The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-07-31
A MOUNTAIN TRIP.
CLAYTON, RABuN Co., GEORGIA.,
-. july 10th, 1884.

p. Editor anderson Inteligenccr:: This
beautiful, bright morning, after an ele-
CANT rain on yesterday evening, finds me
seated under an old oak tree away up
here in North Georgia, where the water
and climate, for Summer, cannot be
excelled perhaps on the American conti-
nent; and then the mountain scenery is
perfectly grand and superb. To give
you an idea of the climate, the thefmom-
etor at IL o'clock yesterday stood at 70,
and do not think it grew warmer during
the entire day. The nights are delight
full, making cover comfortable almost
invariably. The first night slept here,
say on the 18th inst, I woke up cold
almost as dead fish, and had to study
for some time to know whether or not it
was Christmas.
It is strange indeed that all pleasure
seekers in Summer from the low Coun-
try, and even from Anderson, do not
find out this splendid climate and come
here; indeed, there are some visitors
here now and some come every Summer,
but not near the large number that the
climate, scenery, &C., would seem to war
rant. Clayton is situated exactly at the
foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, three
miles from the Rabun Gap, which is
perfectly level and said to be the lowest
gap anywhere to be found in allthe great
range of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 1t
is only sixteen miles from the celebrated
and magnificent Tallulah Falls, which
are also in this County, and to which
point the cars now daily run over the
North Georgia r. R., and have been
informed by Col. Pope Barrow, President
of this road, that it will certainly be
completed to this point by the first day
of May, 1886, and wfl then most likely
be continued on in the direction of
Knoxville Tenn. So you will perceive
that the people up here are to have a
railroad at last, Notwithstanding their
long and frequent disappointments in The
completion of the old Blue Ridge road,
and which indeed seems to stand as a
monument of folly 10 its projectors or
builders. Three fourths of the work for
years having been completed from Wal
halla to the North Carolina line, dis.
tance of about S5 miles. Is it possible
that all the money, amounting to millions,
expended on this road is to be thrown
entirely away aud the work never to be
resumed and completedf Why will not
some Jay Gould, Vanderbilt or some
great railroad syndicate or corporation,
take hold of this work and complete it7
I trust that they surely will. There is
already some improvements going on in
and about Clayton. Col. Cunningham
and brothers, of Savannah, have bought
a tract of land on the Blue Ridge near
Clayton, and are now engaged in build.
ing handsome residences on the side Of
the mountain, which occupy a most ro-
mantle and desirable place. Judge
Bleckley has cabin built on the side Of
the beautiful "Screamer" mountain, and
is now building good substantial house
just on the tip top of that mountain, and
which is only two and half miles from
Clayton. A few evenings ago | rode
the entire way to the new building in
buggy, and although I had often been on
top of the mountain, both in boy and
manhood, I never saw it present such
grandeur before. From its top, it seems
that one can almost overlook large
world, and no one can conceive of its
magni6cence without seeing for himself.
This County abounds in minerals, such
as gold, corundum, mica, asbestos &C.,
most of which are now being worked
successfully, and one of these days will
doubtless be made very profitable.
The small grain crop up here was first
rate and has generally been saved. 1t is.
found that wheat grows as we'll here as
in Anderson County. Owing to the long
and continuous rains, corn on valley
lands is comparatively poor, upland
pretty good.
P. s. I,iucerely hope that the Town.
ships in your County will vote taxes to
the S. V. R. R., that it may be complet-
ed at once. PINNACLE MOUNTAIN.