The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-01
DEVELOPMENT OF TRANS
PORTATION .. s...E5
SECTION IT

POR l A lON 81. g. ..Es -.
SECTION II '['.. .s-
The need Tor railroads was rec
ognizcd carly and many efforts
were made to penetrate the
mountains with this method Of
transportation. About 1896, Rob-
crt Y. Haync, the brilliant South
! Carolinian who had routed Daniel
Webster in debate, headed Il COM
pany which planned the building
Of railroad from Charleston to
Cincinnati by way OF Western
North Carolina. Whatever sue
cess might have attended this en-
tclprisc and any change it would
/ have made in development of the
Blue Ridge Highlands was cut
short in 1899 when Mr.. Haync
was taken i'll while in AShcvillc to
attend 4 meeting Of the organlZa-
ton. He died there Il few days
later, and the trip down the noun
tain by Saluda Gap over the State
road had to be made by wagon.
The funeral party experienced
great difficulty in taking his body
over the rough way without dis
aStcr.
About this same time, the first
little colony Of Low Country pco-
pie discovered and settled the sec
ton ut Flat Rock and near AShc-
vile. Their delight with the nov
location Of their summer homes
encouraged others, and within Il
few years the annual cavalcadc
of carriages. horseback riders.
wagons and servants making the
two weeks trip from the coastal
region to this part Of the High
lands had grown to considerable
proportions.
This brought into the Blue
Ridge mountains the highest de-
vclopmcnt of American civilian
ton. wealth, culture, and the lux
uriouS life Of the slave owners
from the Coastal country. The
coming of these people soon i'll
fluenced the mode Of tranSporta-
ton.
The horSc-drawn vehicle for
conveyance Of passengers was an
invention claimed by England,
Germany. and several other coum-
tries. The caretta was used by
the queen when Charles Of Anjou
made his entry into Naples IN
1880. while the koctSen, or kOctS-
wagon of the Dutch was a litter
in which the passengers rcclncd.
In the first crude ones, the wheels
doubtless had wide rims, similar
to those on the war cars, and the
traces were of ropes. About the
time of Louis XIV, the bodies
were swung on leather straps to
insure ease in riding. Their man-
ufacturc called for very high
degree of skill and the best OF
material to withstand the strain
Of rough roads. The various parts
Of the bodies were made by diff
fcrent workmen. and the finest
steel was used, while ON the upper
parts of them, a single hide WAS
wet and curried as it was pressed
into shape.
During the time Of Elizabeth
and early in the 18th century, use
Of the coach had extended widely
and this adopted for general
transportation in Europe and by
the people Of the Low Country.
With their wealth and easy ac-
cess to Old World markets, the
ease and comfort Of the coach
and carriage were used for the
annual trips to the mountains.
The Stagecoaches were in use for
many years on the mountain
roads and furnished the most pic
turesque mode of travel ever
seen.
Albany or Concord coaches
were used and these were swung
on leather braces to give greater
ease of riding. There was accom-
mediation for nine passengers in
side and space beside the driver
for more, while a boot on the
back carried luggage. In cold
weather, stones heated and wrap
ped in rugs or blankets were used
to keep the passengers warm.
As early as 1928, the stages
made regular trips from Green
vile, South Carolina. to Greene
vile. Tennessee, and from Char
lesion to Asheville. Charleston
and other places on the southern
end of the route advertised spe-
cial arrangements for those who
wished to make the through trip
to Flat Rock, or points further
on. insuring them against any
lack of seats when the coach made
its stopover at Greenville or 9TH
er way towns.
The driver carried long tin
horn and as the stagecoach APP