Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-08-26
"THE LAND OF THE sKY.n
Correspondence Alexsndrit Gazette)

Correspondence AIeXNnOrlt t1aZetle
BREvARD, n. c., Aug. is After
peasant trip from old Alexandria over
the Southern Railway your correspond
ent arrived at this beautiful mountain
town n week ago to day. II was ex
pected connection with Hend erson-
vile ould be made at Asheville, but
we found the train waiting at Biltmore
Two miles cast of this famous resort.
B,ltmore is itself we'll known as the
cation Tor Mr.. Geo. W. Vanderblt's
paatial residence among these North
Carolina mountains. An hours ride
brought us 10 Hen6elsonviile, one Of
the many mountain resorts on the line
Of the Southern system which connects
Asheville with Spartanburg, S. G. We
then left the Southern system and took
the Hendersonvlle and Brevard read,
{, short line oftwenty-two miles, which,
in the speed and appointments of the
trains, reminds one of the old LoudOun
road in by-gone days. Brevard coun
ty, the seat of Transylvania county, is
situated among the mountains in the
beautiful valley of the French Broad
river, about IS miles south of Asbe
vile, and contains four hundred in
hsbitants. The last official report oil
the U. S geographical survey gives il
an altitude OF > $50 feet above the sea
aud it is said that the site
of the Brevard court house is thir-
teen feet higher than Ashevlle. A
large hotel or sanitarium would, we
think, divert many visitors from lbnt
point to this healthy locality, as it has
all the salubrious advantages and none
Of the disadvantages of that old health
resort. We met two ladies the other
day who live in Asheville and have
come here Tor rest and pure air. Alti-
,ude here is strongly in evidence. Each
mountain peak seems little higher
than the other-a veritable sea OF
mountains and their tops as multitude
nous as were the waves in Homer's
time. The atmosphere must be breathed
before you Can understand its tonic
properties. After drive of twenty
tour niles and much climbing, one feels
perfectly fresh next morning and ready
for another day of sightseeing. Tne
visitors down ere are like the Athei
,uus. in their greed for novelty, and each
day some new drive or sight is eagerly
sought. In fact the residents them
selves are not behindhsnd in their in
terest, and never seem to tire of the
beauty of their own land. The mount
aims are filled with wonderful water
falls. Just around this place and within
days trip to each are Glencannon
Falls, Maiden's Hair, Conestee. and
Looking Glass. The latter takes its
name from an immense rock on
the mountain above it, said to be
the third largest rock in the world,
ranking with Gibraltar. Mr.. Van
derbit has recently purchased this
mountain and is reported as having pro-
nounced it one of the great wonders OF
America. At its lowest point it is only
fftv feet less than the Washington
monuments it towers at its highest to
1900 feet, and is four miles in circum-
ference.
This is finely watered section. Two
mountain streams flow all around US,
the Davidson and French Broad rivers.
Yesterday during drive Of twelve
miles we crossed the Davidson river
twelve times. The banks are lined
with rhododendrons, some of which are
still in bloom. The incentive to out
door life is simulated and fed by the
''indescribabe scenery of river, valley
mountain peak and cascade, with miles
of native forest" We hope on our re.
turn to visit Ashevlle and the baronial
estate OF B ltmore, whose owner is now
summering in other lands beyond the
sea.
Cool waves of gratitude went over Us
as we read in the GAZETTE of the hot
wave that brought sultry days aad
nights to your city lately. No matter
how warm the days are here we are
obliged to have blankets at night. we
would like to inform you that the GA
zETTE reaches us the day after publica-
ton only few hours later than we re-
ceive il at the Seminary three miles
from your office.