The state chronicle., 1893-06-25
EsMERALDA I'm,
near Chimney Rock,

with towering mountains on each
hand, amid the most picturesque
scenery east of the Rockies, far re-
moved from the care and troubles of
the outside world; in such place
we, party of editors, railroad and
business men, have met to see for
ourselves and believe and tell the
world something of the real gran
deur and sublimity of Western
North Carolina scenery and this
locality in particular. The party is
under the auspices of that most ex-
cellent railroad system, the Seaboard |
Air Line, and the personal manage
ment Of that genisi gentleman, Mr..
I. J. Anderson, General Passenger
Agent Of the line. In private cars,
with excellent schedules, we arrived |
ssfely at Rutherfordton, via Hamlet
and Charlotte. Here, at the termi-
nus of the Carolina Central, our
journey by rail is finished. hIayor
9. I. Harris warmly welcomed the
party and escorted US to the Isother-
NAL Hotel, kept by Mr.. W. S. Guth-
RE, where al excellent dinner
awaited US and our first taste of
| mountain fruits and wines. Ruth
; erfordton is town of about thou
sand inhabitants, beautifully sit
rated on the eastern spurs of the
Blue Ridge.
Forty miles TO the northwest lies
the city of Asheville, situated in the
heart of the mountains, and ap-
proachable only through natural
passes Or gaps. The most beauti-
full Of these is the famed Hickory
| Nut Gap, beginning at Chimney
| Rock, and extending westward, a
| distance OF eight miles, containing
the grandest views found east Of
the Mississippi. To give tourists
and sight-seers al opportunity to
| visit this wonderful region stage
! coach line will run between Ruth
| erfordton and Asheville, passing on
its way Chimney Rock, Bald Noun
tain, Round Top, Mount Pisgah, and
other points possessing equal
beauty and grandeur. This line
! will be opened on July 1st. TIE
stages are new, strong, and above
| all comfortable and even elegant.
| Our party left Rutherfordton with
| beating hearts and eyes strained to
catch the first view of the noun
tains. Sice Charlotte was passed
occasional glimpses OF the blue,
hazy ridges appeared on the west
ern and northern horizon, but al
most too distant to thrill the soul.
Cur destination was Esmeralda
Inn, seventeen miles from Ruther-
fordton, and twenty-three miles
| from Asheville.
Our journey was over the old
turnpike built many years ago at
great expense by the State. In its
present perfect condition travelling
over it is pleasure, and we rapidly
passed along leaving Mount Tryon
Little Mountain on our left, cross
ing Mountain and Cove Greeks,
and finally coming in sight of the
, First Broad, noble stream, here
running placidly and deep, there
rushing over boulders Of immense
size, foaming and sprsying-play-
ing with itself, IS it seems. Now
: fording the river and again safely
looking down two hundred feet at
the noisy companion of our Journey
as by it's side and never absent
from it's music, we pursue our way
J for eight miles until the inn is
/ reached. Thus we pleasantly les
) sen the distance until at sudden
turn in the road, at Preacher White
, sides the first grand view bursts
, upon us.
3 Hickory Nut Gap, gradually rising
, until it's western gate is seemingly
g closed by Mount fisgah, lies in the
center, with the Broad River cours
ing down to it's middle. To the righ
Bald Mountain with its scarpee
s rocks, blasted and screggy trees
t rises to the altitude of 1884 feet
] farther up the gap Round Knob o.
8 Sugar Loaf rears it's towering head
It To the left the pinnacle of Gimme,
n Rock stands out in bold relie
! against the setting sun, while farthe
west, at distance of seven miles
i Appalachian Falls appears
y silver ribbon on carpet o
g the darkest green. Higher vi
o the gap the precipitous cliffs O
Blue Rock seem capable of bein!
covered with the hand. Here W.
rest for some time before beginnin;
the ascent proper; to those of u
r who have never seen the mountain
It before it is a revelation, and ye
q, how many are willing to live an
d die without putting forth one effor
y to visit the wondrous scenery c
" our native State when such read
ar and pleasant means of transports
Of ton are at our very hands.
10 Corn and wheat fields dot the fe1
tile valleys and mountain side
Often it is impossible to discover b
what means the grain is planted O
the latter, the slopes are so nearl
perpendicular. To my certai
70 knowledge guns are used in th
a. sowing OF grain when the slope e:
30 coeds an angle of As degrees. Or