The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-15
A Macadam Road to
Blowing Rock.
CALDWELL ROUSE YE!
Interview With MIR. 7. K. Bruner
There are no Twenty Miles OF
Road in the State Traversed
by so Many People from so
Many STATS

MI. L. IN. bGuueI, " thO
State Board of Agriculture, has re-
Gently returned from visit to Blow
ing Rock. Yesterday he was over
flowing with memories of the pleas
ures and delight he experienced there.
He talked of Blowing Rock as of
happy place, where new joys are
known, and where the grandeur of
nature makes man who is used only
to prose, speak poetry, and utter senti-
ments from depth of feeling that he
never knew before.
1t was Blowing Rock with Mr..
Bruner yesterday. He had Blowing
Rock in his heart, and as ne spoke,
there was Blowing Rock in his eyes
as well as in his voice. And, with
out an added tint, here is what Mr.
Bruner said of Blowing Rock:
This appellation is misnomer.
True, it's significance comes about by
the freaks of the winds, which still
blow where they listeth When they
blow from the valley northward and
strike the face of the rocky cliffs over
hanging the Globe" they curl out
ward and upward. A handkerchief
or small object tossed over at such a
time is twirled back by the breeze,
hence the name-Blowing Rock.
But how lean and meager, how
tame and meaningless when applied
20 that surprising spectacle spread
before the beholder as he stands upon
the rock There is nothing in the
whole length of the Appalachian chain
to surpass it, and few of its rivals
are comparable to it. For more than
twenty years l have travelled to view
it, again and again. It's charms are
ever new and engaging.
One day German scientist, full
of learning and travel, stood by me
on the rock, viewing for the first
time this marvellous scene. His eyes,
ravished with the magnificence of the
landscape, turned hither and yon; he
drew deep into his lungs great drafts
of the rareified air as he gazed in
rapture upon the towering piles of
blue.
what do you think of it, l asked.
There was no response, he seemed
in deep meditation and fully absorbed
by the vision before him. After d
time | again broke the silence and
ventured once more the question:
What do you think of it?'
Without lifting his eyes, and SEEM
ingly in solliloquy he said:
Il have travelled the world over L
have beheld all of it's wonders. /
have viewed the Himalayas from In
dia's distant strand, the loftieSt noun
tains in any land: l have seen the
Alps lifting their icy crests sclntlllat-
ing into the ether of the Italian sky;
| have looked upon the Andes when
they seemed to thrust aside the very
stars of heaven in their lofty ambi-
ton. but this scene, It's Sublimity is
profound: it's grandeur awe-inspiring;
it's magnificence indeScribablei The
lines of purple and blue drawn by ma
lures deft hand against the paler sky
soothe the eye and fall like benedlc-
ton. upon the soul. filing it with rest
fullness-with peace!
There is but one word i'll the Ger
man language; there is but one word
in the English language; there is but
one word in any language to describe
it
What is it? Quick, what is the
word " L exclaimed.
Il have said that there is but one
word in any language to describe
GIVE me that word. quick 1
cried.
That word is-that word have
forgotten
True no word or words can truly
portray the vision. A Raphael or a
Michael Angelo could put part of it
on canvass but no canvass can tell
If ALL There is but one way to get it.
Go to it and see it as it is.
But the Way.
All, sad to relate, the way is dreary.
Starting from Lenoir, the county town
of Caldwell. made as seat of learn
ing and as harboring as polished,
erudite refined and hOSpitable peo-
pie as are to be found anywhere, one
travels by conveyance for little more
than twenty miles amid fertile val
leys and through and over streak
of mud. of ruts, of holes, of rocks and
slush, For eleven miles out OF this
clever town, the traveller drags and
jolts and suffers. Beyond, it is but
little better, and the pace is even
slower. Only on such spots in the road
as have been built and drained by ma
ture. i'm spite of the effete road meth
DDS i'm vogue, can the traveller get q
breath to nerve him for the next
plunge.
shame!
Lenoir. awake! Caldwell, rouse ye!
The world wants to pass your doors
il seeks the delectable mountains be-
yond. Make the way comfortable. Ii
will not then reflect upon your civili-
zation-upon your civic pride. 1T does
now 1t is shameful And they col
lect toll for the torture!
Build a macadam road. Build it
al any cost. Build it now. Don't wait
for the railroad which has been eX-
pected for twenty years. 1t will con-