The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02
Mountain Park Association.

Mr.. James W Fox, president, being seen,
said:
"The intention of this association is to
provide, az it were, Sunday for the week
Of the work "a day world in the valley be-
low, to combine the Ashevile and Birm-
ngham ideas, to make union Of asthet-
les and pleasure with work and business
Tor the citizens Of Big Stone Gap.
"NNWe own 5000 acres of land is this
county, about ten or twelve miles away,
which includes High Knob, Eagle Knob,
and other SUBMITS, being next to the
White mountains and q few peaks in
North Carolina, the highest points in the
United States east of the Mississippi,
1880 feet The view from High Knob on
clear day, is magnificent, as one can sec
over the ranges of mountains that arc
tumbled upon one another, the states of
Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Tenn
essce, and North Carolina. Mr. Peter
Wolfe, the engineer in charge, who has
completed the survey, and is perhaps
more familiar with the lay of the land
than any one else, tells me it is all that
could be desired, there being in one place
in the South Fork convenient place for
a dam which, with maximum height Of
forty feet, would make a lake from 300
to 1000 feet wide, and from quarter to
half mile long. Perhaps succession
of these pools could be formed, as the
water frequently flows very sluggishly.
Judge Maury, a fellow director, and |,
few Sundays ago, attempted to explore
this stream from its source, a spring near
;rl 70 4 NM
Falls, and on to Big Stone Gap, bat I'M
successfully, as progress in those unex-
plored woods was necessarily slow, and
we did not find diet Of wintergrcen
leaves and berries particularly strength
ening.
However, as We got into such tangle
Of rhododendron and laurel that we could
scarcely proceed at all, except by wading
down the river for two miles or more. We
can bear testimony as to lis limpdity and
GOODNESS, which would probably guarantee
its success as trout stream; and, in
deed, the fish hatcheries Of the govern
ment have already promished US all the
small trout and other fish We want. This
will prove quite an attraction, as We know
of no place, except Cranberry, N. c., in
the several States around us where there
is trout fishing west of the Blue Ridge.
"In such places as We were in wagon
and riding road and even railroad could
easily be built, and as they are feasible
throughout, they (and the wagon road
frst) most follow directly, as this is the
best way to approach High Knob. The
road will be especially pretty where 1t
crosses the river from side to side, go as
to give views Of the falls and it must OF
necessity be great road for coaching and
dinner parties. Of course these things
seem bit far of just now during these
times of stringent money, but they are
Just rs sure to come as that the sun will
rise tomorrow. and perhaps sooner than
some of US think.
"Mr. Wolfe tells me that during the
time of his survey, when the snow was
from seven to twelve inches deep, he saw
a number oftracks Of deer, pheasants and
other game, and it has all along been our
intention to surround this land with ten
miles of high wire fence, and (by having
Swiss or Tyrolese in cabins along the out
skirts to prevent intrusion) to stock it
with deer, bear, wild turkeys, pbensants
and other game, which would surely null
tiply rapidly, and in few years give
good sport.
"But strong point, think, will be the
social features. Oddly enough the gum
mits of the mountains are covered with a
luxurious crop of blue grass and
timothy, and to-day you can see in
one place ten fine stacks of hay har-
vested this year. 1t has been one Of
our ideas, then, to build on High or Eagle
Knob, rustic log hotel, at first small size
With good kitchen and dining room and
few bed rooms, all with old fashioned
fire places for burning wood, and stock
it with o lot of good things, and put in
charge one of thase Swiss inn-keepers
whose wives are SO often good cooks, BE