The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1884-04-19
ROUND KNOB,
A NEW SUMNER RESORT NES-
TIED AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.
Short sketch Of Morganton. the
High-TOned Capital OF the Independ.
ent County of Burke.

~
High-Toned Capital OF the Inde pc nd
ent County of Burke.
Special Cb-respondence Of The Chronicle.
MoRGANTON, April 12 Coming in down
the mountains from the West. after pass
ing Swannanoa tunnel, and winding around
mountain peaks for few miles, the train
suddenly rushes rp 10 a magnificent hotel,
and the porter announces Round Knob
Twenty minutes for supper - Stepping
off the platform on the hotel varandah,
the surrounding scenery is SO enchanting
that you almost forget the tempting sup
per that awaits you inside. The hotel is
built at the foot of the mountain the
front reaching nearly half way up its
slope, while from the rear you look down
on pretty little valley. It is a model of
architectural beauty, designed by Major
L. II. Bomar, and built under his personal
supervision. 1t is conveniently and sys-
tematically arranged, and reflects great
credit on Major Bomar as an architect
Mr.. W. d. Sprague, whom everybody
praises, Is its proprietor, under whose man
agement Round Knob will become pop
ular resort.
The hotel will be furnished with a COM
plete system of water works, the water
being conveyed through pipe from the
top of high peak jnst above Mud Cut.
Through another pipe the waters of this
mountain spring are conveyed down into
the valley below the hotel, the pressure be
ing such as to throw the water nearly $50
feet high, forming a magnificent fountain.
Below the fountain a dam has been con-
structed, and as the water flows up from
the fountain it falls back in sparkling rip
Piles on the surface of beautiful little ar
tificial lake, which is thus supplied Just
across the lake is a lofty mountain, shaped
Ilyn q E,IS0 II -
from which the place derives its name.
The hotel is situated between cluster of
mountain peaks, and as the train winds
its way around them the track now and
then almost crossing itself, n stranger
looking from the car window, as he ever
and anon catches a glimpse Of the hotel,
imagines that he passes half dozen no.
tells just alike.
For few days pleasant recreation where
you can study the grandeurs Of nature,
breathe mountain air and drink from the
healing fountains that bubble up out of
their rugged cliffs, and at the same time
fare sumptuously, it would be difficult to
| find a better place than Round Knob.
MORGANTON
Years ago, before the people had facil-
| tiles for reaching the resorts further West,
! pleasure seekers and invalids came to
Morganton to spend the summer, and be
famed to health by the salubrious noun
| tain breeZeS. Then, as now, Morganton
was the high toned capital of Burke,
where Burke's good people gathered court
week to adjust their legal differences, and
! where they assembled now and then in
political conventions. They were noted
| then as now for being a very live peo-
pie. generous to fault, and as hospitable
as generous. They grow their own grasses,
raise their own stock, and make every
thing they want to eat and plenty of it.
The prices Of their products are governed
by local supply and demand, and hence
| they care little whether or not the great
markets of the world are being yelled up
! or down great number of them own
broad acres-enough for a dozen-yet a
real estate agent would be gently but en-
phatically bounced.
Recently they have become imbued with
a spirit of tobacco culture, and for the
past two years several planters have cultl-
! waited the weed successfully. No better
| tobacco land lies between EdgcOmbe and
HAYWOOD than this western slope OF the
Piedmont section, and before great
while the tobacco auctlOneer Will push
! forward Morganton into an area Of busi-
ness activity as he has Hickory, Newton
and Asheville.
No better people live between Nottla ana
| Nag's Head than the people OF Morganton.
They are hospitable and clever, all more or
less wealthy Everybody is akin to every
body, and social gathering amounts to a
family reunion. King alcohol is not al
lowed to invade the town, and the gos-
siper does not exist.
The visitor is kindly received if he de
serves it, and he finds substantial men like
Col S. Med. Tate, Major J. W. Wilson,
Mayor John Tull, Col D. G. Pearson and
others with whom it is not only pleasant
but profitable to converse.
On the southern surburbs of Morgantor
is the Western Insane Asylum, one OF the
handsomest structures in the State, stu
ated on high elevation peculiarly adapted
to this home of the unfortunate. The
range of mountains, as seen in the dis
tance from the asylum, is very enchant
ing the noted Table Rock casts its shadow
on old Grandfather Mountain in granC
repose. He slumbers on year after year
! CHR 0. NICLE.