The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1905-03-04
THE WHITE RIVER ROAD Is IN
SPECTED.


The White River line of the Iron
Mountain is fast approaching com
pletion. General Superintendent "
T. Tyler, in company with a party
of officials and others, made a close
inspection of the road this week. The
party travelled in a special train,
made frequent stops, and inspected
all departments.
The train bearing the officials left
the main line at Diaz, and proceeded
over the old Batesville branch to that
town. From there the inspection oil
the White River line proper began.
The scenery along the line from a few
miles west of Batesvill, { beyond
Cotter, cannot be equalled in the
United States. The line of the rail.
road follows the winding of the White
river, and in places is laid on a shell
cut from the face of the cliffs or bluffs.
At Castle Rock, thirty-6ve miles west
of Batesville, the rock overhangs the
track for some distance There are
but few residences in sight of the rail
road track except at the small sta
tions which have just been establish
cd. One of the notable landmarks is
the old. Jeffrey home east of Cotter.
Here for the past 100 years the JEFF
freys have lived. The Jeffrey broth
ers' store is near the railroad track
as is the old residence. These good
people are the descendants of Lord
Jeffrey and the old graveyard near
the house contains the graves of
some of the early settlers of Arkan-
sas.
From the right OF way can be seen
the grave of the father of Sam Hous-
ton. Sam Houston, it will be remem-
bered, Travelled through Arkansas en-
route to Texas, and while on the
banks of the White river his father
died. The spot is well cared for, and
attracts the attention of every one.
One Of the greatest curiosities on
the entire line is the cave on the
south bank of he White river, in
which tree twenty five feet high is
growing. From its location it is i'm
possible for the sun to ever reach
even the mouth of the cave, yet there
hundred feet from the entrance,
stands tree, we'll developed and
thriving. which, from all obtainable
information, has never been touched
by the rays of the sun. AS the spring
approaches, the buds on the tree be.
gin to swell, and in due time the full
leaf is produced. Likewise as fall
and winter comes on, the leaves
wither and droop and fall from the
tree. This is one of the most won
derful freaks of nature ever discov-
ed.
Almost directly opposite the Cave
of the Tree is a natural bridge of
wonderful beauty. The bridge is
several feet long, and is visited by
numbers Of people.
Further up the river is what is
known as Calico Rock. This place
took its name from the color of the
stone composing the b Il on the
north side of the river. When the
railroad was put through there il
was necessary to blast great quaint.
ties of this stone away, and thus the
color was lost for a time, but the ac-
ton of the water trickling down the
face Of the bluff is rapidly reproduc-
ing the colorings, the cause Of which
has baflled scientists. Prior to the
time the road was built through
there, all the colors of the rainbow
were shown on the face of the stone.
AT shortly after noon the town Of
Cotter was reached. The town
boasts a bank, European hotel, a
printing office, churches, school
houses and other business and public
institutions
The mammoth coal chute which
has just been completed has not vet
been put in operation, but in short
time tracks will be laid, and this
great Improvement will he utilized
All the work Of handling shc coal iot
the engines will be done bv machin.