Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1897-07-22
DIR. I. $. HOPKINS
VISITS THE LAND OF THE SKY" AMI
WRITES ABOUT 1T.
Majestic Glory and Beauty as He Saw 1t
On a Business Trip Through Western
North Carolina.
Atlanta Constitution.

Editor Constitution A recent
business trip carried this writer
writer through western North
Carolina.
Over-praise is a temptation to
one when the eye has been charmed
and the fancy has been delighted.
1t may have been SO in this in
stance, but over-statement would
be no easy task In reference to this
wonderland of mountain, valley
and river, of fruitful farms and
beautiful homes.
In a moment of happy inspira-
ton some one has called the noun
tain region of North Carolina
"The Land of the Sky" But a
name indicating attractions be-
longing to the earth would be
equally appropriate, if waving
wheat fields, iuxuriant tobacco
crops, exhaustless stone quarries
and other things ministering to
creature comfort might suggest
and justify a name.
But the glorious visions for the
eye Whatever can enl;veu the
imagination and elevate tee
thoughts into higher and nobler
moods belongs to this favored re
gion. From Salisbury to Knox
vile, along the line of the great
Southern Railway, the scene varies
increasingly and yet is eve on the
highest scale Of novelty aud mag
nlicence.
For many q mile the journey is
along The winding course of the
historic French Broad river, some
times skirting its waters at the
very edge and frequently crossing
the stream on picturesque bridges.
For the most part the course of
the river is through mountain
gorges, now babbllDg over a rocky
bed and then seeming to lie for
miles like a placid lake with hardly
a ripple to tell the surprising
swiftness of its current.
For once the rigid claims OF
business eem to have gone down
before the charms Of nature, and
if the projectors aud engineers
had meant to do SO they could
not have contrived more success
fully to lay out their road for the
Joy and delight of the traveller.
Alongside this wonderfully
beautiful river view aud in START
ling contrast with it are the
mountains On either hand-not
hills, but mountains. Sometimes
they rise preCipitous.y within
arms length of the coach to a
height Of 1850 feet, aod again
they swell and roll from the
margin of the river 10 bo!d aud
graceful curves Then a solid
train, pierced for the passage If
the tram, and up by many a tor
tuous curve until reinforced ny
the pilot engine the summit OF
the range is reached and the cas-
Ter descent is begun. At one
point can see below the grade
he has passed over at IS many as
fourteen different leYels, Central
in all of the asseublage OF ats
fractions is the beautiful lilrle
city OF AsheviiIe. Situated on al
elevated plateau. it is like a gen
set in the bosom Of the mount
aims. Surely nature and art never
combined in a more complete and
harmonious blending The charm
of this unique and busting little
city has been sounded far aud
wide, but it must be ecu and fell
TO be fully realized. Flonrish.ng
schools, beautiful churches. va
ried business Interests, "a liable
temperature, uufallinS water
supply from mountain streams
combine TO make it an idea place
of residence.
Holcls and boarding houses
abound wit hprices to suit tht
average purse. as well as those
of grea.er or less length aud
fullness. This writer's happy ex>
perierce was with the Battery
Park hotel and with NcK,ssjck
as host. This hotel occupies the
site Of an Old fort, and from its
elevated position eff rs q most
charming and comnlaT ding vi@w
of the CT below the mountains
beyond. SHADED porches. iuxu~
rious parlorS. tempting cuisine,
spleDdidly furnished 7, oms, We
equipped stables, sarpentine
walks, shaded hooks and Ueauti-
full lawns make it an ideal restlog
place a hotel home.
From the galleries Of the hotel
the eye may travel cver q hori
zon entirely girdled by mount
aims. o. every side at a distance
varying from q short walk To q
score or moro miles these cui-
nences rise in bold and graceful
lines. three, four, five or SIX
thousand feet.
Not mfr queatly a belt of
clouds seems to cieave their
sides, and at such times frosu
their SUBMITS the observer can
look down upon the upper sur
face of the clounds as upon the