Year: 1860

The editor of the Banner has recently been
on visit to Morganton and after his return
speaks of that town and the surrounding scene
ry thus


"Morganton is approached by crossing a ridge
oy what may be termed gap between the Brusby
ana south Mountains. As you approach by this
gap the line of the Blue Ridge stretches ont he
tore you-the famous Black Mountain bearing
ABOUT due west. Following the line of the Blue
mage northwardly the huge table Rock is in full
view, about IL miles distant from Morganton but
apparently within four FIVE miles from the alti
tuoe OF the mountain range Further still towards


the north the Grandfather can be seen and throupt
gap north of the Table Rock and between it and


the Grandfather can easily be distinguished the
crest OF the Roam Mountain which is on spur of
fhe Alleghanies far away. There are three
ridges visible; the Table Rock Ridge the Blue
Ridge and the Linniville Ridge. These ridges
20 the west and north, with the South
Mountains and the Brushy Mountains to-
wards the South, and east completely surround
Morganton and indeed the whole of Burke coun-
ty' and present the town lying in a BASIN


but Morganton, nevertheless occupies an eleva-
e teo position, the country. particularly towards
the west, falling steeply off towards the vally of
the Cataw ba The South Mountains are distant
about four miles from town. TO the naked eve.
at various points towards their SUBMITS bald
places are visible. These bald places, however,
are nothing less than farms, many of them CON
tanning several hundred acres, and are represented
as being highly productive. To some of them
the approaches are SO steep that the crops have
have to be lowered down by pes in the hands
OF the farmers, on a peculiar kind Of vehicle made
tor the purpose At other points teams be
driven to the SUBMITS by zig gag routes The
space between Morganton and the South Noun
talns seems to the traveller to be deep fiat vally
with heavy growth of fine timber; but it IS in
tact an exceeding hlly county and presents the
level appearance because of the point from which
1t Is viewed and because of the stupendous noun
tam ranges about it, Nearly all these mountains
are covered with heavy growth of the finest va
rletles OF timber to their very SUBMITS.


1t is impossible to do Justice to this most beau
ttully picturesque county in mere newspaper
notice, or with such examination limi
ted time afforded us. We write, too, from men,
Ory, and may not have located the different OBJ
jects of interest accurately. We envy the per-
son who travels through this country and
1t with the cultivated eye of the artist. To the
untutored faculties it is bewildering and amazing.
Light and shadow are lost IN the wonder created
by the scene, and if the beauties of art in the
works OF nature not visible to him, he is filed
with the magnifcence, the maj ajesty and the power
of natures God Ye who would see nature in
her grandest and greatest forms-ye who have
never yet been forced by the presence of nature
to contemplate the poaeer and the realty Of natures
God, visit the mountains of North Carolina.-
There you must reverently bow your heads
there you will learn own IutLenesS


The town of MorgantOn is quite pretty place
and contains from 600 to 500 inhabitants 1t
abounds i'll handsome residences. Its courthouse
is superior structure and stands in large square
neatly fenced round and for the most part plant
ed with trees, &c. We understand the people
of Merganton indebted for this handsome
square mainly to Maj J. c. Smythe of Salisbury,
who is extensive property holder in Burke,
and at one time one of the most enterprising
citizens of Morgauton. The streets of the town
.are we'll laid out and we'll kept.