The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-07-06
THE VALLEY OF PLENTY.
\ TRIP TIIROU1:H FERTILE SUR
Kl COUNTY.
The W. OOlen and Cotton Mills and Good
Farming Makes EIkin Valley Rich and
PrOSNerOuS.
lStaff Cor. STATE CHRONICLE !

EI-klN, N. ", June .bU.-l usually IFaNGl
on the cars and the pleasant change to
delightful ride, behind an $500 pair of
blooded horses, through the most beautiful
and richest section the sun in his journey
| shines upon, is delight that | experience
| ed last week. Leaving the noise and con
fusion, which are invariably attendant
upon IA great railroad celebration, behind
me at Mt. Airy, the delightful atmosphere
as we ascended in a drive to Dobson, the
county seat of Surry, gave new zest to life
| did not see the Office IN which Andrew
Jackson used to practice law when he re-
sided in Dobson, but Clerk of the Court
Folger gave me some incidents, recollect
ed by the Oldest inhabitant, of his career
| in this old little town.
My destination was the Elkin Valley
| ''the land flowing with milk and honey
There is little town here containing 800
souls-and three hundred better souls
don't live in the generous old North State.
The village is situated on the banks of the
adkin and Elkin rivers, the latter run
ming through rich valley that extends
for distance of fifty miles or more. In
this valley is a rich deposit of iron ore
which will yield 66 per cent.
When the new railroad, which IS being
built from Winston to Elkin and on to
Wilkesboro, is completed it will open up
this section of country, which will then
not be surpassed by any section OF North
Carolina for fertility. Then the Elkin
Valley will be famous in North Carroll
ma history las the fertile valley-the rich
valley, the valley of delight" Elkin will
be city, and will take rank with our most
progressive places. lar removed from
railroad thirty miles it has most of
those elements that go to make a thriving
town. As far back as 1913 a large cotton
factory-lt Is the property of that best of
men, Mr. K K. Gwyn-was erected. 1t
has been IN successful operation since that
time. one mile above the town of Eikin,
on the Elkin river is situated the cele-
hrated woolen mills of Gwyn 4 Chatham.
These mills make all kinds of woolen
goods, including blankets of all grades.
think chat patriotic North Carolinlans
ought to make new Fourth of July reSo
luton to this effect: we will hereafter
sleep under no blankets except those that
are made in North Carolina from wool
sheared from North Carolina sheep. If
they should make this resolution, they
couldn't do better than to use the blankets
made in the Elkin Mills. Employment
is given in these mills TO a thrifty and
moral set of men, women and children
and every effort is made to make them
comfortable and prosperous. Near Eikln Is
the old town of Jonesville which was in
corporated as far back as 1911.
Probably the most delightful part of my
visit to this fine country was visit | made
with my pleasant and clever friend, Mr..
Hugh u. Chatham to the top of the Blue
Ridge and Stone mountains. The distance
from Elkin to the base of the mountain is
ten miles, but the circuitous path which
we were compelled to follow was fifteen
miles from the top. The scenery at Roy
ing Gap, and at the top of the mountains
was grand and beautiful. never shall
forget a dinner | ate on the top of the
mOuntain-the richest mountain milk and
butter. bread and the sweetest ham At
ter the long journey, 1t was as refreshing
and more stimulating than the beautiful
scenery which stretched out in every di-
! rection as far as the eye could reach
; have often heard of the sport of catching
mountain trout. | never experienced ii
beforehand never caught such delightful
, fish. or enjoyed the fishing SO much.
On this trip | drank water from two
springs, one hundred yards apart, one in
Wilkes county and one in SlIrry. The
water of one flows into the Gulf of Mexico
and the water of the other finds its way
into the Atlantic ocean.
The next morning arose early and went
to see the sun rise on the top of the noun
tain, which is a solid granite stone from
1000 to 1900 feet from its base to the
Way up on this rocky mountain | saw thi;
: lettering;
''Rev. Peter Doub,
5 July 3rd, 1S43."
/ Here. high above the trees, this eminen
5 Methodist divine cut his name on tn,
o rocks and the mountain is his monument
1t is an appropriate monument. Strons
: n faith and vigorous in preaching. witi
5 few adornments or refnementS of educa
Il ton, this great man stood out as th
o granite moun,ain-high above his fellows
i He is held in grateful recollection by tn,
older Methodists of this section-and thei
! name is legion. His influence is still 70
= good. Though dead he yet speaketh." "
: One of the neatest Methodist churche
s.; | have seen j. at Elkin. It's present pas
/; tor is Rev. Z. l.. Pell, who is held in th
;; highest esteem by all the people. He i
j rapidly developing into leading ministe
J of his denomination. He wields grace
h ful pen. and when he became a preacher
;, journalism lost good editor.
J. And now word about politics. Their
L have been Il large number of white Repul
e lcans in this section, but the outlook
5. that there will be fewer than ever befor
in the coming election. The Democrat
are wide awake and hopeful and vigorous
talked with several men who have here
:: tofore voted the Republican ticket VIII
Z, voluntarily told me that they would nc
l. do so again. One old mana Repubica
., said that he had heard Judge Fowl
5. speak at Dobson once, and that he ha
, made up his mind to vote for him if eve
I. occasion should offer. The chance ha
). come TO him now. and Judge Fowle wi
]. get his vote. Judge Fowle is very popl
b. lar in all this section and is going to g
'. large vote. Wilkes is in good conditio
B. and will elect Democrats to the Legisl;
e. ture this year.
IS DR.. York has had his day
y And now he leans upon his staff,
n1' And wrinked, old, and gray,
u His sigh becomes a hollow laugtA"
r. What is true of the bright political pro
4. poets i'll Surry and Wilkes is also true,
understand, OF Stokes, Yadkin, Alleghan,
Ashe and Watauga. In the last Legisl
ture all these counties, except Alleghar
and Surry, were represented by Rerubl
cans, and the representative from Sur1
te only got in by 1.-The skin of his teeth
IT. We shall hear better things from tlls rie
Id and prosperous and growing section
- November H. = II.
if Just Needed One.