New-York tribune., 1900-01-07
THE SOUTHLAND'S BALMY SKIES
4 TRIP THROUGH THE SOUTHERN STATES, COVERING
THE PRINCIPAL RESORTS.
COVERING
SUGGESTIONS FOR THERE BEFORE

oSsT sbs the palm pa garden and the pavilion
views of the broad roadstead beyond These for
rooms. billiard rooms for both men and women. the
modations for the evening.
INTER ESTING POINTS NEAR BY.
Among the places of interest near Old Point
Comfort are Hampton with its great school for
the Improvement of coored people, and Newport
News where is located great shipbuding estab-
hshment. An hours sail by boats. which start
almost every hour. brings the old and in
teresting city of Norfolk and the United States
Navy Yard BY the way of Norfolk also excur-
af sions may be made to Virginia Beach, on the At
the location of the charming Princess Anne Hotel.
makes new Start from Norfolk taking Ing ferry
thence across the harbor to Portsmouth. where
siderable portion of the country traversed during
scenery and objects of special interest it is well
to make the start by the evening train. especially
country Of Western North Carolina with It's grand
the nes of the Halfway reaches sails
pury IN North Carolina, in the morning, ana q, pc pc,
is an hour or two In which to get comfortable
breakfast and stretch the muscles after night In
on leaving Salisbury the traveller is in the midst
finds the country becoming constantly more and
more hilly for he must surmount and Renetria1ee i1
between the lowlands of the East and Ash As5eHie: WI e
every side.
The dinner station is Round Knob. lone hotel
located in deep valley. and surrounded by noun
an The Of si aroe as the
track curves and twists along the @ race Oh tne I
able manner in one place occupying three sue
cessve terraces, above the other. until finally
es the western side of the Blue Ridge and rolls
out upon the elevated plateau upon which Ashe-
vile is located.
THE WAY TO AsHEvILLE.
The mountains of the Blue Ridge left behind.
and the train passes through rolling country for
hour two, only again to approach the ranges
of the Alleghenies on the western border or the
plateau passing the station and entrance TO Bit
more the estate George Vanderbilt. although the
great house is far away, hidden from the train by
the intervening hills ,o..a
a high plateau between the Blue Ridge and the Al
Leg @ and T feet above the wae
of the picturesque Swannanoa and French Broad
tain n,eaks' over dozen of which are higher than
Mount Washington or any other peaks east OF the
every direction unsurpassed for beauty and va
riety These mountain peaks are wooded to their
tops. unlike many mountain ranges ana as & these
primitive forests are composed Largely OK the hand-
soonest decduous trees the effects are unusually
The elevation of the town together with it's latt-
tude and the sheltering effects of the surround
ing mountains, produces climate unsurpassed
which sweep over the country are warded off and
have little effect upon this locality rendering 1t an
but without the moisture or harshness that prevail
in less favored localities The climatic map pub
lshed by the Government shows Ashevtle to be
next to Denver In the dryness of its climate. and
the most healthfu places in the country It proves
its title to be called the land OF the sky by show
population is largely composed OF people from the
the Beauty of the country and it's heaithfuness and
many handsome residences have been built and oc-
With all of it's attractions of scenery and climate,
Asheve does not lack in resources for sport land and
in great variety, including deer, turkeys quail ana
the snd SeS S bass in many of
nearby For pastimes there is fox hunt
taned and two golf courses AFFORD ample oppor-
tunties for the devotees of the game Riding driy-
gramme. while excursions to the noted Hot Springs
eion fiji in list Of resources not easily equaIled
As famous as Asheville Is the Battery Park
while Asheville occupies one of the chosen sites
Pes P f the ehocest in Ashevie The hotel
stands in a handsome park OF twenty-five acres,
nit Of an eminence scarcely stones throw from
the public square, and while le,s enjoying al Of the
lated from it II miles away: From the extensive
eosed in Winter the ranges vast extent
of country which presents magnificent panoramas
day and the changes of light and shade new
pictures are constantly presented to the delighted
Park is liberal in its scale and every appointment
its guests Many recent improvements have added
to the already ample attractions or the house,
full Palm Room Of the most attractive loung
ing places imaginable. The great ballroom. with
feature, for here not only the pleasant dances
held. but many special entertainments are given
for the guests.
CUTTING THROUGH THE BLUE RIDGE.
Bidding a reluctant revor to Ashevtlle and
continuing the southwark journey the traveller
takes the Southern train, which connects with the
main line at Spartanburg, some distance below
Salisbury for this is only the most convenient
hut pr firely new xiO
highly impressive In its scenic effects. After
crossing the plateau between the mountain ranges
the train glides into vast valley, cutting through
the Blue Ridge and down this, following all of its
sinuosties the train slides slowly with set brakes.
the track being nched into the almost precipitous
slopes OF the bordering mountains. First on
side and then on the other are displayed pano-
ramas of mountain scenery unique they
grand and beautiful although the thick covering
In few miles of the junction point the train
runs out on the slightly rolling owIands along the the
foothills and here in the midst or me great cotton
belt, with the wide spreading 1elds to break the
is well to make short stop at Atlanta, one of the
most active and prominent cities of the South, the
commercial Importance of which is increasing
steadily with each successive year
Atlanta owes its prosperity TO its geographical
appears in the mountains which divide the country
for many hundred miles. and here is the natural
roads which traverse the country in every drec
ton on both sides of the mountain ranges 1t is
great Southwest, and as result it has become not
only junction point for the railroads. but is also
distributing centre for merchandise of all kinds.
Manufactures have followed commerce; many in
dustries have sprung up at Atlanta, and new ones S
Civil War Atlanta was in ruins but, such is the
importance of It's position since 1870 the city has
cent. II has proved an unusually comfortable and
heaithful place OF restoenee as me oiIy ~ @ oe
siderable.
ATTRACTIONS OF THOMAsvILLE.