The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-07-29
AFFORDS GORGEOUS VIEW
A Section of Surprising Beau
ty and Grandeur Opened 20
J the Public by the New Dick
: ey, Campbell & Co., Road
g To Be Extended.
(By w. G..

- " W. . LII L
Black Mountain. July ga great
tection OF Western North Carolina.
whose beauty and grandeur has been
unknown to the world for centuries
upon centuries. was thrown open to
the public here Tuesday when the
initial passenger trip over a railroad
that has recently been completed by
the lumber Arm Of Dickey, Campbell
h Co., was made. The party was a
carefully selected one and included
the Governor OF North Carolina. Con-
gresham Gudger, from the Tenth
District Of North Carolina, a young
lady photographer that has been 40
Ing Government work at the
Canal. many we'll known newspaper
men from the leading daIlles, and
other prominent men from Jackson
Vile, Atlanta, Charleston. Asheville
and other places.
Since the 9th day of June, 1857,
when Prof. Elisha Mitchell lost his
life exploring the then almost un-
broken region Of what is now known
and written in history as Mt. Mitch
ell. this great King of all
peaks in Eastern America, that stands
like a pyramid Sill feet above the
level of the sea, has become famous
for its picturesque surroundings. A
monument has been erected on the
summit of the peak in m OF it's
explorer. This great giant and faith
er Of the Blue Ridge family is located
about eighteen miles to the north Of
Black Mountain, which is the nearest
station n most starting
point for mountain climbers, hun
dreds of whom have made the trip
every year. although it is one OF Lard
ship, with steep climbing,
md nSinnV rpnnireS ahOnt three 0ayS
To make the trip. They never fail to
witness the unsurpassed sunrise. This
wonderful feature is one that will al.
ways linger in the memory of those
who see it. AS the sun peeps above
the horizon it unfolds before the eye
a panorama Of dull foot hills with :
back ground Of pine-coVered crags a:
far as the eye can see. One looks GU
over an ocean Of counties mountain
ranges i~nterspersed with a view OF tn
Southern Railroad at many points a
il winds its way like a snake dow
over the mountains from the crest o
the Blue Ridge on the level country
a grand view of the famous geiser
known as Andrew Fountain. at ROun'
Knob: the huge smoke stack of tn
old Fort tannery the largest in tn
country: Marion, capital of McDOwe]
county: Table Rock. that stands GU
so prominently far TO the north o
Marion: many well known peaks nea
Asheville and many other points Q
interest. The fact that Clingman'
Peak. Mt. Mitchell and Black Broth
erS were densely covered with spruc
and balsam. which,, when put OF tn
market was worth a fortune, brOugf
the investigation OF Dickey, Campbe
& Co. They Immediately laid plan
for the building of a railroad frOl
Black Mountain to Mt. Mitchell an
the Black Brothers far beyond. I
many this seemed like a useless VI
~dertaking. However. through fhe Ell
gineering ability Of c. A. Dodd. a mo-
convenient route was surveyed an
the road started. Several hundre
men were put to work and after tW
years Of hard labor. with the aSSiS
ance of over 100 tons of dynamite. IL
road was completed to q point nes
the foot Of Mt. Mitchell and proved
be one of the most wonderful achiev
ments in modern railroad engineeril
In the world.
The road has but started. Ov
sixty miles Of track is yet to be Ia
After leaving Clingman's Peak t
road will switch of to the north 81
Of Mt. Mitchell and descend
mountain over switchbacks and wi
among the Black Brothers mountai
a range OF foul peaks, each Of viii
Is but a few feet lower than Mitch'
1t is estimated that II will take O'
twelve years to convey the timber
the mill.
This. then. was the treat that awe
ed the party that filled a special or
car at the mill and, after Rev. w.
Newell, OF Asheville, led in pray