Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-11-10

southern hallroad crosses on We'll
constructed trestle bridge. After q
careful examination the party con-
cluded to carry their luggage over
the bridge ard take the chances Of
fording. Securing mountaineers to
take the places of the regular drivers
they started to ford across, while the
inspectors watched from the railroad
bridge with considerable anxiety.
The ford, although over tho horses
backs, was successfully accomplished.
The journey over tho Smoky Noun
tains, 16 miles, over tho vilest roads
on earth, was made on foot.
"The party always endeavored and
succeeded in securing feed ample and
abundant for their horses, travelling
along the banks of the Little Ten
nessee, q beautiful river for 1l6
miles its scenery unsurpassed
mountain ranges on both sides !;
rapids over and over again, grander
than those of Niagara River above
the Falls scenery not surpassed in
any country in Europe. Each days
journey added to ones pleasure and
mado priyations endurable even
pleasure. The mineral belt of quite
200 miles contains unlimited coal,
both camel and bituminous, 10 to Is
qualities, and different colors of mar
BILE were inspected and appear to be
unlimited mica in abundance, as
bestos, corundum and the finest
quality of kaolin abound, and lie
along the side of the Black Diamond
for over 200 miles.
awe continue on our journey,
finally reaching the summit of the
Blue Ridge, near Walhalla, S. G.
A party from Walhalla met tho in
spection party at Franklin, N. c.,
and escorted us to the town, whore
we were again tho guests of tho
town. The view from the summit
looking out on the vast plateau, upon
which Walhalla stands, was grand
beyond language to express or artist
to portray.
"At Walhalla the party were roy
ally entertained by Capt. Richard G.
Strother, one of South Carolina's
wealthy self-made men. From Wal
halla the inspection party were
escorted to Anderson, S. c., by Col.
j. l.. Tribble and others. Here again
the inspection party were tho guests
of the municipality. One of the
best hotels in the South is owned by
a joint stock company of the town.
Vast fields of upland surround both
Walhalla and Anderson. The in
spection party were driven in car
riagcs out to some of the largest cot
ton plantations. The electrical plant,
a few miles from Anderson, was in
spected, also the cotton mills, q large
concern that the party we're informed
paid liberal dividends to its owners.
A banquet at which 200 or more of
Anderson's substantial, energetic
business men were assembled, was
given to the inspecting party. All
along the route from the beginning
to the end the inspection party found
the people earnestly interested in the
construction of the Black Diamond.
From Anderson, S. c., TO Port Royal,
S. c., the journey waa made over q
level plateau by rail.
"Two days were spent at Port
Royal. The Captain of the navy,
commandant Of the naval station,
accompanied the inspection party on
the Government tug Hercules. The
water front was thus inspected, re-
quiring one day, The next day the
party drove oyer the land along the
harbor front. Sir Thomas Tancrcd
and his associates were greatly
pleased with the magnificent harbor,
At Port Royal invitations were re-
ceiyed by tho inspection party from
Charleston, s. c., and Savannah,
Ga, to visit their respective cities
and become their guests, but 1t was
impossible, owing to other dates be-
ing fixed for the party to inspect tho
Indiana Division, from Cynthiana,
Ky, to indianapolis, Ind. a sold
ier's ration or a soldiers tent would
have been welcomed on many occa-
sions as o godsend. The party has
endured many hardships, but have
been we'll repaid for their inspection
"Trip Of six weeks"
Hon. william Kirkhy, of Colum-
bus, ox-Railroad Commissioners Of
Ohio, who arrived at the Grand last
night on his return trip from the in
spcction of the projected Black Dia-
Hond Railway system to the sea-
board, said last night to The En-
quirer: