The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-09-03
HIGHLANDS.
A Trip To the Blue Ridge Mountains
of North Carolina, Where
Health and Scenery
Abound.

n
PY Of the writer to revisit the scenes
OF bis boyhood days in the noun.
tains of western North Carolina and note
the change which had taken place since
he last saw that region, twenty. Ave years
ago
With the objective point Highlands,
Macon county, N. c., the trip was plan
ned to include sail down the Chesa-
peake Bay rather than by all-rail route.
Leaving Baltimore at S p. m. the
pleasure Of a. 200. mile boat trip was en-
joyed until about 7 o'clock the following
morning, when we arrived at West Point,
Va. an hours ride by rail from Richmond.
With The mercury near the century mark,
the trip was resumed for Ashville, via DAN
vile, Greensboro aud Salisbury, which
latter point was reached after an all-day
ride through the heat From Salisbury
TO Ashevilleit became perceptibly cooler
as higher attitudes were reached and the
night ADVANCED. A few miles before
reaching Asheville the train stopped at
mountain watering tank and was board
ed by three or four typical young noun.
tanners. long. lean. lank and with an
accent aud vocabulary totally different
from that found 10 the lowland section of
the south. They entered the car with
their coat collars turned up and seemed
quite chilled, one of them rernarking,
II sure did git plum cold awaitin' fer this
yer car,"-and only few hours previous
all on the train had been sweltering!
Asheville was reached about ago a. m.
and a. stop was made until O'Clock.
The return trip gave US additional time
for sightseeing here and at this Queen
City Of the Mountains the metropolis
of western North Carolina. one finds
views well worth the trip. 1t sits en-.
!. throned upon plateau 222o #. above sea
level, with the Blue Ridge ON the one
side and the Alleghanies upon the other,
in the midst of the Switzerland Of
America while the Swaunanoa and
French Broad rivers fow by on her
south and west. The permanent popula.
ton Of this famed mountain resort is
IS, 900, increased during the summer
months by many thousand more of
tourists, attracted there by the climate and
the views from Battery Park hotel and
other points ia and near the city which
show the grandeur of the country. The
approach tosthe city by rail is through
series Of short tunnels. the longest of
which, the Swannanoa, 10 little less
than mile in length and contains a
spring from which bubbles stream
which separates nearby. part Of the
waters eventually reaching the Atlantic
ocean and the other portion flowing into
the Gulf of Mexico.
Two miles from Asheville is Biltmore.
the magnificent estate of George W.
Vanderbilt In Biltmore its owner has
demonstrated his appreciation of this
beautiful region by selecting it for the
site OF the largest and most beautiful
private estate in thecouutry. The estate,
including the Pink Beds and adjacent
tract rs hunting preserve. comprise
about 100000 acres, Drives are per-
misted on three days each week over this
vast enclosure, where thirty miles of fine
roads with marvellous landscape and
lovely vista can be enjoyed. On the
estate is model village, an immense
dairy with large herd of imported
Jerseys. quarries and forestry operations.
The chateau itself is masterpiece, upon
which has been expended three millions
Of dollars and as much more has been
spent upon the grounds and roads.
Leaving Asheville Tor further ascent
into this Land Of the Sky" we took the
train for Lake Toxaway. IS miles distant.
This point is at the terminus of the rail.
road, ia what is termed the Sapphire
Country, which has recently been made
accessible to tourists by the operations
Of company of Pittsburg capitalists
AuUWu as tuS Ac4ow"y 9~cu'Po"y No@us
have been bnilt through their domain O
OF about 10000 acres and hotels and
cottages built at favorably located
points BY the erection of compare
lively small dam at Toxaway (from the
Cherokee Indian language signifyine
red bird) a most magnificent lake has
been formed with shore margin of IS
miles. Imagine this sparkling sheet Of
water 5000 feet above sea level. abound
ing 10 speckled and rainbow trout!
The falls below the lake. which has q
natural outlet. not over the dam, have q
drop of 400 feet Toxaway Inn is 8
magni6cently appointed hotel on the
shore Of the lake to which the wealth and
a r..Ls.. &c thm CnuAh ANct durs,.u fhs