The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1888-10-07
MACON CouNTY
FranlxIin shows Marks or Progress
stsss 1ll-t.s

In recent visit to Franklin we
found marks Of progressive inn
prOvement, slow but sure, and very
decided.
The streets and sidewalks are in
good condition, and at night there
is very brilliant array of gasoline
lamps, giving the the town finer
illumination than any of
similar population in the State. With
in few years past a number of
handsome brick stores have been
built on the main street, and in
several portions of the town hand
some private dwellings have been
added. Within the past two years
an Episcopal church and large
Academy building have been erect
ed on the crest of the ridge in the
rear of the main streets, giving COM
mand of that superb view for which
Franklin is noted.
Macon county is fine one. 1t
is remarkably SO in population. The
foundation was we'll laid in mOrali-
ty, intelligence, respect for law, in
all the essentials OF good citizenship.
The early settlers were largely men
of character, men of education, and
of energy; and the impress of their
good qualities is strongly marked
to this day. Their judiciousness
was exhibited in the selection of
new homes, sought soon after the
extinguishment of the Indian titles.
With the exception OF the South
end the county is girdled with
mountains of majestic height and
graceful form; intermediary it
presents an attraction of hill and
valley, the mountains of each side
OF the Tennessee rever, which flows
through the centre OF the county,
sending down numerous. streams,
each margined with its broad and
fertile valleys For mountain
county. there is a large proportion
of arabic land, suitable for all ths
grains and grasses, all of which are
grown in great luxuriance. The
abundance of these conduces the
profitable raising of horses, mules,
cattle, sheep and hogs. To artifi-
cial pasturage or forage may be ad-
ded an unlimited mountain range.
Fine timber abounds, and the Minis
eral wealth is without doubt great,
though developed only in the abuR-
dant MICA and corundum deposits.
With all its natural resources, and
with all its developed industries,
Macon county lies at great disad-
vantage in comparison with those
counties which have facilities of
access and transportation. Not a
single line of railroad touches it or
penetrates it. More than forty
years ago the Rabun Gap road vas
begun to pass across the Blue Ridge
at an almost nominal grade, to pass
through Macon county, down the
Tennessee river into thy State of
Tennessee at grade of less than
fifty feet to the mile-the most re-
markable depression through any
mountain system on the American
continent. That road remains un-
finished. Within the past two years
Interest has been aroused by propoA
sitions to renew work on this road,
or to leave its construction to the
hands of another company. The
prospect for work by either is dull
one. In the meantime Macon
county suffers, and declines instead
instead of advancing With rail-
roads leading in any direction inns
mediate impulse would be given to
every interest. Population would
flow in occupy the present super
abundant. room. The fertility OF
the SOIL, the healthfulness of the
climate and the beauty of the scenery
could be reached with the same
readiness as it's reighbors.
The question occures, shall Macon
county be longer sacrificed to the
caprices, the Incidence, or rivalries
of corporations which may mean
nothing, which do nothing, and vel
stand in the way of those who
would give relief 1t seems to u;
that existing companies have for
feifed all chartered rights by non.
use, and that they should be made
to stand aside and give others tht
field. Occupants win readily b
found. Macon county would con-
tribute literally in the way of aid
We look to the coming able repre-
sentative from Macon, George A
Jones TO do something that will
help his people, the West, and tn,
State, and moreover immortaliz,