The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-09-03
The Juniors Trip to the Mountains.

The Juniors Trip to the Mountains.
we are again at our post of duty, after o
two weeks jaunt through the mountains
of Western North Carolina. and We feel
very much recuperated. We could fill
several columns of the INTELL1aENcER
in describing the places We have visited
and in telling Of the scenes and incidents
Of our trip, but as we hardly know where
to begin and where to stop, and our space
being limited, we will be compelled to
speak of our trip only in general way.
We left homo on Friday, 11!h ult., and
in few hours landed in the progressive
citv of Spartanburg. AS we desired to
make the trip over the Spartanburg &
Ashevillo Railroad in daylight, We spent
the night there. Spartanburg continues
to grow, and our stay there was one Of the
most pleasant features of our whole trip.
We met number Of old friends. and en-
joyed delightful ride over good portion
Of the city.
Leaving spartanburg on Saturday at 2
O'Clock p. M, an hour later our train be-
gan IFS marvellous climb at Saluda noun
tain, where two engines and any amount
of persuasion are needed to get to the sum-
nit of the Blue Ridge. From this point
on to Asheyille the scenery along the
road is most beautiful and picturesque.
The survey of this road certainly required
q good amount of skill. The road bends
and winds, sometimes hiding behind the
high hills and then standing out in tall
trestles over deep ravines, affording the
passengers varied and numerous scenes.
The people will always delight to travel
this route. but as freight line it will
never do big business, as the grades are
too steep. Good time, however, is made
over the road, and in little more than
three hours after leaving Spartanburg
Asheville is reached.
Everybody has heard about Asheville,
which is now recognized as one ofthe most
popular winter as we'll as summer resorts
in this whole country. 1t was our first
visit there, and we must confess that we
wore agreeably surprised to find such q
live, progressive city. Ten years ago, we
are told, it was an obscure mountain town,
but to. day it ranks as one of the leading
cities of North Carolina. Meeting up
with our old friend, Capt. John o. Peo-
Piles, of Newberry, who was also on
mountain tour, we spent several days in
Asheville, and, with him, visited all the
places of interest in and around the city.
Asheville has fine system Of electric cars,
running in almost every direction from
the business centre of the city, and stran.
ger has no trouble in locating and visiting,
without the assistance of guide, any
place he may desire in or around the city.
There are many places to visit, and ones
time can be we'll spent in seeing them.
The place is full Of attractive hotels and
boarding houses, and visitors can get &C.
commodations at almost any price-fr0m
one to eight dollars per day.
There are two new points OF interest
near Asheville that are now attracting
hundreds of sight.seers every day. We
refer to Vanderbilt's home and the Kenil-
worth Inn. Both stand within view OF
Biltmore q small station FIVE miles this
side of Asheville. The Inn cost $500, 900,
and is model of architecture and ele.
gance. It has just been opened, and will
be both a winter and summer resort. The
foundations Of Mr.. Vanderbilts palace are
now being laid, and it will be three years
or more before it is ready to be occupied.
Five hundred hands are at work on the
premises, and the grounds present grand
scene. Mr.. Vanderbilt will spend three
million dollars on this place, which will
make it the grandest residence on this
continent.
We met up with many former South
Carolinians in Asheville, and all Of them
are apparently doing well.
Leaving Asheville We continued our
journey to Waynesville, n. G., which is
Situated on the Murphy branch of the
Western North Carolina Railroad, about
thirty-fve miles west of Asheville. Along
the railroad the beauties of skyland
break like cyclorama all around you.
Which way you look new charm is pre-.
sented to the eye, and time passes away
verV raDi6lV to the traveller.
Waynesville is the County seat Of Hay
wood County, and is the highest railroad
town east of the Mississippi River. 1t is
situated at the base of the Balsaln Noun.
tains, in The Richland Valley, and is 3,750
feet above the sea level. The town IS in
the heart of the finest hard-tiinber coun-
try in the world, and is backed by good
agricultural country, which is well adapt.
ed to stock-raising, dairying, the produc.
ton of all the cereals and the finest grades
of tobacco.
We were hunting q nice, quiet place to
rest and recuperate, and several friends
in Asheville advised US to go to Waynes-
Yille. We do not regret taking this advice,
for We have never visited more delight
full place. After alighting from the train
at the depot, the first person we met was
an old friend, Mr.. A. j. Reeves, who, q
few years ago, conducted business at
Honea Path for Sloan, Lee g. Taylor. he
is proprietor of the Reeves House, and, of
course, We put ourself in his care at once.
He and his good wife did everything pos
sible for our pleasure and comfort, and we
spent q most enjoyable week under their
root. They keep an excellent house, and
have large number of boarders every
summer.
Located one mile from Waynesville are
the Haywood White Sulphur Springs,
which are now one of the most popular
haalth resorts in the South A large,
modern hotel stands at the Springs, and it
is crowded every season with guests In
seek of health and recreation, From this
hotel one of the grandest views we have
ever seen is presented to the eye.
In point of fact more attractive spot
than Waynesville could scarcely be found
in which to spend summer vacation.
The town is embosomed among the noun
tains, and its picturesque scenery, the
cool and healthful breezes and its accessi'
bility is bound to make it popular re-
sort. If her citizens will use q little en-
ergy they can get ahead of Asheyille as
resort. We had the pleasure of meeting
the editors of the Waynesville Courier, and
are under obligations to them for courte-
sizes shown us. If the citizens Of Waynes.
Vile will give the Courier the support it
deserves, It will do much toward adver-
tising the town.
There are many places around the town
that will interest the visitor, and time
never grows monotonous. Our time was
spent so pleasantly we regretted that we
could not stay month there.
Before returning home we visited other
resorts, among them Hendersonville and
Salnda. both of which are delightful