Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-16
NOTES FROM NORTH GEORGIA.
Excursion on n New RahlrOad :
Beautiful -EtOwah VALLEY
Pine Crops Senator HrOWn'a
Wheat Field - BulIOck's Barn
Etc. Ftc.

Beautiful C0unkFY-EG0NS@M AAeV
Pine Crops Senator Browns
Wheat Field - BulIOck's Barn.
Etc., Etc.
MARIETTA, GA. August 14-EdftOT Morning
Netus In my last promised an account OF the
excursion rendered by General VIM Phithps
TO the State Agricultural Convention during It's
recent session here. and accepted by that body
for Thursday. after its adjournment on
Wednesday evening General Phillips is Vice
President of the Marietta and North Georgia
Railroad, which is a narrow gauge, leading
from Marietta via Canton. Jasper ana other
North Georgia towns to Murphy on Broad
river, in North Carolina, and destined to open
up to commerce and the world one Of the most
fertile and interesting sections OF the State OF
Georgia The road has had many difficulties
to encounter. Two or three times work was
suspended for want of capital, and it is indebt-
ed for the vitality which remained, I under
stand, TO the convict labor donated by the
State, and the interchangeable efforts OF General
Phillips who finally interested others
and and brought IT, Tr T9 George support R Eager
of Boston. and Mr.. Joseph KinSey, OF Cincinz
natl, the latter now President OF the company.
From his well known interest ana lnoomltaole
energy in the work, the roee = senerAlH
known here as phillips road" and many or
your readers are acquainted with the endless
talk about the treatment Of the convlcts on ms
road. the visirations and inspections OF ms
camps etc set on foot during the last session
OF the Legislature. The lengths OF the road,
believe. is ninety miles from MARIETTA 20 Murphy
in North Carolina, and has been graded through
out It's length, except about Tour miles IN an
min county nearly in the centre OF the line.
The section of Georgia through Wnlch II passes
is a continuation OF that switzerland OF
America" which comprises so large portion
of East Tennessee and western North Carolina,
and abounds in picturesque and beautiful
mountain scenery The Etowah meanders at
the foot of hills and mountains for more than
half the length +b OF fne rOfo form ana soq
of opening or gorge through the mountainous
region, which may be said to have suggested
the important work now in progress as great
highway through what was before an lnacceS-
sible region of interminable hills and noun
tains. Though so nearly ali graded the iron is
only laid to Ball Hill in Cherokee county,
distance of thirty six miles from Marietta, 70
which place win now return 20 join the ex-
cursion.
Not having it In his power to be present, as
explained in his letter of invitation 20 the con-
vention, on account of personal oblig 1tions to
his company, General Phillips deputed several
of his ablest assistants to take charge OF the
excursion, and under the management or con-
tractor W. II. Simmons and General Buper1n-
tendent c. E. Adams ably and courteously as
sisted by Hon. L. j. Alfred, of Pickens county,
the excursion was made entirely successful
and pleasant. Starting out at o'clock a. m.
with about two hundred delegates and promi-
nent citizens OF the State, the train proceeded
in northeasterly direction, as near as your
correspondent could judge, upon road that
must cover all points Of the compass to avoid
deep cuts and high mountains. in the direction
of Canton, in the adjoining county Of Cherokee.
Little river was crossed about midway
between Marietta and Canton, and
the latter; but the charming valley of the
Etowah was seen from the train and entered
before reaching Canton, which beautiful town,
the capital Of Cherokee county, is perched
upon high range OF hills looking down upon
the Etowah winding among the hills, and lined
with green crops OF corn and cotton. The fer
tty of this valley is not surpassed il equaled
by any lands in the State and the crowded
corn fields seemed literally burdened with the
grain. A large crowd of citizens greeted the
arrival of the train at Canton and called loudly
State Agricultural Society and also the Demo
cratic Congressional nominee for the State at
large, was an object of special interest to the
people along the line. Col. Hardeman respond
ed warmly in remarks upon the prosperity of
the State, but made no allusion to politics, that
could hear from distant car.
In the Etowah valley, few miles above
Canton, while the train was passing through
rich forest Of waving green corn Col Alfred
of Pickens county, who eourteously stationed
himself near and pointed out to many the
nOunced that this is the field where Joe
Brown was binding wheat when notified Of his
first nomination as Governor of Georgia"
Every head Immediately went out at window
or rushed to the platforms, and Senator
Browns corn field became an object of deep
interest, while a perfect flood of questions
poured in upon those charged with the i'm
portant duty of gratifying the curiosity of the
excursionists. But this was not all-fairly out
of the field and in a narrow valley the train
came 20 stand on high embankment and
hard by very smah stream on the left, which
wound away among the hills and poured its
gurgliDg red waters into the Etowah. This
is where Joe Brown had his mill-there
are some of the old timbers and here some
remains Of the dam, while the train stands above
the pier head Here he came before day, when
a youth to grind seven or eight bushe Of corn
with the small head of water which the scant
stream collected during the night" The rea-
son for grinding before day was explained as
economic, water being heavier during the night,
and the utilizing OF it before the daylight
evaporation set In. So it will be seen that in
the estimation OF his admirers, at least, our
Ex-Governor and United States Senator was a
philosophic farmer and economist at an early
age. As the Senator had returned to his home
in tlanta he should have been present to en-
joy the interest manifested by mis- friends in
the scenes of his early manhood. The resi-
dence of his brother, Judge James R. Brown,
was pointed out in the same sweet val
ley, and that of his brother-in law. Mr.. Lay,
whose name was given to the beautiful spring
Of limpid, cool water, where lunch was served
for the excursion.
This spring is thirty three miles from Mari
eta in splendid grove of royal old oaks, and
three miles from Ball Hill, the present termi-
nu' CT the railroad. Superintendent Adams
had special charge of the preparations for
lunch, and. aided by Colonel Simmons as mas
ter of ceremonies, the duties were performed
with skill that must give entire satisfaction
to General Phillips. After lunch. watermelons
and cigars, the excursion proceeded to Ball
Hill-so called from the annual assembling Of
The Indians upon the spot for a game of ball
but have no space for history. On the return
trip the excursion halted at Woodstock and
curiously inspected and commented upon the
famous barn and stock farm purchased by R
B. Bullock while Governor of Georgia, which
were seized by the State authorities and re-
turned 70 the Treasury after his inglorious
flight. The barn is perhaps the largest in the
State and was by far the most costly, but now
it is rapidly going to decay. Here Mr.. Bullock
was preparing princely estate for his ease
and enjoyment after his arduous labors as
pa riot and statesman % in the service of his
country. But the course Of politics never did
ran smooth, and tickle dame fortune gave him
the mtten in the zenith Of prosperity and am
bition. With many joke and jeer, the excur-
sionists turned their backs upon "Bullock's
tolly," re-entered the cars for Marietta, and a
few hours later dispersed for their homes.
And now a last word for the North Georgia
Road and the grandly beautiful country it is
designed efficiently to serve. There are no
great through freights or travel to expect, and
hence the difficulty encountered in the effort to
Interest oapital-but Eastern America does not
afford more lovely and inviting prospect for
home and happiness than the green hills and
valleys of this beautiful section. The Etowah
valley, so famous for fertility and beauty south
from Canton, increases its charms northward
as it grows narrower in general, but spreads
out into broad savanna" in the county Of
Dawson. In the county Of Pickens it
passes along the foot of the noun
tains, forming the beautiful plain upon which Is
situated the town of Jasper, between Sharp
and Longswamp Mountains, the highest peak
of which is called Grassy Knob This peak is
1890 feet above the sea level and 2,126 feet
higher than the turret on the capitol in Atlanta,
from which it is distant only fifty miles on an
airline. At the foot of these mountains, and
cropping out along the streams for twelve
niies or more, is one Of the finest veins of pure
white, fiesh-colored and variegsted marble in
America, now about to be rendered accessible
by the North Georgia Railroad; while in the
same neighborhood are iron mines, once work
ed, with better ore lying about on the surface,
1 am informed, than that taken from the great
paying mines of Pennsylvania. Other minerals
are also found throughout the region, and it is
confidently believed by intelligent men that,
once open to transportation, this mountain dis
trict OF Geor-ia VIII rapidly become the bust
est, most interesting and profitable section OF
the State. Ia Z. b.
Trouble Between a North Carolina
and a Georgia Company.