The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-09
Tiers
OF TAzEWELL
The Story of How This Beau
tiful Land Was Discovered
BURKE A HUNTER PIONEER
The Scene Of His Settlement Even Now
Entrances the Eye Of Every Behol-
der-A Beautiful Country Flow
ing With Milk and Honey

Especial from Staff Correspondent
TAzBwELL, TAzEWELL COUNTY,
VA, Oct. S.-About one hundred and fifty
years ago an 1rishman named Burke was
hunting along the banks of stream IN
Grayson county and started an elk. He
named the stream Elk Creek. He pur-
sued the elk for q number Of miles
through the wilderness, and when 1t
reached the banks Of another small
stream in Wythe county the hunter suc-
ceeded in getting shot. He did not
kill his game, but he crippled It, He
continued In pursuit. after giving the
stream the name Of Cripple Creek. The
freshman would not give up the chase,
and followed the deer over the mountains
until he came into q beautiful valley,
where the trees were not 80 thick nor
the underground 80 nearly impenetrable.
There were some cleared spots In the
valley, as though portions Of the land
might have been cultivated at an earlier
day. The chase had been SO long and
wearing that the hunter determined to
give 1t up: so he encamped near tine
spring In the valley. The next morning
he was even moro impressed by the
beauty. Of the section, and 1t occurred to
him that it would make a fine farm. He
had In his satchel few potatoes. which
he proceeded to plant In an open space,
and then he took his way towards his
home in the southeast, probably sorne-
where near the waters on New River.
But In the fall Of the year he came
back to the valley, and finding the spot
where he had planted the potatoes few
months before, he proceeded to invests
gate to see II they had matured. Never
had he seen such a bountiful Yield. and
that without cultivation.
CHEATED OF HIS TREASURE
The upshot Of the matter was that Burke
came and settled In the valley. He en-
gagged a surveyor to lay off the great
tract. which he desired to patent. Tho
surveyor, laid off the land. but took out
the patent in his own name. However.
he allowed Burke to have about three
hundred acres.
This is the story told Of tho genesis
of the settlement of Burke's Garden. per-
haps the most celebrated tract Of farm
ing country Of the same size In the
United States. Thousands of visitors go to
the valley every year to see the wonder
full topography, and to admire the system
of agriculture which can make a garden
of so many thousands Of acres. The val
ley which is called Burke's Garden. runs
northeast and southwest. It Ia about nine
miles long and five miles wide. It Is en-
tirely surrounded by mountains. The only
entrances are by way of the road which
runs from Wythevile on tho southeast.
and the road from Tazewell on the north
east. Burke's Creek, which rises in the
mountains on the southern side. flows
through the valley and passes out
through the gap by which the road from
Tazewell enters. There is no other means
OF exit for Its waters. The mountains
come down to the edge OF the valley at
every point. The farmers have cleared
away the forest nearly to the tops of the
peaks at some points. and these new
fields are covered with bluegrass to the
mountain SUBMITS. but SO clearly ~ the
line drawn between valley and mountain.
There are few gentle swells In the
land at various points, but In the main
1t Is all as level as meadow.
a. BEAUTIFUL VIEW.
The first glimpse OF the garden Is
caught from the road on the side of Rich
! Mountain as one drives over from Taze-
well. This glimpse is through the pass
| by which the waters Of the creek leave
| the valley. It Is still matter Of two or
| three miles before the valley is entered,
| and the beautiful view is spread out be-
| fore the eye Of the delighted beholder. It
was ! o'clock In the afternoon whom I
first looked upon this fair scene. and l
still think that I have not looked upon
a fairer in Virginia. The landscape. as
level as prairie, was a most beautiful
combination of woodland and meadow,
field and mountain. The sun was shining
as brightly as In midsummer. though the
air was so cold longed for an over
coat. Smoke was rising from dozen
| farmhouses, the cattle were lowing and
| ha nf ha har do l.
ing each In his own language. Herds Of
cattle and flocks Of sheep were grazing
| in nearly every field. In many orchards
| tho farmers were gathering the fruit be-
| meath which every tree was groaning. All
around the garden" rose the blue noun
tains. standing as eternal sentinels
| guarding the homes OF people of Happy
Valley. had never looked upon such q
scene before. and can hardly hope to see
It's like again.
A MOUNTAIN MENU.
! A mile further, and we'll into the valley
I stopped for dinner at a farmhouse.
where travellers are entertained. Mr.. III.
b. GrosecIose. the proprietor and his
wife, are ideal hosts and the dinner served
was ideal, too. ham cured at home. beet
raised and butchered at homo. old-fash,
| toned salt-risen bread. milk which would
be called cream In any hotel of my &C.
| B|dlCo, JooL pu4|oo- 1A"1la l'AS
vines by the dining-room windows, homo
made pickles, jellies and preserves, Old.
fashioned chairs were on the porch. old
fashioned furniture In hall, sittng-rooH
and dining-room took me back to days
when visit to "grandma's" was the
climax of childish Joys. The host himself
was old-fashioned In his farmer clothes
and bear skin cap. One or two remarks
indicated that he Us a devout believer IN
.the old-faahioned religion" But there
| were well-hlled bookshelves In the house
and saw several newspapers and maya
! zines. The Dispatch is a regular
visitor. Mail is brought into the valley
| every day.
Mr., Groseclose is man of great In
telligence and a delightful talker HI
told me much Of the history OF tho va!
ley, including the story OF the oTlgln Of
the name, which I have given above, LAKE
everybody else who lives IN Burkes Gar
den, he is strongly inclined to think It thx
| finest spot on earth. He admitted tha'
/ rsnld in the Gar,