The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-08-11
For the Farmer ana Al soh.nic
In the WfIds Of rransyTyania.
CAMP JONES, PINK BKDlVAiLEY,
August !, 1881

IAMP TINk DEDN aIItf
August !, 1881.
We spent the ''4th" In ~Spartansburg,
and were astonished tits rapid growth.
Ran to H~endersonville by rail and next
day went to Mills River. seeing splendid
crops on the way. Thence by the Royl-
ston Road 10 beavers, near Davidson
River; up said river to the mouth Of
Avery creek, up it to near the head
where we found a new road leading
through Rich Mountain Gap, right into
the Pink Beds. An OK team made a
a single load OF our tents baggage etc,
though weighing about 1000 pounds.
Within the head of Pink Bed Looking
Glass Valley, We found five families
living in log houses, ''tenaings stock. =
and making q little corn. Capt. III. X.
Jones has a little corn mill on Looking
Glass creek, and talks of putting up a
saw mill. Game Is very scarce. We
got sight Of d deer, but we had no GIN
Or dog along. Mountain trout is small
aud few, or at any rate We have not pa
thence to fish for them, particularly a.
it takes 80 to make US a fry for cur
party. The valley mas been burnt every
spring. and mas so much stock put to
feed 90 II that 1t has got pretty poor.
The mountains are very rough partlcu-
laTly IN the east en,l. Thus far we have
Killed a few rattle snakes, one with IL
ratties aud a button. There are bears
in here. Bur Bruiu keeps out at our
way. The valley and mountain top.
are full OF huckieberries, the largcs; we
yer saw.
[ made visit to Breyard and found
they had built a uca. cDuI Uus and
Jail. Some 20 miles west on the French
Broad, a Mr.. Arthur l. mining. i new
Asbestos mine. He has buiit a Hat boat
III which he rows down the river 10 a.
mean Hen~dersonville as he eau get, and
then hauls 1t to the SpartausbuIg x
Asheviile Railroad. The Asbestos Is of
very fine quality end the supply mex
austible. The French Broad Valley Is
lovely with the green corn and meadows,
mountains rising in the sky on every
hand, gives the whole, the appearance
Of being the Land ofthe Sky indeed.
Oh but We have the time getting our
,uails. At Hendersonville they must
nave given half our papers to the peo-
ple to let them see the latest news from
rhe President, for we never received
but half. We ordered our mails for
warded twice to- Davidson River. Nc
notice was taken OF the two first orders,
~ Interested were the Z. VI. and his
swc clerks In the store, or III readiug
he papers kept from Us. Our thirt
rider brought a part of u mali. w,
hen after waiting two weeks OH a daily
mai, had to 20 for what mail was left.
Tc then changed oar post Office tt
| beavers, and directed our mail to bt
,eut via Asheville, to see if that would
aetter it. 1t is a little better as We &c
ceive more Of our papers, but fouI
a"pies We're kept back and read, as the
so!ing OF paper and wrapper plaln!,
shows, ana n OF the latest date be al
lowed TO reach us. We have Raleigh
Nclcs and OJSerrer of the Goth, Will,
the l9.h is still behind. The Fdrme.
aad NecHGntc Of last week have no
arrived yet. Letters were sent me tina
| never received. 1t takes four day.
.or mai. to reach us from Raleigh, anC
We can travel it easy In "A hours, a
beavers is only 2S miles from Ashcville
The blame seems to be west OF the blui
ridge. One of our party takes tn,
Richmond Semi weekly Despatch, ant
mas received four copies up To date
all of July. Many say here that it is M
Use to Subscribe for a paper, for the,
viii not get half of them, and We know
men here who does not take papers TO
Tur that reason.
While you have been sweating in heat
md dust, u days have been Yer,
pleasant, but our nights cold. W,
sleep in tents, and have cots, and sheer
Sith five blankets, two under and tire,
above, and we often get quite cold be
fore day. This morning the thermome
ter was down to So at $50. At nigh
we set neal good camp fires before W,
retire, and find the fire very pleasant
We have a spring near Us which ",
have named Jones spring with
temperature of 520. 1t is said ther,
several colder. We have not been Oh
the high mountain yet, but will befor,
we return.
The steamboat on French Broad wi
be launched in a few days.
Yours &c. VICTOR.