The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-08-26
DEMOCRACY FTHE EXCURSION

Ohio from Bostic to Spruce Pine
New and Wild Country, Heretofore
unprecedented by Railroad, One Of
Natures Cllmaxes-Through ! 8 Tun.
neIs Before Mountain Top Is Reached
On recent excursion from Monroe
to Spruce Pine, over the Carolina,
Clinchfeld & Ohio Railroad which
penetrates one of the widest and
most picturesque regions of Western
North Carolina, Editor Beasley, the
philosopher OF the Monroe Journal,
was a passenger and among other
things he said this OF his trip:
Ninety odd miles over the Sea-
board and about sixty over the new
Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio from
Bostic to Spruce Pine. The latter
village is about six miles beyond
Altapass, the pinnacle of the Blue
Ridge. The new road climbs the
mountains through a. panorama of
grandeur. The new and wild coun-
try, heretofore unpenetrated by q
railroad, is one of Natures climaxes.
The road threads it's way around
valleys, over gorges and through
tunnels with an unending pre-
sentation of delight. The train
whirls through eighteen tunnels be-
fore the mountains top is reached,
and SO winding is the way that you
may know which part of the track is
behind and which ahead only by
noting whether it lies below or above
you, and in places it looks steep
enough for toboggan slide. The
road itself is new and On every hand
presents evidence of the work of
building. 1t is the safest and best
road in the mountains and displays
marvellous engineering feats.
To Altapass the engines pull and
puff like possessed things. But when
that point is reached the tension
ceases, the iron horse relaxes his
muscles and begins to bring into SER
vice the holding back strap. The
top has been passed and the down.
ward grade toward Tennessee begun.
On the return all is different. The
fires are banked, the coal beavers
take their seats, the cinders cease to
fly, and the engineer caresses his
brakes. No smoke in the tunnels
now, and no heaving OF the mighty
engine as it leads the long train
down the great mountain side!
Monroe is just half way from the
Atlantic to the top of the Blue Ridge.
If you want to see the cold oceans
vast and melancholy waste" you
may leave here in the morning and
ease your painting sides in her surf in
the early afternoon. And if you
want to cool off under the shadow Of
Mount Mitchell, you may do it in
an equally short time. Great place.
Monroe; and constant cheapening OF
travel puts these pleasures in the
reach of more and more people every
year.
You see all kinds of folks on an
excursion. 1t is a good place to
study people. They are there, from
those who have never before been on
a train to the experienced traveller
who is used to sleeping in a Pullman
oven. But if you want to enjoy it,
don't start off with your nose turned
up at the accommodations and the
crowd or with a chip on your shout
der for the management. An excur-
sion ia an excursion and that's what
they are for. Throw off reserve, wilt
your collar at once, eat your share of
the peanuts and enjoy the sallies of
the ever present wit with his head
out the window. It's a day of
and an excursion is dem
ocracy in sweat. Perspire with it
and enjoy the day.