Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-08-12
A New Railroad Scheme.
Asheville Citizen.

A prominent gentleman, eminent as a
scientist, and recently engaged in investlga-
tons into the value of mineral property,
calls our attention to line of railroad more
than once refer ed to in former issues of the
CITIZEN; of mote practical importance now
than then, since portions OF the proposed
line have been built, and some of the
heaviest difficulties overcome. This is rod e
from Cranberry to Asheville, between the
mountain chains of the Blue Ridge and the
various groups making up the long line of
the Iron, Unaka and Smoky mountains. 1t
is true that between these two dominant
ranges are many cross ranges, making up q
congerels of mountains, to the eye as con-
fused and through which passage is much
opposed, as by the greater masses. nut
reconnolsances have proved that where
there is a will there Is way; and if deter
mined to come to Asheville from Cranberry,
nature has opened her lap to the road.
The objects of such road are two fold -
to open up to access and to market region
rich in agricultural, mineral and forest
wealth, now closed and practically inacces-
sible; and to provide a more direct route
between the extremities of the country than
any now existing. 1t was with the first OBJ
joot that tina road from johnson fity to
Cranberry was constructed, and In reaching
the rich ore beds of that point, the really
great difficulties of construction that might
stand as obstacles to the other were over
come. To reach Cranberry, the great
mountain range between Tennessee and
North Carolina has been cut through,
pierced and tunnelled, until the water
cOdrbes of the North Toe River are
reached. Thence onward, work of con-
s,ruction would be comparatively easy.
Down the banks of the North Toe to Its
junction with South Toe the road would
follow in easy grade with occasional side
cuttings and possible bridge crossing, as on
the French Broad, thence up through the
valley of Crabtree to Burnsville, thence by
Bald Greek, through Ivy Gap, where oc-
ours the only tunnelling along the line, and
which would be about one thousand feet !;
thence down Ivy to the forks of Ivy to the
plateau of Flat Creek in Buncombe, and
then to Asheville. The road would pass no.
where through fiat country, but, also, no
where through difficult one.
Along its route are mines of magnetic
ore quite as extensive it is believed as that
at Cranberry; beds of chronic iron, of hem
attic, and also of corundum and mica Be-
sides which are immense bodies of rich vir-
gin land, covered with magnificent forests
of the wonderfully varied timber of the
mountains, or when cultivated, productive
of the beautiful high priced tobacco al
ready known 10 fame, and also of grains,
fruits, grasses, and everything that can
maze country blessed and prosperous, and
IN addition abounding In perennial and
bountilul streams, furnishing numerous
and powerful water powers.
hese are inducements enough to the
construction of such a road. Added to
these, there is that stimulus given to the
railroad conceptions by the constant de-
mand for shorter routes and quicker transit.
With the completion of the Dncktown
road, the distance by the route proposed
would shoi ten the distance to the southwest,
by way of Asheville, at least one hundred
miles; and when the French Broad road,
from Asheville by way of Estato Gap, is
built, then the route to the South would be
shortened to the same extent.
But at present our purpose is only to in
troduce the subject, with the hope that it
will in time gam its hold on public consid-
Grafton.