The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-15
CAPT. M'coY's IMPRESSIONS


Ofthe South Given Ia Rn Interesting Let
ter TO the Intsiiigencer.
Captain J. r. Mccoy president Of the
Mccoy Shoe Company who has COM
pleted an extended trip in the south,
writes for the Intelllgencer, giving his
Impressions of the southern country.
Says Captain Mccoy:
II left West Virginia for business
trip through the south on the 9TH OF
June last, arriving at the national cap
ital on the 10th Leaving Washington
took train over the Southern railroad
for Asheville, N. c., the city Of the
skies via Georgetown, Manassas, Bull
Run, Petersburg and Lynchburg, ia
nous as the objective point of the
Hunter raid
II arrived at Asheville at II p, M,
where was soon duartefed at the Ho-
tel Battle Park located on high hill
overlooking the city and commanding
q fine view OF the French Broad river,
with Its beautiful valley 'BlItmore,
Vanderbllt's American paradise, four
miles away, the 'Kenllworth Inn near
by, and many palatial mansions dot the
hills From this point can be seen
multitude OF high mountain peaks,
some of them seeming to touch the sky
and presenting almost every variety or
natural scenery, thus giving to this Sec
tlon the well earned title of the Swift
zeriand OF America
"The drive from Ashevllle to Blltmore
and through Vanderbllt's magnificent
estate presents, many scenes OF great
beauty. / have visited east Tennes>
see, western North Carolina, northern
Georgia, principally through the noun
tain and timber regions. These secs
lions arescoxered With virgin forests Of
almost tr7gal ealqtle value consisting of
wild cherry. poplar, ash. red oak, white
oak, chestnut oak, yellow and white
piRe, henlork, birch, black walnut, and
other valuable woods, East Tennessee
has for its metropolis the city of Knox
vile, on the Tennessee river, with q
population OF 10000 1t Is q live, wide
awake business city with splendid
climate aud inhabited by an active. In
telligent and prosperous pOpulaCe II
was the home OF General John Scirer,
the first governor OF the state, and OF
"Parson" Brownlow, prominently con-
neeted with the history OF the state
during the late war. II Is blessed with
great natural defenses. 1t has been be-
sleged three times In Its history by hos
tile armies, but has never yet been cap
tured. The valley OF the Tennessee Is
wide, fertile and picturesque and with
careful cultivation Is capable of pro-
duclng crops sufficient to support an
enormous population.
Fine marble veins are to be found
here producing marble of almost every
grade and color, Of which the gray
Knox now used In all public buildings
,p Tho, fraFtaroI fr1yarnYffaF{ lie lffsuB
In the mountains Is to be found fine
quality OF roofing slate, manganese.
gold, copper and iron. Gold bearing
quartz is to be found in such album
dance that II It We're utilized as is done
In North Carolina, Georgia and else
where, 1t would be found profitable.
The soil, climate and products OF west
ern North Carolina and northern Geor-
gia are substantially the same as those
already described In east Tennessee, ex-
cept that much more gold IL being
mined in the last two states than In the
first. Northern people and northern
capital are both made welcome and the
country Is rapidly growing and devel-
opinE In wealth The timber and min
eral lands can be purchased at rldcu-
lousy low prices. SO low In fact that
the land will he worth more for agrl-
cultural purposes than IL now asked for
land, timber and minerals.
Great fortunes await The parties
who have the means and enterprise to
Invest In these lands. The people OF the
north are beginning to learn these facts
and to purchase this property. The sup
ply OF timber In the northern sections,
and especially the soft wood varieties,
Is well nigh exhausted, The dealers in
these products are being driven TO the
south for their supplies. The day OF
cheap timber In the south viii soon be
thing Of the past. The party who ex-
poets to reap large reward from these
sources must purchase now"