The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-05-12
For The Ccril Wing.
WINTER IN THE BLUE RIDGE.


climb the mountain peaks, scattering
verdure and bloom among the cliffs and
over the ridges. The days are bright,
but a crisp GOODNESS i'll the cir on the
mountains holds in check the early bios.
SONS of the fruit trees till danger from
frost is past In the valleys the peach
trees nave long since bloomed out, and
many of IL buds been destroyed. Thus
it is that on The mountains the crops of
fruit are always surest, while the flavor
and richness are superior to that grown
in the hotter low lands.
Tn; mountain apples ripen slowly and
mature perfectly during the heightened,
lingering autumn, the intense heat of a
lower and denser atmosphere never
reaching these elevated plateaus. Hence
1t is that the flavor and keeping qualities
OF the higher grown mountain apples are
always superior.
THE WINTER
which has just closed has been one of
severe cold, and SHOWS in most of the
northern regions of the country, and we
nave had fair opportunity of compar-
ing the temperature of higher latitude
with that of a southern cline, where al
titude, Theoretically, is believed to COM
pensate for distance from the equator.
In this theory one important fact is lost
! sight OF. Removed far from the north.
| W no a.,
is nearly spent when they reach the 18th
parallel, and the opposing east and south.
east winds from the Atlantic overcome
the power of these northern billiards, so
that their continuation is but day. when
the stored heat which impregnates every
denser substance, radiating from earth,
rocks and trees speedily restores the
equilibrium of temperature the raritied
mountain air, and thus our winters and
springs are free from that damp, search
ing chill, the misery and terror of weak
lungs, bronchitis and catarrh. When the
daily press brought us accounts of fear
lul drifting snow storms, with the mer-
curry running down to twenty, thirty and
forty degrees below zero, We coull con-
trast
| THE TEMPERATURE
of these mountain plateaus with those
days and weeks of rigorous weather. and
congratulate ourselves with the compare
tive comfort we enjoyed and immunity
from such trials to the vital powers
Overcoats were seldom needed here, I'M
less horseback journey was to be taken
OF several miles. Two or three times
during the past winter the mercury drop
ped four or five degrees below zero for n
single night, but invariably rose among
the twenties and thirties the next day,
the cold having little or no effect on the
system. save as tonic. Slight colds in
the head, sometimes accompanied with a
cough, are frequent when persons expose
themselves unduly; and often, when to
all appearances the symptoms of a vio-
lent cold are present, it disappears in two
or three days, vanishing almost I'M
noticed, and the threatened sufferer finds
himself free from inllammatory symptoms
and has forgotten the attack. This eli
mate is becoming noted throughout tile
country for its charms in the summer
season. and
AS \ SANITARIUM
Tor delicate persons, the winters are
equally beneficial. AS winter and sum-
mer residence for weak Hinged persons,
there is, perhaps, no part of the United
States equal to the southwestern Blue
Ridge country. Its most disagreeable
feature is its superabundance of rain.
Notwithstanding the large precipitation,
NJ unwholesome effects are produced by
it. There is no chill in the dampness.
and unpleasant results seldom follow
getting wet, either in summer or winter,
if the most ordinary sanitary precau-
tions are observed. With so much wet
weather, it might readily be inferred
that mud and mire are the normal condi-
ton of streets and roads, but such is not
the case. The soil is mostly composed
of a fine,
POROUS, SANDY LOAN,
through which the water sinks dsap-
pearng from the surface in short time
after the heaviest rainfalls, and unless
these is a succession of freezing and
thawing, as sometimes occurs in the win
ter season, mud is almost unknown.
Probably a better idea of the winter tenn
perature may be formed when | state
that there was not SO long a time as
week, during the past winter that the
bees were not out flying about their
hives, and frequently as often as three or
four days in the week. | am tempted to
give this lengthy description o. the Win
ter climate Of the country by the receipt
of numerous inquiries from all parts of
the country. There is not State in the
Misunderstanding even to Canada and
Nova Scotia-that from which does not
come inquiries for information regarding
the resources and climate of this noun
tain region. In former letters have told
your readers something of its resources
as fruit and dairy country.
THE MINERAL WEALTH
of the land is, from present develop
mentS not behind any other attraction.
The discoveries of mica and corundrum
in the vicinity of Highlands, bids fair to
make the country one of future mineral
wealth that will employ large amount
of capital. Pnrties have a bought quartz
vein in this neighborhood and are ar
ranging to commence mining for gold
the present spring. But with all its
: wealth of mine, and forest, and farm, the
greatest treasure will ever be found in
unrivaled climate and pure water which
; this region offers to tired and diseased
stricken humanity. The country, like all
mountain countries, is rough and ur-
kempt, and many who come here from
the midst of luxuries and conveniences
found in old communities and populous
cities, turn away in disgust, as the same
class do from all new countries. But
railroads are being built into the noun
tanS and ere many years have passed,
all the cOnvenienceS and comforts of civ.
ilizatiou will be easily attained.
T.. T.. F..
HIGHLANDS, y. c.
THE ACT