Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-08-10
Letter from Campbell,

CAREIvrLLE, Tenn, Aug. 4, 1882.
MR. EDITOR: On last Monday morning ]
mounted good horse, which became a
painting steed" in reality before my re.
turn, and, accompanied by Mr. J. P. Mil
Ter, of the prosperous firm of Holdings
worth Il Miller, took far journey, every-
thing considered, across the Cumberland
ranges to the beautiful Elk Valley, that
stretches its level prairie-ike surface far
up and down the country between Pine
Kentucky. Although we had to cross three
ranges of the Cumberland, the last being
known as Pine Mountain, the sight of the
grand, picturesque scenery, together with
the free hospitality and kindness of the
people who make their homes comfortable
and happy with plenty of the most essen
tials of life, doubly repaid us for all it cost
US, and the difficulties met with in ascend
ing and descending the winding mountain
highways.
Some ten or twelve miles from Carey
vile. on our journey, we passed by way of
Big Greek, where stands one of the most
noted rocks of all the enchanting scenes of
mountains and cliffs in East Tennessee.
Broad and towering, it reaches many feet
upward IN perpendicular grandeur, and on
It's lofty heights the soldiers,
during the late war, would
gather themselves and from this inap-
proachabie fertilization, reared by the hand
of nature, to endure for all time, they
would deal terror, disorder and even death,
to the enemy. To any beholder, it seems
that 1t is well deserving of mention in any
detailed history of the war. No doubt but
that IN the pioneer days of this country,
many red man has been stationed there to
check the advance of civilization The
roads over these mountains are very steep,
and, owing to the rains that fell almost
daily, were very slippery. Sometimes our
horses would take the same position fire.
quently taken by cat or dog before win
ter evenings fire, and go sliding for several
feet without stopping long enough for US
to dlsmount until the danger was all over.
There is something interesting in mans
riding horse down steep mountain when
he sits on one end and slides along, as though
1t was the best way of getting along.
In ELK Valley we stopped with and were
kindly entertained by MIR. Archer, of the
firm of archer Il Smith, and who, besides
beng a pleasant gentleman, is a solid
merchant and farmer. The Knoxville and
Ohio Railroad, which is being graded
through this valley, will, ere long, put the
people in immediate connection with Knox
vile, as well as with other cities When
ever a railroad is built through the Cumber-
land coal regions it is certain to bring wealth
to the country and to the road. Besides the
rich fertile soil in the valleys, that produces
thousands of bushels of grain annually the
coal beds are inexhaustible. The coal in
Pine Mountain was once pronounced very
fine, but lately it has been judged to be
rather inferior. The citizens think that it
Is only an impression attempted by specula-
tors who desire to purchase the lands
The beautiful meadows of Elk Valley
must be mentioned. They cannot be sur
passed III this country. Persons who have
not been there do not conceive of their
beauty and extent. Thousands of tons of
hay have been gathered from them this
season. The corn there, also, is fine 1t
equals, If not excels, the corn crop of 1863
People seem to be more interested in the
pursuit of their business affairs and their
work than in politics. There is no ques-
ton, however, about their being a very
strong Rule sentiment in Campbell, and
even III Scott County. They are sensible |
people, and know when their confidence is ]
abused, as it has been the last two sessions
d congress-. CLOUDY.