The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
A CRYING NEED

A CRYING NEED
Ashe county is noted for it's beautiful
and majestic mountain peaks which rise
from 4,500 to $500 feet above sea level.
One Of them serves as corner for three
states, hundreds of sheep and cattle Craze
on the top of another one and from the
crest of third peak one can see into five
states on clear day.
This third one is the famous Negro
mountain, located here in the center of the
county, overlooking the Jeffersons. There
are many unusual things about this noun
Den, but was later called negro" because
slaves used it as hide-out during the ante
bellum days.
An odd thing about it is that Negro is a
completely detached mountain that rises
LOO feet above the county's capitol and
fast-growing thriving commercial center
and reaches maximum elevation of A.
$50 feet. Another significant feature is
that spring, near the top of the mountain,
contains water that is nearly ice cold the
year round, day and night
Several poems have been written about
the magnificent and inspiring scenery one
can view panoromacally from its aged
crest about it's many legends of human
courage, flight, and dispair, and about the
perfection of this handiwork of God.
Realizing that tourists will drive for
miles to see the unusual, the beautiful and
to scale lofty heights to view the unbellev-
able natural creations Captain George
Doggett, whose name is synonymous with
good roads and progress in Ashe county,
Basil Barr, the former Miss Ruth Reeves
and the board of aldermen of West Jetter-
son secured a WPA project and about
three years ago a good road was built to
the top of this mountain. At that time Mr..
E. B. Jeffress, who was state highway COM
missioner, promised to take over this road
and put it on the highway system for I'M
provement and maintenance.
But what has happened since then? Alb
solutely nothing so far as any further work
is concerned while on the other hand ero-
sion has practically ruined what was done.
Today it is almost impossible to drive to
the top of the mountain. Of course the
roadbed is there but it has been badly
washed.
This month the district Rotary Assem-
blv will be held in Ashe and it would be
a big piece of advertising for this county
and section to take those attending the
meeting on a trip to the top OF Negro
mountain as we'll as out on the Parkway.
But how can this be done with the road in
it's present, almost impossible condition?
With the opening of the completed sec
ton of the Parkway in Ashe and Allegha-
nv. thousands of motorists from the Caro-
linas Virginias and throughout the nation
will come to see this great scenic highway,
but how close will they get to the Jeffer-
sons and to the other sections OF Ashe
county if we do not have some advertis-
ed special attractions?
And what attraction would be better
than view into five states and all over
Piedmont North Carolina from the top Of
Negro mountain?
The town board here and the county
commissioners have requested the State
Highway to make immediate improve
ments. Mr. Doggett is keenly interested in
getting something done and we hope that
Messrs. King, Council and Hackett will
take the same position when the matter is
presented for their consideration. Tourists
passing through the county on the Park