Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-04-27
For the Herald and Tribune.
AN INTERESTING SKETCH.
The Subterranean Cayerns of Eas
Tennessee.
BY y. A. PATTERSON.

Several of these have been explored
in lower East Tennessee, and found to
be quite extensive. The only one
ever entered is under the Fork Greek
hills, some eight miles southeast OF
Sweetwater. At the end of 1000 yards
lake of water is reached, beyond
which the cavern seems 10 continue.
The cavern, as far as explored, EN-.
braces a number of chambers, the
largest of which would furnish several
thousand people standing room.
My object in now referring to the
subject is to call attention to the fact
that it is quite probable that Washing
ton County has large amount of such
open, underground space. Jonesboro
stands on the southern verge of most
singular plateau of ground, which ex-
tends practically north to the Watauga
River. 1t is high plateau, that con
stitutes what | will call the ridge
pole" of the watershed between the
Watauga and Chucky Vallies. From
this high ground the waters flow re-
spectively northeast and southwest.
The highest point of this high ground
is about two miles north of Jonesboro,
the elevation being over 1 200 feet above
sea level, and is the highest point of
the East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia
Railroad between Chattanooga and
Bristol. l have never travelled along
this high plateau further than from the
mountains to the east, to a point six
miles west of Jonesboro. For the dis
tance thus observed, the same general
formation continues, indicating that
The subteranean structure is cavernous.
A large number of deep depressions in
the surface are found, and as you ap-
proach the Watauga River the depress-
sions assume the form of great sink
holes, exposing flowing streams of wa
ter at the bottom. Manifestly, under
this high backbone" country, llet
me call it, embracing width of ten
to fifteen miles, are small and, posi-
bly,, large caves in great number. In
fact, it is not impossible that the un-
derlying system of cave work, approach
in extent and, possibly, equalling or
exceeding that of the great Mammoth
Cave of Kentucky. If from this 10
cality you draw line at right angles
with the Cumberland Mountain chain.
and follow the line, it will lead you to
the Mammoth Cave. l have been on
the Mammoth Cave gr und before |
ever saw this part of East Tennessee,
and after seeing this have often been
reminded of the similarity of the two
locations.
Who, or by what accident. will the
discovery be made that under the cen
tral part of old Washington County is
great system of cavesY To those
who may have taste for such explo-
rations, can point to two of quite a
number of good starting points. On
the road out northeast from Jonesboro,
about five miles, is the old Sailor place
Cave Spring. On an easy grade lead
ing to point about one hundred feet
below the general surface, you pass
under an archway of rock to fine
spring. The water flows few feet by
you and disappears. If you could pass
through or beyond the low archway
from which the water flows out, most
likely you would find yourself in a
large cave. About one mile from this
spring, toward the Watauga River, and
to the left of the road out west from
johnson City, on the old Kilby farm,
is a natural opening in the ground and
rocks, some two feet in diameter, into
which if rock be dropped you will
hear it bounding from side to side for
space of time that indicates depth
of one hundred feet or more. That
might be good place to enter large
space of underground roominess. The
fact is, throughout and along this large
area of high ground, you are not often
out of sight of great sinkhole depres
sions; and at the abrupt ending OF
many small hills, are to be seen blind
| entrances to caves. | mean, they look
to be entrances to caves that are block
ed up with debris. Why don't try tc
explore some of them? Well | have q
strong preference for the top surface
well supplied with good sunshine. Lei
some one else discover the big cave
probably near by, and under our mag
nificent Watauga country, and supply
it well with electric lights, then I'll &c
in and admire its stalactites, stalag
mites and general scenery.