The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-08-14
A TRIP TO THE MOUNTAINS.

| as requested, 20 Wrlte 10 you Wnlle III tue
mountains, but I was so continuously on
the go that did not have On opportunity.
I will take pleasure, now, however, in
giving an outline of our trip, which l
think will interest your readers. We left
Anderson by rail on the 18th Of last
month, going via GreenVille, spartanburg
and Asheville to Bryson City, N. G., our
point of destination. After several hours
delay, both at Greenville and Spartan.
burg, we boarded the train for Asheville
and got fairly started for the mountains.
At Tryon, 81 miles above Spartanburg,
We crossed the line of the cotton belt and
the scenery began to grow more interest.
ing with every mile ne travelled From
all parts of the crowded COR friends were
calling to one another to look at this or
that interesting view. Crossing Saluda
Mountain, IS miles above Spartanburg,
the grade rises from $50 to 200 feet per
mile, and it WAS found necessary to attach
two engines to the train in order to make
the climb. Three hours and twenty
minutes after leaving Spartan6urg we
reached Asheville, where we spent the
night. Asheville is, indeed, a beautiful
city. 1t is surprising what changes are
wrought on the same spot in such short
periods. Where the smoke of the Indians,
wigwams arose and the stealthy tread of
the wolf and panther was heard over the
autumn leaves at twilight, the 10000
population of Asheville now surges along.
The wigwam has given place to the mag.
niicent buildings of the "Pale faces"
fashioned after the elegant styl les of mod.
ern Architecture. The wolf, the panther and
the bear have been driven back into the
Great Smoky Mountains, and their places
supplanted by lowing herds Of cattle.
Electric lights flash their brightness
where before the darkness was impene-
trable. laundering trains glide over the
narrow trails of the Red man, and where,
butts a few summers ago, the rising sun
flooded primevial forest with its golden
hues, is now built one of the most beauti-
ful mountain cities in America with
glistening spires and pinacles adorned"
At 9.15 next morning we took the train
for Bryson City. The scenery along this
road is at once wild and grand. Noun
tain peaks tower high above you on al
most every side, and far up on the sides of
the mountains, in places SO steep we
wonder how they can be cultivated, can
be seen fields of cotton and tobacco.
Many streams dash down the sides of
these mountains which we Cross on tres
sells so high and slender looking that
they almost make one shudder. 96
miles beyond Asheville we cross the
Balsom Mountain, $500 feet above sea
level. The grade here is very steep, but
as only two cuaches are attached to the
engine the ascent is MAIDS without much
difficulty. There is spring bubbling up
on this mountain, The waters of which
register !. temperature of Al degrees.
Twenty miles this side of Bryson City the
train passes through tunnel $50 feet
long, Gu. through sulid rock Many
miles of this mountain road lie along the
banks Of the Tuckaseegee River, and we
pass through number Of wide spreading
valleys in high state of cultivation.
Fields of corn, tobacco and tanned hay
cocks" dot them uver.
Bryson City is situated in beautiful
valley in Swain County, Western North
Carolina, G5 miles west from Asheville,
on the Western North Carolina branch of
the R. & D. R. R. This quiet valley,
through which the Tuckaseegee River
winds its silver current, possesses all the
advantages necessary to large and pros.
porous mountain city. The town is built
on both sides of the river, which is span.
ned by good, substantial bridge. There
is ample room in the valley for Churches,
Factories, Warehouses, Stores, &C., while
the mountains, which surround the
valley, furnish, in their gently sloping
coves, the healthiest and most picturesque
building sites imaginable. The present
population is only about 500 but they are
all active. enterprising people, fully
alive to the natural advantages which
surround them, and it is only question
of time when their city will be the rival
of Asheville Away up to the very tops
of these mountains the locust, chestnut,
walnut, poplar, oak, ash, &C., grow in
their greatest luxuriance. Rich mines
Of tale, gold and iron lie buried on the
outskirts OF their city, while mineral
springs OF wonderful curative powers
mingle their waters with the beautiful
Tuckaseegee. There is already in course
Of erection there SIC, 900 saw mill plant,
while Messrs. Arthur u Lipscomb b, two
South Carolina men, are daily turning
out and shipping to all parts of the world,
millions of locust ship pins, and insulater
pins. In addition to these industries
there are many we'll constructed and ele.
CANT stores, Court Hou:e-Bryson City
being the County seat--two Churches
completed and two in course of erection,
frst-o1oss hotel rew1v construnted aud