The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-05-13
BEYOND THE RIDGE.
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA Ell
OQUENTLY DESCRIAED.
The Possibilities OF a Sod-Favored
Region-Future Growth and Great
ness Inevitable.


ness Inevitable.
j. ". s. IN the Davidson Monthly.
Where the chain of the Alleghap-
les issues from Virginia, the massive
range is parted asunder. On the
East, the line Of the Blue Ridge,
less pretending, yet the breakwater
between the Atlantic and the Gulf
winds its way from NORTHEAST to
South West, forming across our en-
tire State, barrier between East
and West. On the West, the Great
Smoky Range rears its tremendous
crest in widest grandeur. As the
boundary between two States, 1t
seems to assert its majesty and i'm
portance as the Father OF mountains,
the greatest region of all the Appal
achian system. The wild gorges
which the French-Broad and Ten
nessee rivers have cut through this
stupendous barrier, render still more
imposing the rock-ribbed peaks that
pierce the sky. Between these two
ranges lies an area Of nearly eight
thousand square miles, checkered by
various spurs jutting out from either
range, watered by -limpid rushing
streams, and famed by mountain
breezes. This land, so favored by
geographical and natural resources,
is destined to be the sanitarium of
America, the source of material for
her greatest industries, the resort for
the student of natures products, the
admirer Of her beauties, the crown
and glory of the cold North State"
No region in the United States,
nay in America, possesses a climate
so temperate, SO uniform and SO
healthful as that of Western North
Carolina. 1t combines the pure dry
atmosphere of the North with the
mild temperature of the South. The
cyclones which commit such ravages
in the Northwestern States, and
which but lately, have vented their
fury on our own Southland, never
enter the precincts Of this mountain
girt region. The burning sun of
summer is alike unknown, while in
winter, even her highest peaks never
retain their snowy covering through
out the season. Her delightful
climate, with her refreshing springs
and bracing air revive the languid
vitality of the consumptive, and
build up constitutions which would
be shattered by the seventies of a
Northern winter. From Allegheny
to Cherokee, her annals are graced
with the testimonials of grateful
patients. On their rudy checks, her
eulogy IS written. more eloquent
than tongue can tell Throughout
our borders, these messengers have
borne the good tidings, and even
pilgrims from beyond the ocean have
carried to the Old World the story
OF her worth. But these are not her
only boasts. The versatility and
abundance of her material resources
are no less worthy Of attention. Her
exhibit at Boston excited the wonder
and admiration of all, and we may
well examine for a moment this col
lection. The shining letters of
mica, in bold relief, record the name
of the Old North State, and repre-
sent an industry almost exclusively
confined to this mountain section.
The beautiful crystals OF corundum
are specimens, too, from deposits
almost inexhaustible. The slabs of
marble of every color, and of super
ior quality, attract the eye OF the
artist, while innumerable blocks of
the most useful varieties of timber,
assure the cabinet-maker and me-
chanic that here he will find a sup
ply unequalled in variety and excel
fence. The ores Of all the precious
metals and rare and beautiful gems
are displayed, some of which are
peculiar to the mountains. In a
word, all that is attractive to the
miner, the cabinet-mal1er or the
artist, we see unfolded before us
and when we reflect that these are
not varieties treasured up by the
curious liz years of laborious search,
but samples from rich and numerous
sources, almost in their primitive
abundance and extending over so
great an area, we can form some
estimate of the future value OF her
products, but this must be an unjust
estimate, for one who has never
visited this country, for some of her
most valuable advantages would be
Ignored. Her streams afford water
power sufficient to turn all the shafts
IN the United States; through sum-
mer and winter, her mountains
afford pasturage for thousands of
sheep, horses and cattle. The most