Iron County register., 1896-12-17
From TarheeIiana.

AsHEvnLE. n. c., DEC. 4. 1896.
Ten days. residence in this Land
of the Skies" does not loosen the ties
that bind US to home and friends, but
the newness of the situation begins to
wear away, enabling US to see more
clearly the advantages and beauties of
this famed resort. While one is an
utter stranger in strange land, seek
ing in vain familiar face, his COM
parison of bis place of soiourn with
| the home from which be is expatriat-
ed is sure to be odious if given to the
world. But as time passes and new
people and unfamiliar scenes familiar
ize themselves TO his inner and outer
consciousness, his vision is cleared
and he begins to judge more impair
italy.
We yet contend, as we have ever
contended, that, for quiet beauty and
transformations attractiveuess. our own
loved Valley of Arcadia need not fear
comparison with any other portion of
the .'foot-stool." This contention has
been ever strengthened by travel and
experience. We remember some if
teen years ago we made a Sightseeing
trip through the States Of Illinois.
Kentucky. Mississippi and Louisiana,
passing On our way the famed Blue
Grass region, and visiting a number
of summer resorts, noted for their
beauty and attractiveness, on the
stretch of sea-coast between Mobile
and New Orleans. a bright morning,
succeeding a refreshing shower of the
night, early 10 June, the train landed
US at our home station. We climbed
into Begley's open hack, and as We
faced southwark there spread before
US picture more enchanting than any
! that had delighted our vision in more
pretentious lands. The ranges of
mountains on either hand. the green
expanse of valley, the purling
streams of limpid water, the ra-
diant freshness of flowers on every
side-all these, at such a time, made
an impression never to be forgotten
and crystalized our thaDkfulness that
our life-lines had been cast in so pleas
ant a place. Subsequent experience
has but emphasized our confusion.
And yet there are other places!
And Asheville il one of them. 1t is
situated on pleateu formed of some
level plains and numerous hills of vary
| ing heights, the whole surrounded by
mountains without number-almost.
In former letter / gave general de-
scription of the city and its surround
ings. This shall be more specific, if
not so entertaining. As stated, the
city has about Is, 900 inhabitants, and
is modern in all its accessories to COM
fort. An excellent system of water
works supplies the citizens with
most healthful quality of the element.
1t is bright, clear, free from impreg-
nation, and, for drinking purposes,
most agreeable as well as wholesome.
1t is taken from the romantic and
beautiful Swaunauoa, a veritable river
i-as this is the land-of the skies.
Though the people here do not gener-
ally vaunt its excellence, we think it
one of Asheville's chiefest attributes.
The streets-in the business centres
ARE well paved. and the granitoid
sidewalks are broad, cleanly kept,
and, owing to the great elevation, al
ways dry, except while the rain is ac-
tually falling. Even under a cloudy
sky, fifteen minutes cessation of rain
sees them white and dry again.
The city is chiefly made up of wood
eu buildings, though Main Street and
Patton Avenue, and the other streets
in the centre of town, contain fine
business houses of brick and stone.
The courthouse square is madieval in
appearance: two or three of the main
structures being imperfect copies of
castellated buildings of curious not TO
say wonderful design. / viewed the
square the other evening by gaslight,
and its tout ensemble called strongly to
my mind that street scene in the Acad-
envy of Music, Illuminated for special
occasion long gone by, under the skill
full supervision of Capt. Byers. The
square is seated upon hill, and con-
sequently all the avenues leading 20 il
attain the Temple of Justice only after
pretty lung-sxpauding climb. A
v further climb into one of the steeples
or turrets amply repays one for hi;
exertion, however. A broad expanse
: of mountains. plain and valley lies up
!. on every hand, the extreme limit o
vision being arrested by cloud-like
= peaks towering above their fellows
on the distant horizon. With every
change of position a new scene pre-
zents itself, ard other beauties gratif!
the admiring eye. 0ne does not sooi
tire of the cyclorama that Nature Will
lavish hand has here created, and b
resigns HIMSELF to his more immediat
L