Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-16
LAND OF THE SKY.
JoTTIHGs OF A WESTERN NORTH CAR
0LINA TRIP.
Asheyille and Its Scenic Surroundings
A Winding Railroad
Hot Springs.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch

WHITE PLAINS, BRUNSWICK COUNTY, VA..l
October Is. 1886.
Having been enchanted by the beautiful
scenery OF Western North Carolina during
n visit 10 Asbeylllc, from which returned
a few weeks AGO, wish 10 tell the readers
Of the DiSpdfch something OF il, beauties.
| The scenery OF the Western North Caro-.
lima railroad ~ grand and far beyond my
uowers Of description. From MorgantOn
| 10 Asheyille we were in mountainous re-
zion. and A sight of Round Knob would
fully repay any one for trip to West RI
North Carolina. Winding around the
mountain, we could see Tar aboTe II, tn
fresiles over bicd we had 70 pass. still
ascending, we could see loo feet below us
| the track over which we had Just passed.
We soon reached :he beautiful Round Knob
hotel ne.tling in the side OF The valley. and
| the lovely fountain throwing lis water two
hundred and seventy feet In the air and
forming beautiful rainbow near its top.
| There we went from the ears TO the third
story Of the hotel, where we stopped twenty
| minutes for breakfast. In our winding
path we saw the hotel the fourth time. aud
when we had gone five miles from the hotel
by rail we were. only one quarter Of a mile
from Il. Looking from the cars into great
through long tunnels, seemed dangerous
after we had left them; but then the
grandeur and sublimiiy OF the scenery
took away fear, and we could only admire
the great beauties nature has bestowed
upon the place. After travelling twenty
eight miles westward. we reached A>he-
VILE, very appropriately called the " Land
Of the Sky," for. indeed, | felt that was
nearer Heaven than ever before. AShe-
vile is situated on a broken plateau, at the
confluence OF the Swanan0a and French
Broad rivers, and at every point moUn-
iains are TO be seen. The town Is greatly
scattered" but, for this reason, il is
most pheasant and comfortable. Beau
catcher mountain, one mile from town.
oycrlooks the city. There Is splendid
read around the mountain, and
line private residence on It, summit
II was q fine scene to look down
upon the city 20 far below us scat
tered over hill and dale. Our cheeks were
famed by the delightful mountain breeZcs,
50 pure and bracing, lmparting health and
yigor TO bodies which had grown weak and
Ian.uid in malarial districts. A walk up
the side Of Smiths mountain revealed new
beauties. How | longcd for the eye and
skill Of an artist that | might pant that
scene. and the pen Of poet that might
describe IL! The largcst buildings APP
peared Of diminulive size; the rolling bills
and smooth valleys covered with a lovely
green, the trees forming pretty groves. aud
behind it all In the distance the lofty noun
tains towering one above another until
they almost disappeared, and earth and sky
seemed TO connect. All these formed
lovely picture. The places OF interest in
4 Al H., h..
driving Is delightful, aud there are plenty
# fine horses and nice vehicles.
Richmond Hin, four miles from town, |,
nice place to get splendid view OF the
French Broad river. II i a pretty stream,
and is continually curyiug and bending in
its course. There is rustic summcr-hou,e
on top the bill, furnished with seats and
table, all made from the roots OF mountain
trees. Near II are beautiful beds Of gtrl-
NUNS, and farther down on the side Of The
mountain is a handsome private residence,
where it seems that happiness alone could
rcIgn.
\ visit TO Conucly'S View, twO miles
from town, seems 10 elevate the mind flr
above earthly things. This place contlins
more real beauty than any around A,he.
vile. We had a delightful drive out 70
White sulphur Springs, five mile from
town. The water j. very strong and very
beneficial. but cannot be recommended a.
far as taste is concerned.
We went by rall to Hot Springs, thirty
seven mics from Ashryillc. The scenery
Oh the road j. grand. There is scarcely a
point on the railroad from winch the
French Broad river cannot be seen. Tue
road winds with the river. and the tracd i
on is bank nearly all the way. When we
leave Asheyille the river l. To- our left. bat
we soon cross a bridge and have it 10 our
right. To our left we then see great noun
tans with jagged rocks projecting from
their sides, and sometimes almost touching
the cars Again we cross a bridge. and the
river /, 10 our lett, sometimes smooth and
n Others gushing over the rOck-. Again,
when we get 10 Hot Springs. the stream i
to our rigbt. With bealtic, on every hind it
l. bcW!dcrine to know which way = look.
The water comes trickling down the noun
tain-sidc over the solid rock. Across the
river are huge rocks with tree, go wing in
their crcyiCeS; the water comes rushing
over the falls, the rocks stand in ridges
| through the river. with nov aud then =
| little island covered will yerdurc, and on
every side ale lofty mountains with their
| bigh peaks and almost perpendicular de-
| NtiNls liltU d-4ln 4 lilitE NIblti ilhtil ttl'
riverside j. reached. The huge rock. some.
| times almost turn the water in il, course.
until. foaming and bubb!Ing, it forces IT,,
| way through: then again it il)W, smoothly
on, with scarcely 2 ripple on II, gc1t'e
! bosom the gigantic rocks. with some
| mos an old lrcc which has found a rest
| Ing. place there, form a picturesque scene.
| The curve Of the train with every bend of
| the river, the glimpse Of Che water through
| the green Shrubbry on it, banks, he roll.
| Ing hll, covered with erls,-all these i'm
| pressed picture on my mind not soon 10
| be forgotten.
| The Mountain Park lIoic' at Hot Springs,
! built on three sides Of a square. /, hand
some building. IT i built on a beautiful
| level, surrounded by mountains. The
water is quite warm, and the bltl-houSe,
| which is near the hotel, i well arranged
| for bathing.
Returning from Hot SPRING, we again
| stopped in A>hcvile, where we hid a NEE
| drive ont to GJuche's Peak, five miles dis
| tant This l. the highest mountain near
| the city. AsheyIlle from such height
looked like picture. IN which the houses
appeared little more than Specks, and
! Beaumont looked like "A bill. There are
some fine hotels in A>hcyile, among which
is Battery Park. situated upon a very high
bill, from which there is splendid view OF
the western mountains and the setting sun.