French Broad hustler and Western Carolina Democrat. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1915-1916, 1916-08-03

Ii AS4A~
appeared in the AsheVille Citizen Mon
day:
mot in another hundred years could
a like disaster happen to the Bat Cave
region, Nc matter how heavy the
rains" said w. S. Falls, chief engineer
of the state highway commission. in
Asheville yesterday after walking 25
miles through the heart of the Blue
Ridge devastated by the floods OF
July 16.
Mr.. Falls. with Wade NJ. Patton,
I another of the state highway engi-
neers. has just finished his inspection
of the damaged highway through the
Bat Cave country. This inspection
was made in. accordance with instruc-
lions wired him by Governor. Locke
Craig a few days ago, from the Ashe-
Vile board of trade Office. The chief
engineer will confer with the chief
executive at once, when he will sub
NIT his recommendations.
Many Gaps.
"Out of the seventeen miles of the
highway said Mr.. Falls. possibly
five miles will have to be rebuilt.
There are many gaps Of from 200 to
800 feet in length absolutely gone.
The bridges are all out. The terrific
mountain slides were responsible for
most Of the damage n loss of lie.
l found much and efficient work being
done along the Buncombe stretch of
the highway. In Rutherford county
there was a small force at work. In
Henderson county there was nothing
at all being attempted to repair tie
damage &c the road. One mile of ne
seven III Henderson county mas been
destroyed.
'GoveiuCI Craig win make puB'ic
my recommendations. We hope % Sc
euro feGcIaI aid towards rebuilding the
highway. The federal aid bill pTOgi&eS
for the construction or the raCcr-
structiOn' Of highways. These two
words were inserted in the bill
through the efforts Of DR.. Joseph Hyde
Pratt, and their vital Importance as
applying to this highway is apparent.
Under what I may term ideal cOndi-
tons, the highway, with temporary
bridges, may be reconstructed within
six weeks. Under ether conditions. I
am afraid it may be six months or
even longer before it will be possible
to once more trGveI through the won
Gerfully picturesque gorge Of the
Rocky Broad river. The temporary
bridges involves no additional ex-
penses. .
People in Good Heart.
81 found the people there in good
heart. There IS some suffering. There
will be far moro this winter. What
those people want is not charity, but
work. Practically all the summer
tourists have LETT the mountains in
that region.
"The greater part of the damage
was caused by the mountain slides. |
suppose 1 saw the effects of more
thar, 800 of these slides. They appear
ed to have started close to the top CT
the mountains. For a distance of
possibly from seventy-fve to 200 feet
in which they removed everything
clear and clean in their paths. 1t
would be quite impossible to convey
any idea of the terrific force of these
slides. Everything movable in their
path was swept to the river below.
Trees were denuded absolutely of
every Vestige of bark. Rocks were
ground smooth. Buildings were car
Tied away in the irresistible rush. Ma
u had been long preparing the
mountains for the catastrophe. and
not for a hundred years could such
another disaster happen to the mOun-
tainS there, no matter how hard, or
how long, it might rain"
For long stretches, said Mr.. Falliss
the river gorge is not more than one
eighth Of a mile in width, with many
sheer walls 1900 feet and more high.
During the storm from this narrow
gorge an inferno Of noises escaped TO
the StarleSS sky abOVe-and men who
never before have known fear felt its
cold hand clutch their hearts that
night.
Fol- nature once more revealed in all
her ancient and elemental strength.
The cutlery Of the rivers torrent; the
indescribably heart-shaking crashes Of
the mountain slides, one after the
other; the steady n never ceasing
dOwnpOur of rain, were segments of a
symphony OF the gods enraged-and
the theme of that elemental symphony
was death and destruction.
4 Mountain Tragedy.
The highway engineer speaks of one
slide, which starting slowly close to
the summit of the mountain. carried
away the home Of B.. E.. Huntley. In
that mountain home we're the father"
the mother and their two Children.
Lights were burning there. for their
cheer was needed, and around the
hearthstone before a sm%ouldering fire
were gathered the little family. From
below anne the neVer-ceasing clamOr
of the Infatuated river hurting unimag-
Unable masses of water and rocks
against the mountainside. Outside a
world in the making, with not a star
in the heavens nor a CLEAN Of light.
The rain came in sheets, beating
against doors and windowpanes. Out
side utter ~desolation and things they
knew not of. Inside, warmth, light
n fancied security.
But suddenly above the outcry of
the river below was heard a still more