The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-24
THE BEST OF ALL
The National Home of
the Apple and Fruit.
The People of Allegheny and Adjacent
Counties are the Very Finest Type
of Our Mountain Civiliza.
BY ARCHIBALD JOHNSON.

We visited for the first time recent
ly the county of Allegheny which lies
ON the northwestern border of the
State, adjoining Ashe and Watauga.
1t is shut off from the outside world
by reason of the rugged range that
stretches itself in Jagged outline be-
| tween Sparta and the Southern Rail-
way up the Yadkin valley to Wilkes
boro. 1t is a rather difficult matter to
reach this fertile section and through
some of the gaps or passes of the
mountains the roads are simply hor-
rible; at other places they are In bet
ter condition but in any event, a long,
hard ride is necessary to reach either
of the three capitals of the counties
named. However the delightful sur
prise that awaits the visitor will repay
him all his pains. 1t is, next to the
blue grass region of Kentucky, the
finest grazing country we have ever
seen. The grass grows spontaneously
and covers the rich mountain sides,
growing greener and richer as you as
cend. In company with Mr.. Horton
Doughton we rode to his farm on the
top of mountain, and there, some
1000 feet above the sea, we were
amazed to find a farm of hundreds of
acres of gently rolling land, rich as a
hISSISSlppl OOllOIlJ S1ilQ Will Allly VI
sixty steedS Wading through the ten
der grass, and as fat as butter. The
splendid panorama of mountain and
valley spread out before us as far as
the eye could reach was a sight, once
seen, to be remembered forever. We
were told that the SUBMITS of these
mountains are the richest and best
adapted to stock raising Indeed, the
greenness of the foliage increased as
the winding way carried us. nearer to
the clouds. The average value OF the
land for miles about Laurel Springs,
where we We're staying, including the
rocky mountain sleeps is $50 an acre;
and the more level and arabic portion
brings from seventy-five to a hundred
dollars The cattle business has reach
ed immerse proportions, droyes of the
finest beef cattle being driven over the
mountains to be shipped to eastern
markets from North WilkesbOro. The
moving of live stock is not difficult
matter, and has brought large wealth
to the section, but transportation IA
cilities would open up hay market
not surpassed, perhaps, by any sec
tion in all the country. One small
FARMER told US that he could easily sell
81 500 worth of hay if he only had
way of getting it to market but the
hauling of it in wagons to the rail-
road is worth the hay. Some day this
wonderful section will be pierced by
an enterprising system and then these
three counties will take their places
at the head of al the counties of
North Carolina. 1t is the natural
home of the apple, and many varieties
of fruit grow to perfection In other
sections of our western empire timber
is the principal product, but the three
counties we have named are essential
ly agricultural. The people are the
very fine type of our mountain civili-
zation. They have shown this by the
strong men they have given 10 the
world, and today some of our best
public men are living here. The young
men and women are attending school
and preparing for the great future
that awaits them. There are no ne
groes among them, and they are
fortunately not troubled with the
dark and perpleXing problem that
threatens almost every other section.
The two political parties are about
equally divided and the suffrage, SO
far as we observed. is held too sacred
to be sold All in the world these
great counties need to send them at
bound to the pround pre-eminence
their natural resources entltle them to
is "a way to get their products on the
market; and that, as we have said, is
bound to come sooner or later. 1t has
made us prouder than ever of our good
State to have paid visit to this mag
nificent section of North Carolina.