The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-23
SPLENDID HOTELS THERE
A Busting Modern Place Athrob With
the Vitality of the Twentieth
Century---sulphur Spring
Eagle Nest---Long
List of Attrae-
tions.

(staff Correspondence

Notoh SollCSDOuuCllCC.J
Waynesyille, N. c., June 20.-My first
tip west of the Blue Ridge was in 1887
] remember well from what | had heard
OF this grand and beautiful country with
what pleasure looked forward to behold
ing such as no painter can put on canvas,
but when | saw it l found that the half
il ever will be.
From the time the train leaves Old
Fort and begins the ascent of the noun
tains, passing through the eighteen hun
bred feet tunnel known as the Swannanoa.
the traveller is lost in admiring wonder
and after leaving Asheville coming to
Waynesville, the scenery is still more
beautiful. Wherever the eye may range
there are high mountain peaks, and as
the train moves on, from the rear plat
fern you seem to see them rise higher
and higher, and though an optical illu-
sion, they seem to follow the train. And
when you step off the train at the depot
here at Waynesville, Especially from the
18th of June to about the last OF Augusta.
and are besieged by hotel and boarding
house posters and hackmen, and witness
the happy expression on the faces of
scores of summer tourists as they greet
expected friends, you can not but realize
the fact that you have indeed reached one
of the States best, Oldest and for long
years well known summer resorts
Now, / know full we'll that all through
the mountain section of our State there
are beautiful resorts, and it is not my
purpose in writing about Waynesville and
Haywood county to detract from any
other section, for each has special attrac-
tlons and inducements to offer. To give
truthful pen picture of Waynesville
and It's surrounding country is the sole
object of this letter In 1897 when | saw
II first, / am sure the permanent popula-
ton of the town did not exceed 500 yet
Tor years back hundreds of people have
been coming here. attracted by as grand
and beautiful mountain scenery as il to
be found anywhere. Here is cool, pleas
ant summer climate: and that health
giving blood purifier, Natures prescrip-
ton for the many ills that afflict hui
mainly. / allude to the celebrated White
Sulphur Spring; yes, here it is as it has
been from time immemorial Long before
the foot OF the white man ever trod this
country, the red, man, his squaw and
pappoose, drank this elixir of life. The
spring is about three quarters OF a mile
from the court house; it is nicely ar
ranged with neat little round house
over it. Just in front of the spring
which is about two feet deep and eighteen
inches in diameter, there is counter,
where last season all persons not stop
ping at the White Sulphur Springs Hotel
could For oil fl,a fea,.
they could drink. 1t was also sold for
so much gallon. A pretty young lady
had charge Of the springs and one young
fellow told me that he had drank so
much of this water, while enjoying the
conversation and bewitching smiles of the
young lady. that he was somewhat APP
prehensive he would awake some morning
and find himself reduced to big lump of
sulphur. But he said the water did him
lots Of good: that when he came here he
was reduced in Ilesh, his blood was in a
bad condition. and he suffered with indi.
gestion. When he went away he had
good appetite, no Indigestion, had gained
over Is pounds in two months; blood way
in a good condition, and he felt like a
rev man with new lease on &c.
GROWTH OF WAYNESVILLE.
In 1890 the population of Waynesville
was about $50; in 1900, it had increased to
400 1t now has population of from
500 to 1000 The value of the towns
real estate was given to the News and
Observer Year Book as 1912 $50 ! am re-
liably informed that today it is over five
hundred thousand dollars
/ know of no town of its size that can
IF 81
than this. There are two banks, the
Bank of Waynesville and the First Ma
tional. Besides general merchandise
stones, groceries. dry goods and shoe
stores, there are confectioneries, dealers
in seed and grain, drug stores. hardware
stores. and about As to so other places of
business too numerous to mention. For
further information along this line |
would refer the reader to the News and
Observers Year Book for 1903. However,
among some of the larger merchants OF
the town in general lines, | would men
ton Mr.. C. H. Ray, who has been IN
business here for sixteen years and has
served as mayor OF the town at intervals
Tor seven years (Dr. Thomas Struggled
= the present mayor, and is now serving
his third term. Mr.. Ray has conducted
a successful business and carries large
full line OF well selected goods suited to
the trade. W. T. Lee is another among
the foremost merchants of Waynesville,
and also carries large and well selected
stock OF general merchandise. Mr.. Lee
came here years ago from the eastern
Part of the State, and cast his lot with
Aide