Middletown transcript., 1896-02-15
{ Written for the TRANscRIpT)
IN THE SUNNY SOUTH.

cars. The trip as far as Greensboro
N. G., was made by night. aud by day
light from Greensboro To Marsh I'll
The ride after daylight was not par
ticularly interesting until the noun
famous country was reached. Be
tween Greensboro and within proba
bly, fifty miles of Asheville all indica
tjons pointed to the distressing fac
that the country was as full of povert.
as of pines, if the views of The farmers
buildings, etc. as seen from the ca
windows, were any indication. The
buildings most common to the sight
were the typicallog huts, tobacco barns
and stables peculiar to the Southern
farmers life. Very few cattle were
visible about the building, seldom more
than one or two cows could be seen,
and poultry was equally scarce. They
were not invisible because of being
housed, lowing to the strict enforce
ment Of the stock laws here,) the di-
lapidated stable being used for the
horse or mule. The tobacco barns u.s.
ually presenting The best appearance.
Before reaching Asheyille indica-
tions pointed to a higher degree of
prosperity, but not that degree that
would by any means give satisfaction
to Delaware farmer. During a wait
Of about two hours at Salisbury the
"Liber.y Bell" arrived at the Station
and tarried short time. 1t was In an
open car, very tastefully trimmed with
smilax and well guarded. Quite a mot
ley collection of people gathered to
view it, but there was no demonstra-
tion of any kind although great inter-
est was manifested. Nothing else of
particular interest occurred during the
trip, but the country and its formation
became of peculiar and thrilling inter-
est to one who had always been famil-
lar with comparatively. level surface.
Many miles before reaching AsheYille
the high mountain peaks could be dis
cerned and nearer the approach the
more intense the interest evinced. The
climbing of the mountain began at a
station called "Old Fort" the speed
being necessarily very slow having to
attach au additional engine, and for a
distance of probably thirty miles scenes
of such awful grandeur and magnifi-
cence were witnessed that will never
be forgotten. The climb was around
and around, higher and higher until
the highest point was reached which
is said to be $50 0 feet above sea level
or nearly that number of feet above
Asheville is 500 feet
lower, the descent to which was easy
and rapid.
There were points where an unob-
structed view could be obtained. Way
down in the valley hundreds of feet be-
low flowed the beautiful French
Broad River, apparently tiny stream;
The red soil and grey rock of the noun
tain sides intersrersed with the green of |
the pines and mountain laurel, the view
to the peaks above where
! hazy smoky atmosphere tinged with
he reflection Of the sun beyond pre-
sented such scenes that will long be
Asheville is very pretty and inter-
,sting town viewed from the car win.
lows. 1t is situated on the northern
'ide of the railroad and contains many
1ery handsome buildings. Mr.. Van
lerbilt's handsome dwelling aud
grounds are about two miles south east
II Asheville the nearest station 10
hem being Biltmore.
Marshall is the county seat of Mad
sou county. The town is lucaltd al
he base of the mountains and en- Hely
| lrrounded by them, with one long
tIeet about thirty feet wide with The
uuses on the north side butting up
irecily against the rocky sides OF The
fountains. The French Broad River
] the boundary line on the south and
uns directly along and under the
ocks, huge cliffs projecting for many ,
eet over the river. TWsnty-fuur /
cres would include the area ulon
Ihich The town is located and owing Fl
} its rocky boundary there is no room
,r expansion. Fl
The French Broad River is shall a
w, picturesque stream, which owing
, its great descent conveys great
olume of water over its ruckey bed
nd of course is not nayigable. Only b
anoes are used which are poled along. G
ome very fine fish are caught in its a
aters. g
The town is a genuine Southern one, J
Ill of the hospitality SO manifest and I
to our friends below Mason b
I'd Dixon's line. Il has a population b
about 300 and dues quite an extern b
We business with the people Of the .
lrrounding country. L. has one
,urch, nine good stores, several snack !,
tops similar to our green groceries. shoe ],
ctory, lumber yards, drug stores, ag- i
and tobacco warehouses. !,
vo physicians aud quite a number of r
wyers. The latter profession, I ex- :
,ct. is the most prosperous IN The ]
'wn, as the people go to law upon !.
light provocation. The merchants :
sep their stores we'll stocked and no
)ubt do we'll: they do business on the