The farmer and mechanic., 1915-08-31

lima He has right to be, for that
section of the State is d great section
and the progress which it is making
& truly wonderful. In a large sense
no building of good roads in Western
North Carolina is proving a big factor
in the advancement being made in all |
that section. Governor Craig recog-
uiyes this. for he is a believer in good |
roads and is ever ready to throw his |
influence for the building of the best |
roads.
Back in the city after spending
some months Of the summer III Ashe- |
vile, Governor Craig was asked yes
terdav concerning affairs in Western
North Carolina, as to what is going
GA. and as Go the outlook. In reply
he spoke with the greatest optimism
concerning the future, basing his re-
marks upon what has been accom-
pIishcd and on what is now going on
In the mountains of our State. Those
who know conditions in Western
North Carolina will agree that he kept
well within bounds, that he did not
speak too highly of section of North
Carolina which has q future with
prospects of the very brightest.
\ Section of Prosperity
The mountain section OF North
Carolina" said Governor Craig, was
never so prosperous and conditions
were never so encouraging as they are
now The building and the improve
ment Of the highways has been of
immense benefit to this section. For
merly the homes of the mountains
were for many months in the year
isolated for lack Of roads and for lack
Of communication. Now, the improve
meut of the roads. the establishment
of telephone lines and of the rural
free delivery have created COM
munities and the community spirit,
and have enabled the people to avail
themselves of the benefits and advon-
tages of modern civilization. The
schools have improved wonderfully,
and are doing now q work which was
not thought possible few years ago
The changed conditions in agricul-
ture can be observed by riding along
public highways. New homes have
been built, painted and arranged with
taste New school houses have beer
built and churches have been eniarg
cd. Land that formerly produced bu
few bushels of corn to the acre has
been increased in fertility, and cult
waited with much more intelligence
The new methods of agriculture ant
the impetus that has been recent.
given to the cultivation Of the field
IS the most encouraging results II
North Carolina"
Good Roads Give Access.
Asked about the roads that hav
been recently built across the noun
tains, the Governor said:
Several magnificent highways haV
been recently built across the Blu
Ridge, connecting Eastern and West
ern North Carolina with the noun
tain section. One OF the most con
spicuous of these roads is the Gimme
N,,f rCxy
years ago this Chimney Rock sectio
was inaccessible. The only vehicl
was the wagon, and it was with diff
Guilty that the wagon could travt
along what was called the public roat
Now a magnificent highway has bee
built through this section, maxim
complete the highway from Chariot
to Asheville Hundreds of automt
biles pass over this road daily.
is not uncommon for people in Char
lotte to leave that city Saturda
spend Sunday in Asheville and retur
Monday. The Chimney Rock sectio
is the most picturesque in North Care
lima. The>, are building hotels ar
boarding houses along this highwa
and that whole community Is no
thronged with summer tourists. The
are tea houses and dancing pavilion
All along the road. Chimney Rot
rises in perpendicular escarpme
from Broad river. and the chimn
stands out solid column of grant
more than q hundred feet high. He
are the bottomless pools, and Il
bridal veil falls, the Appian Wa
which is a narrow pathway on a she
OF the perpendicular rock.
The road from Old Fort to Rid
Crest is nearing completion, and c.
now be used by automobiles. tt
road goes round by Round Knob, a.
IS a highway of wonderful seen
beauty, 1t crosses the Blue Rid
over the SWannanoa Tunnel, and
link in the Central Highway. Wh
completed it will be more travell
Than any other road across the Bl
Ridge, There is another highW
that is now completed leading fro
Spartanburg by Hendersonville
Asheville. Thousands Of autOmobi
nave travelled these roads this SUI