Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-31
pondence Of THE EVENING STAR

Correspondence Of THE EVENING STAR
AsHEvTLLE, NC, Oct. 26th, 1883.
OPENED TO THE WORLD AT LAST
The Western North Carolina railroad which
ten years ago successfully crossed the unbroken
range of the Blue Ridge is at last completed.
The hard. natural difficulties it encountered in
its pathway across sixty miles of an almost i'm
penetrable mountain country. led to many dis
couragng delays aud even endangered at one
time its further progress. The work is now,
however, in good running order. aud is bright
addition to the engineering triumph Of the age,
aud monument to the skill and determination
OF its engineers. To this lovely mountain coun-
try and to Asheville it has been q Cod-send.
Though it is now eighteen months since the
shrill neigh of the iron horse first echoed among
her hills, the activity OF her trade and indus
tries, and the large influx of strangers In that
time. have been such as to surprise even her
most devoted prophets.
The 'bOom" is a big one. The most super-
nciai observer cannot help but notice it, and
venture to say 1t is unrivalled by that Of other
towns which have risen to Importance on the
approach of railroads.
NEW NATIONAL sANrTANUM.
Nor is to be wondered at. We have here cli-
mate whose health giving properties must ulti-
mately become as celebrated as that Of Aiken or
Minnesota. Although acknowledged to be equal
to the Minnesota climate in dryness, it Ia
superior to it in equability and mildness Of tenn
perature while its greater elevation. dryness
and cooler summer weather makes it better for
invalids than Aiken. l met many here this
summer both from the north and south who
were afflicted with lung and throat troubles. 1
was glad to hear them tell that i'm coming here
they acted upon the advice of their physicians
for it went to prove the speedy recognition of
this climate by medical men as good health
resort.
AGRICULTURAL WEALTH.
The SOIL too, is astonshingly rich and fertile
for a mountain country. The bottom lands Of
the French Broad are in a high state OF cultva-
ton, and the products raised rival, both in guam
tity and quality, the finest specimens Of their
kind found elsewhere. few enterprising men
have already recognized the value OF the land
and are speedily buying it of the Indifferent ma
tives. The picturesque banks Of the French
Broad are now lined with several new and thrifty
looking farms. The simple. uniformed natives
that are found here are ignorant of our manner
of farming beyond the mountains. and when [
tell them OF some Of our modern farming ma
chimes they listen to me in wonder. They are q
lazy, nOn-prOgresslve set and yet with the little
attention they give them, their farms thrive
wonderfully. for their wheat. they tell me, pro-
acre, and their corn fifty. This is remarkable
for unfertized mountain land, titled, as 1t is,
by such indifferent. unenterprising men, A
singular fact respecting this country il that the
land is almost invariably rich up to the very tops
of the mountains. The nountaineers all along
the valley roads are seen tilling their fields on
wel-rounded ridges far above you, while on
their fertile slopes are seen luXuriant crops of
corn. wheat and tobacco.
The height and hilly character of the land
makes it particularly adapted to the cultivation
of tobacco. The kind mostly raised is q supe-
rior quality called the Oronoco and the size and
color of its leaves and the big price it brings are
speedily giving this country a wide reputation
among tObaccOnists. Warehousemen from
Lynchburg, Abingdon Bristol, Winston and
Hickory are fOckng here in large numbers to
solicit patronage for their respective firms, while
the rush of buyers to Asheville has led t. the
building of several large. fine-loOking ware
houses here. 1t seems that the counties north
OF here. which are the more mountainous pro-
duce the best tobacco. a farmer in Mitchell
county last summer told me that some of the
tobacco he raised on certain high ridge which
he showed me- and cured in an old barn built of
logs. brought him that winter in the warehouse
two dollars per pound.
GRAZING PARADISE.
Cattle and sheep find here excellent pasturace
up to the very summit of mountains, 5000 feet
above the sea- and when left to range on the
mountains at this height they are often toaled
and reared there until fit for market without
seeing civilized form. In the winters, which
are peculiarly short and mild, they feed on the
evergreen or winter grasses, and are rarely, II
ever. fed by their owners. Salt. however, is
given them now and then to keep them from
going astray.
met on the Roam mountain last summer q
man who had been ranching sheep, he said. for
thirty years. He had tried Kansas and Southern
w hQ llr hor lo
found that this mountain land surpassed them
both. He had then. he said. large sheep ranch
on the Green mountain, and he would not part
with it for something pretty.
MINERAL RESOURCES
The wealth Of these mountains In minerals Is
fast becoming famous. They are not only found
In the greatest variety, but in the greatest
abundance. Iron enters largely into the COM
position of the soil. That taken from the now
famous Cranberry mines in Watanga county has
been pronounced to be the most superior in the
world. A Pennsylvania company, i'm which
Gen. Pardee has a large interest has now con-
troll of these mines, and hear that a represent
alive OF an English syndicate has recently made
an offer Of Sll 900 tor the property, which
has been refused. To transport their ore they
have lately expended $l.OO0000 on the con-
structiOn of a narrow gauge road leading from
their mines to depot on the East Tennessee.
Virginia and Georgia railroad.
Mica Is found here In extraordinary dimen-
siOns Probably more than half the mica used
in the United States comes from the mines in
the western part Of this state. Many very i'm
pOrtant discoveries of the mineral wealth of
these mountains have recently been made but
much Yet remains untold. II the student of
mneralO " would but read the recent report of
Prof W. c. Kerr. the state geolOgist he will
find therein much to interest and surprise him.
NEW TIMBER FIELD.
In the grand and hitherto unmolested forests,
that cover so much Of this mountain territory.
the finest timber Of all kinds is found. have
seen plenty of walnut in the counties both north
and south of here ten feet In diameter, while in
Mitchell and Yancey found fine specimens of
cherry that measured as much as four IwouId
like to write in detail of the wealth of this
mountain region Ia tinaber and minerals: but 1
dare not now. for want of space.
Those who saw the North Carolina exhibit at
the late Institute fair In Boston have, perhaps.
some idea Of what these mountain resources
are. This highly creditable exhibit from the Old
North state proved we know, a genuine sur
prize. and led to many fattering comments In
the papers of the country. It will not be long
however, before that class OF enterprisiny men
who now have come as far "a the valley of the
French Broad. will have comprised this entire
mountain territory. and then with the proper