The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-28
CURIOSITIES
OF ASHEVlLLE
RESORTS THAT SHOULD BE
DONE BY TOURISTS.
Mr.. Richmond Gives Description Of
the Many Points of Interest-The
Mountain Retreat Association-Re-
capitulation.


Written for The Tribune.
NF THE natural curiosities, views
and resorts found at Asheville
that should be done" by the en-.
terprising tourist, there are not less
than twenty that will interest. Among
them are Round Knob, Paint Rock
Mount Pisgah, Mount Mitchell, Hickory
Nut Gap, Ribbon Falls, Chimney Rock
the Cave of the Winds, the Pools, Bale
Mountain, Caesars Head, etc. Tc
describe them all would require d
special letter. For want of space.
will conflne myself to one or two.
The approach to Asheville from any
direction is very picturesque. particu-
larly from the east over and through
Black mountain by the Southern rail
way, whose branches also extend in
various directions through romantical-
ly rugged canyons. that are considered
the most daring pieces OF railroad en-
gineering in the country. The en-
gineering skill of the American hav-
ing in recent years emcompassed the
famous loop at Golden, in the Rockies;
the Hagerman pass near Leadville: the
Marshall pass. on the Denver e Rio
Grande: the Royal Gorge and Black
Canyon of the Arkansas, also rounded
the loop up to Mount Shasta and the
tortuous ascent up the Cascade noun
tains in California and the Zig-zag route
on the Pacific division of the Great
Northern railway to Mount Tacoma,
we are prepared to say, that this dizzy
puzzle of engineering is unexcelled. The
track winds and climbs. twists, turns,
and wriggles and absolutely crosses it
self backward and forward, tying itself
into a loop, like a double bow-knot.
The mountains seem to be piled up in
impossible massiveness as the train
begins it's tortuous ascent of the Blue
Ridge range. At the foot in a gorge of
romantic beauty is Round Knob hotel,
near which is a sparkling natural foun-
tain which sends it's jet of crystal
water 2S6 feet high.
WALLS OF ROCK.
The opening is marked by two mas
sive walls of rock between which the
Linville river joyously dashes-the
scenery becomes more and more SUI
blime as the train drawn by two power
full locomotives, creeps like a huge SER
pent over wild chasms and heights so
dizzy as to make one shudder as he
looks into the yawNing abyss below
on every side mountains clothed from
base to summit with pines and balsamS
add inspiration to the view, while cas-
cades of sparkling brilliancy dash down
the mountain side fighting their way to
the valley below. The track is now
clinging to the very edge of the noun
tain side and moment later crossing
dark rock-clift ravine on a bridge of
steel, another turn is made in the twist
ing path of iron when such a magnif-
cent valley opens out before you that
you involuntary utter an exclamation
of rapture. At last Round Knob is
reached twenty miles from Asheville
and a stop is made, as if to give the
two painting monster creatures of iron
and brass" moments rest before at
tempting the final ascent Up and up
we climb the horizon broadening as we
approach the summit. Forest crowned
peaks loom up in the background and
dwarf the nearer ones. The world
seems at our feet. From one point the
track over which the train has just
climbed may be seen on fourteen grades
varying from 21l feet, 243 feet to the
heaviest which is 2S6 feet to the mile,
and the course is so sinuous that the
sun beams into the car windows, first
on one side and then on the other.
while silvery cascades leap from the
mountain sides 50 close as to almost
wet the coaches with their spray. Then
on again and up and up. higher and
higher the ponderous engines labor,
fairly groaning under their burden,
nm nj >,-iih
satisfaction, into a great tunnel. 1900
feet in length. which crowns the very
summit OF the range at Swannanoa
station and thence on and out of the
gloom into the upper armament and
sunshine of AsheVille In this tunnel
is spring as if uncertain Of its loca-
tion, divides its water sending part to
the west and the Mississippi and part
to east and the Atlantic. But from
the tunnel down on the west side Of the
range to Ashevillc, the scene changes
from one of wild grandeur to one of
picturesque beauty. Just beyond the
tunnel on the western slope of the
mountain range, is Black Mountain
station, 246 feet above the level of the
sea. Here begin the lands of the
Mountain Retreat association, and they
extend for six miles north to Greybeard
there an elevation of 300
feet, over a mile perpendicular.
RETREAT ASSOCIA-
TION.
This association is composed of
christian business men and ministers
of all denominations 1t Is their inten-
tion to duplicate, in some respects in
these mountain Businesses, the work of
the Methodists of Ocean Grove. The
state of North Carolina has granted a
charter with ample powers and gener-
Gus privileges, The enterprise is a
community in the sense that all of the
profits from the sale of lots will be
used for the benefit of the entire COM
munity. Plans are being made for
large and important educational in
stitution, one acre of land having been
set aside for the purpose and the resort |
will also be a center for annual gather |
ngs of prominent and earnest chris |
tians at work for the study of problems |
relating to the welfare of humanity |
and ways and means for advancing the |
interests of christianity through the |
various denominations. BY the charter |