The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-07-23
over The {. 7. & VINO.
The State Tax Commissioners
Inspects the Road.
An Invited Party Accompany Them.
A Gay Time.

coach and an observation car, was run
over the East Tennessee and Western
North Carolina railroad to Cranberry
and return yesterday.
The occasion was the inspection of
the road and property of the company
by the State tax commissioners. These
are Hon. Reese X. Henderson, Hon.
Matt. Rhea, Hon. F. S. McClelland
and Mayor Ike T. Jobe, of this city.
Besides these gentlemen quite a
good sized party of invited friends
from the city were on board to enjoy
the pleasures of the day.
Mayor Jobe and family were on.
The Mayor has great many friends,
and he never likes to make distinc
tions. 1t was impossible to invite
them all, and some believe he pre-
vailed on those who were fortunate
enough to meet him first. The news
paper man always has an eye around
the corner, and of course, was not
outwitted from the invitations. He
went and enjoyed himself.
The train left the city at z a. m.
The entire party seemed to be espe-
cially happy. The sun shone clearly
and there were pleasant breezes astir.
The ladies wore a bright, cheerful
countenance, and laughed and talked
merrily to the clatter of the car
wheels.
Going up there were more or less
cinders flying back from the engine,
and those on the observation car oc-
casionally rubbed their eyes as though
the little windows were being intluded
upon. These people had not gone
through with the special training for
railroad travel which has been the por-
ton of the reporter.
The common practice to avoid the
discomforts arising from cinder in the
eye, Is to go through a cobble stone
training; that is, to fill the eyes with
cobble stones and dance them around
between the ball and lids for term OF
ten days, or the length of a writing
school. But despite the cinders, we
saw the beautiful and sublime in all
their perfection. There is no scenery
on the American continent grandel
than that presented in the gorge Of
four miles, along the E. T. & w. N. G
Railroad. There are many places
where the scenery is more extensive
but none more sublime save itbe at Vel
low Stone Park. From the granite
hills of the east, to the Rockies of the
west nature hath not more splendor
To attempt to describe it, makes i
Infinitely of less wonder than it is
Only the poets eye, "in fire frenzy
rolling" can reflect it as it should be.
The road runs along the mountain
side, and through tunnel afte
tunnel, high above Doe river
limpid stream rushing over the rocks
in the deep canyon. High above thu
road the cliffs tower until they ale al
most lost to sight. All this great pilt
of rock, mixed with soil, is covered
with growing shrubs, rhododendrons
ferns and wild flowers and evergreens
1t is fine road bed all the way ul
to the mines, and was built at grea
sacrifice. Surely if the State tax com
missioners do not make a liberal re
port, they are unable to appreciat
the sacrifice which these people hav
made to build up our wonderful coun
try. But Mayor Jobe knows some
thing of this, and the visiting CON
missioners, no doubt, were forcibly re
) minded that it took a liberal and dal
: ing people to accomplish what ha
been done in reaching the Cranberr
, mines.
The party enjoyed the hospitality {
the company not only in transports
ton, but they were rendered a fin
, dinner at the Cranberry hotel. Co
Nimson gave pressing invitation
S which was hardly necessary--and th
entire party accepted and went dow
/. except THE COMET representative VIII
had to go back on the early train
. attend to urgent business at home.
S The hotel, which belongs to I'll
company, Of which Col Nimson