlih-
prto has been passed by.
Western rpnnpylyanlans have bought
moir than 10000 acres Of those splendid
vonl, iron, aud timber lands IN nnd near
The Cumberland Mountains, IN Wise