The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-19
THE RAILROAD EXTENSION
Sketch of Counties Through Which
the Line Will Go.
CALDWELL, WATAUeA AND MITCHELL
Tributary Territory. What is Being Done
Wide Awake and Progressive Officials.
The Surveys Are Now Nearly
COMPLETED.

1t is difficult to realize fully what the
extension of the Carolina and North
western Railway through Northwestern
North Carolina from Lenoir to the Ten
nesee line really means to the people of
that section. The only hindrance to the
development of that part of the State has
been the want Of transportation facilities.
The counties through which the line of
the road is likely to run are Caldwell,
Watauga and Mitchell the principal char
actcristics of which are herewith de-
scribed.
CALDWELL COUNTY.
Caldwell county, lying upon the TANKS
of the Blue. Ridge, is crossed in its south
ern portion by the Brushy Moutains and
is traversed through it's center by two
parallel ranges of the Warrior Noun
tains. Consequently the surface of the
county is quite rugged and broken It
is we'll wNtered and drained by the upper
tributaries of the Yadkin and Catawba
rivers. There are large areas Of fertile
lands lying along the many streams ard
up the sides OF scme of the montain
ranges. The crops of corn, wheat, pota-
toes and apples are usually unfailing aod
abundant. The forests consists predomi
nantly of oak in the midle section, pine
and cak in the Southern and Northern,
while white pine, hemlock and chestnut
constitute a considerable element of the
forest growth, especially in the more
mountainous sections. The lumber bust
~, Co11
Some of the largest mills in the State be-
ing located there. The shipment OF
lumber and shingles from this county,
over the Carolina and Northwestern fire.
quently overtaxes its capacity to such
an extent that it causes blockade on a
small scale, somewhat similar to wheat
blockade in the West. To tell of the i'm
mense amount Of cabbage, apples an / po
tatoes waggoned to Lenoir from the in
terior counties for shipment would read
like a tale in the wonderful arabian
Nights" and would cause broad smile of
incredulity.
LENOIR.
Lenoir, the county seat Of Caldwell, is
conceded to be one among the most
healthful points in the United States.
Nesting among the foothills of the Blue
"
climate mild in winter. cool, fresh and
bracing in summer The town has about
fifteen hundred inhabitants and it is not
cd for its high, moral and religious tone
and most excellent educational advantages
Ienoir for some years has been the north
orn terminus of the Carolina and North
western Railway, and until quite recent
" the headquarters for the general Of
fees of that Company The people of Lee
noir are noted for their hospitality, cor
diality and heartinCss. The town has
an altitude Of one thousand two hundred
feet 1t is here travel for Blowing Rock
leaves the railroad and takes stage for
that -o.nt.
The general offices of Henkell Bros,
fees OF that company. The people of Lee
ncir and there are no more comfortable,
easy-r.ding carriages, with finer teams
and careful drivers to be found anywhere.
The ride of twenty miles over the turn
pike read from Leno.r to Blowing Rock
after a good dianer at the Commercial
Hotel, Mr.. N. C. Spencer, proprietor is
a pleasure, too great to be described.
The following is The schedule of Hen
lel Bros stages which went into effect
June 1st:
Northbound--Lcave Lenoir, a. M, 2
p. m. Arrive Blowing Rock, II Noon, Z
D. M.
Southbound-Leave Blowing Rock, 1880
a. m, p. N. Arrive Lenoir, l. Noon s
p. IN.
WATAUGA COUNTY.
Watauga is one of the most mountain
Gus counties in the State. 1t is traversed
by two massive cross-chains, connecting
the SUBMITS OF the Blue Ridge and
Smoky Mountains, Rich Mountains, ant
the chain CT Hanging Rock and Beach
The average elevation of the county is
about $500 feet Except some extensive
valleys and bottom lands along it's two
principal rivers and tributaries the whole
surface is very rugged. The rich
loamy soil on its mountains
and high benches produces tbs
most abundant crops of wheat corn
rye and buclSwheat. The county leadini
in the last named crop. Watagua is noted
for it's fine apples and cabbages. The
second grand prize for apples exhibited
at the Wcrld's Fair, now going On a
Paris. was a few weeks ago awarded tt
Watagua county, a victory which viii
make the county famous for all time
There are TO finer or more delightful.
favored, crispy cabbages grown anywher
than those Ta1SSu III NdIdLSd luC Slllhdlt
and attitude being peculiarly adapted t
this popular vegetable
The writer was told by cabbage grow
ers in the county, that eight thousan
heads of cabbage are an average GRO
per acre and the average weight per cab
bage head is FIVE pounds each, making
total of forty thousand pounds OF cab
bages raised per acre. He was also toll
that the cabbage growers after deductin
all necessary expenses of growing, han
ding and selling their cabbages, the Gro
melted them fifty cents per one hundre
pounds, leaving a clear profit OF tW
hundred dollars per acre. This is IN
doubtedly the best paying crop in tn
United States.
Watauga is one of the finest noun
tain counties in the State. It's naturs