Henderson gold leaf., 1911-08-24

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WESTERN NOkIH CAkULlNA.
Continued from page one.)
at our service and one OF the most
delightful and considerate of travel
/ ing companions to show Us on the
way. Capt. Goodwin went back Oc-
casionally to ace If we were making
out all right" and the colored poT-
ter contributed to our comfort by fur
nishing pillows to sit on. When the
Journey was finished We felt doubly
rewarded. Aside from the scenic ef-
feet of the trip it was well to have
formed the acquaintance and claimed
the friendship of such a man as Mr.
Lipscomb. He is an engaging and
agreeable gentleman, companiona-
BILE and friendly, and to look into his
clear eyes and feel his cordial hand
clasp is to be his friend. A ready
cOnversationalist, well informed and
entertaining, the time was spent so
pleas = that the distance seemed
to he Deen covered in an incredi-
bly, short while.
There is something in the appear
ance and personality OF Mr.. Lips
comb that reminds me of Gov. Glenn,
even to the absence Of capillary COW
ering His form and features are
smaller and he is not quite so bald,
but he might easily pass as his
double" II the South Carolina
man had turned his talents to law
and politics and cultivated his gifts
Of speech doubt not the Palmetto
State would have had a rival of the
Tar Heel statesman and orator in
more ways than personal pulchrl-
tude.
The Carolina, Ciinchfeld & Ohio
Railroad is in many respects one OF
the most remarkable roads in the Uni
ted States. 1t is built through one OF
the widest and grandest mountain
regions on the continent-what is
admittedly the toughest country
east of the Rockies-and the idea OF
railroad penetrating this noun
tain wilderness had been hoOted at
until George L. Garter, first president
and originator and promoter, took
it up. He dared the impossible and
by sheer dint Of dollars and skill and
pluck he Overcame it.
Notwithstanding the difficulties in
the way and the enormous cost OF
construction the Clinchfield road was
projected and carried to completion
on a scale almost unparalleled Ill
railroad construction in this cOun-
try. With practically unlimited finan-
cial resources at their command the
interests behind the enterprise built,
seemingly withoutregard to expense,
a railroad which for solid cOnstruC
tion and freedom from heavy grades
and short curves, is the wonder and
admiration of experts and Ohters
alike The mervelous feat performed
by the engineers and constructors in
tunneling through the mountains,
winding and filling, is an achieve
ment that cannot be intelligently
and adequately portrayed in writing.
1t must be seen to be appreciated.
A wonderful piece of railroad en-
gineering is seen when the tri p is
made down the mountain east of Al
tapass The train travels fifteen
miles in making the descent when
across from the highest track at
the upper end to the lowest one
looks to be only about three hun
drcd yards. There are five tracks
one above another visible from below
and the long trains of coal cars as
they wind down and around the
mountain sides all going in the same
direction look as if they are passing
each other. Altapass is the highest
point, or altitude passage, as the
name implies and is destined to be-
come a popular place of resort when
ample tourist accommodations are
provided.
There are seventeen tunnels within
eighteen miles-three of them in
straight stretch OF track one right
after the other. When the train
passes through the third tunnel in
either direction one can see daylight
at the end of the furthest-a sight to
be seen on no other road to my
knowledge. Between the wonderful
railroad construction and the mag
niticent mountain scenery the tourist
is obsessed with amazement and ad-
Observation-Disclosures and enthralled
The conquest of this section Of the
Blue Ridge was a crownlng achieve
ment of the skill and daring, dogged
determination and business foresight
of the men who built the Carolina,
Clinchfield L Ohio Railroad. Intend
ed primarily for coal carrying (pene-
trating the famous "Clinchtield" coal
district Of Virginia and extending
back into the Eastern Kentucky
fields) the road was built in the most
up-tO-date manner with low grades
and easy curves, at q cost said to have
been approximately $50,O0O,O0O.
The master spirit in the building OF
the Clinchfield railroad was George
L. Carter, who inspired the conf
dence and financial backing of Thom-
as F. Ryan and his associates among
millionaire capitalists. Mr.. Carter
like Mr.. Ryan is Virginian, born in
Carroll county, in 1857. 1t was Mr.
Carter who planned the scheme and
engineered the deal, and although l
believe he now has no official connec-
ton with the road his name will al
ways be associated with one of the
most colossal and important rail-
road enterprises in this country.
1t lad been my purpose to make
this (the fourth) my last article OF
the series | have writing about Wes-
tern North Carolina, but a few things
| wish to say further about the Car
olina, Clinchfeld & Ohio Railroad
and the part it is to play with the
Seaboard Air Line as coal carrier
and trunk line from Chicago and Gin
cinnati to the South Atlantic sea-
board. winding up with visit to
Mt. Airy and some mention of that
pretty and prosperous town, will