The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-26
wHITTIER's TOWN.
DIR. Clark Whittier. Cousin Of the Poet,
Buys 6S, 600 Acres of Land.

DIR. Clark Whittier, Cousin Of the Poet,
Buys 68, 600 Acres Of Land.
Special Correspondence Atlanta Constitution.
The poet Whittier. during the days of slavery,
wrote poem commencing as follows
"Have ye heard of our hunting. DER mountain and
. ThroF canebrake and forest, the hunting of meni"
In Swain county, western North Carolina, on
the line of the Western North Carolina railroad,
and bordering on the Tuckaseegee river. DR..
Clark Whittier, cousin of the poet, late of Cal
ifornia, has purchased 68. 900 acres t106! square
miles, of valley, cove and mountain lands On
the banks of the river he has surveyed the town
of Whittier"
The business lots are on level bottom above
the river, while on an elevated plateau overlook
lug the valley, with beautiful mountain view,
the residence lots are laid out. Taking it alto
gether, it IS one of the most eligible town sites in
the country.
DR.. Whittier is now hunting men" to settle
the town and surrounding lands Fourteen lots
were recently sold in one day.
The lands on the right bank of the river run
back to Clingman's Dome, named for Hon. T. L.
Clingman, OF Asheville. DR.. Whittier has
caused this mountain to be measured by run
ming levels from the river to the top of the
mountain. It is found to be the second highest
mountain east of the Rocky mountains-6,6 GIG
feet above sea level
The lands are to be- subdivided into farms for
grazing, dairying, fruit, vegetable and tobacco
graded to all sections of the tract. DIR. Whittier
expects to spend $780, 600 in making the lands ac-
cessible. The Doctor has faith in his scheme.
Persons may purchase farms on ten years
time, making partial payments The first one
hundred settlers can find employment for one
year in grading roads, numbering. etc. The
Doctor will furnish lumber and provisions to
those who may need that aid, for the first year,
taking his pay from the crops or in work.
The land may be purchased at from So to S.
per acre.
The foundation for hotel of seventy rooms
will soon be laid. This building will be erected
in the most substantial manner. four stories in
height, with broad verandas heated by steam,
lighted by electricity and with hot and cold water
in every room. The house is to be constructed
in such a manner as to make it desirable win
ter home for northern visitors, as well as south
ern visitors in the summer.
The hotel will be at an elevation of !, 765 feet
above the level OF the sea. Farms may be pur-
chased at heights varying from near the river to
nearly 1000 feet.
The thermal belt may be found on benches on
the mountain sides throughout the southern
Appalachian mountains, where fruits and tender
vegetables are rarely, if ever, injured by frost
during the growing or fruiting season.
These thermal belts. or vernal zones, are to be
found wherever there are caves or valleys in this
region, surrounded by mountains The line of
frost exemption varies in height. above the gen
eral level of the valley, of from 100 to 500 feet
The writer has been familiar with this phe-
nomenon for several years. In Jackson county,
North Carolina, are two valleys, separated by
the Blue Ridge, in riding from Cashiers valley
to its neighbor, Hamburg valley, after nightfall,
the writer has always encountered and passed
through the thermals belt at an elevation of
about 8, $50 feet above sea level. Having passed
through the zone, the atmosphere would again
become cool. The difference in temperature in
and out of the zones, appeared to have been
about degrees to 10 degrees