Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-07-19

found us en- route, and at o'clock P. NJ, Char
lotte was reached. There a special train was
provided, which arrived at Salisbury at II, mid
night. We were soon on board one of the hand
some passenger coaches of the Western n. G.
Railroad, provided for the use of the Association
by President Andrews, to take the party through
to Asheville without charge. Without any un-
necessary delay, the members of our party soon
made arrangements for passing the remainder of
the night in as comfortable manner as circum-
stances permitted. Some sought the sleeper"
others nodded on the seats, while few remain
ed wide awake and enjoyed the fun to them, of
teasing those who were trying to sleep.
After leaving Salisbury, which is the county
seat of Rowan, we passed through a portion OF
that county, and then Iredell, Catawba, Burke
and Mcdowell counties. Daylight found us i'll
the vicinity of Marion, the county-seat of Nc
Dowell county, inside the borders of the LAND
Of the sky, with mountains OH either side.
The spectacle was grand, as the train sped for
ward, over trestles and high embankments and
through deep cuts the rocky sides frowning
high above, with the peaks Of the hills and noun
tains rising and falling to the view like the waves
of the ocean. At half past seven o'clock, Henry
station was reached Here the mountains frOwl
down on every SIDE and at this point the rail-
road commences the ascent Of the Blue Ridge.
This section the railroad is well described by
the "EXcurson Guide to Western North Caro-
lima recently issued by the Richmond and
Danvlle Railroad Company, from which we
quote the following:
srhe distance from Henry Station to Swanna-
noa Gap, by the stage road, is about three and
onc-half miles; by the railroad, something more
than nine miles. The elevation to be overcome
tbafi or1ar tn inf q II
gradient of say one hundred and sixteen feet to
the mile, the line of railroad makes detour into
the mountains up a branch of Mill creek, and
| performs some most astounding gymnastics, i'll
the way Of curves and cuttings, in order to reach
the summit and keep uniform grade. 1t winds
around the spurs and up the steep slopes, now
and then crossing the little streams which abound
in this region in such a way as to gain the de-
sired end, and in doing so presents many charm
ing views of valley and mountain. The Pima
Gle of Blue Ridge the highest point of that ridge,
is in full view-a noble, Symmetrical peak, over
five thousand feet high, beautifully wooded.
At one point the road winds around an isolated
spur and crosses again the same culvert one
hundred and twenty feet above the first cross
ing; at another point, by similar loop, 1T runs
fifty or sixty feet above the curve Immediately
below into which pebble may be thrown from
the car window. The work here has been I'M
mense and very expensive. Not to speak OF the
deep cuttings and heavy cmbankments, there
are six tunnels from four hundred to eighteen
nit, Immediately under the stage road, is about
eighteen hundred feet long The elevation OF
the road at this point is one thousand and twenty
six feet above Henry station. These tunnels are
through solid rock of the sternest and most un-
yielding character. Atanother point of this long
grade, the road cuts off the toe, so to speak, OF
projecting spur. The material taken out is a
loose shale, and after the cut was made, during
a wet spell, the whole face of the spur, amount
ing to several acres, slipped down and choked
up the track completely. A rift can be seen
across the face of the spur, showing the amount
of the slide Most of this slide has been washed
out of the track by turning flume upon it; but
| the consequence has been to fill up the mill
ponds, and almost change the character of the
streamlets below. Great and laborious as have
been the efforts Of man to overcome nature at
this point, it is interesting to stand upon some
point of vantage, and to see how puny are his
greatest efforts in comparison with the everlast-
ing grandeur of natures. The great road is at
best a mere cash in the face OF the everlasting
hills, and mans most ambitious embankment
but puny ant-hills in comparison with the ma
iestic heights which look down in silence upon
these lIilliputian labors."
After the summit of the mountain was reached,
the descent was comparatively gradual to the
Swannanoa valley below.
| About half past nine clock, on Friday morn
| ing, Asheville was reached. On the arrival OF
the train our party met at the railroad depot
| by committee of citizens, and escorted to the
hotels at which accommodations had been pre-
viously provided. Early in the afternoon, con-
veyances were drawn up i'll front of the hotels,
and the entire party, accompanied by citizens Of
Asheville, visited few of the points of interest
about the city, notably Connally's Hill, about two
miles distant, from which Il fine view of the
French Broad the Swannanoa and the surround
ing country was obtained. Returning to the ho-
tells. the members of the South Carolina Press
Association, accompanied by the Mayor of Ashe-
vile, committee Of citizens, and the Board of
Trade, were conveyed in carriages across the
| French Broad to Clayton's, a railroad crossing,
at which point the North Carolina Press Associa-
ton was met on it's return from Waynesvile.
After greetings and introductions, the long line
of vehicles, bearing more than one hundred
guests took it's course through the beautiful
grounds known "Richmond Hill,' the prop
erty of Richmond Pearson, Esq, and meander-
ing along the carriage ways that encircle the
grounds, descended to large, bold spring at the
foot of the hill, near his cottage, in front Of which
was found beautiful bronze fountain in full
play the basin of which was filled with limpid
WATER huge chunks Of ice and dozens of bottles
of wine free to all who desired to drink Near
by, in substantial house, built ofstone, through
! which flowed bold stream of water from the
spring, were jars full of the most delicious but
ter-milk, for the use Of those who did not wish
to drink of the wine. We were gratitied at the
fact that the 'buttermilk brigade outnumbered
the wine drinkers, for when there still remained
wine in abundance, the butter-milk had all dis
appeared and the cry was for more
After a short time spent in social intercourse
and the making of new acquaintances, the party
entered the vehicles in waiting, which immedi-
ately started forward and meandered to the top
of the hill. There alighting again, resolutions
were adopted by the Associations thanking Mr..
Pearson for the pleasure afforded the partici-
pants in the enjoyment of his handsome enter
tainment. Lingering fora few minutes to gaze
upon the vast circle of mountains bounding the
horizon in the distance with the French Broad
making it's serpentine way in the valley below,
the party entered the vehicles and were soon i'll
Asheville again.
At night, the two associations participated in
banquet provided by the Board Of Trade of
Asheville. Being very much fatigued, we did
not attend the banquet, but retired to bed at all
early hour. We learned that about 200 guests
were present, and that during the evening short
speeches, in response to toasts, were made by
Richmond Pearson, Esq, of Asheville; Messrs.
r. II. Clark, w. J. Montgomery and c. f. r.
Dravton, Of the South Carolina Press Associa-
ton; Mr.. H. A. London, President of the North
Carolina Press Association, editor Of the Chat
ham (N c. Record, and brother of Messrs.
| London at Rock Hill !; Mr.. V. S. Lusk Mayor Of
Asheville; Senator Vance, and others.
On Saturday morning, the two Associations,
with tho ladies accompanying them, left Ashc-
Vile for Warm Springs, where they were to bo
the guests of the proprietors of the Springs Re-