Year: 1866

1t extends from Cumberland Gap the corner of h
States of Virginia Kentucky and Tennessee Paint Rock


the valley of the French Broad the North Carolina Stat


ne and lies for distance of 80 miles in the immediate vale
of the French Broad River Hence the by which thi
often designated This link the road fron
Richmond to Memphis at thriving village the centre
East Tennessee called Morristown Morrstown by rail-
miles East of Knoxville 81 miles South Cumberland Gar
entire road is 95 miles


The beautiful valley of East Tennessee embosomed betwee
the Allegheny and Cumberland Mountains doubtless
the most interesting regions in the United States The cmat


most delightfuneither too hot in summer cold il
winter The SOIL rich and productive gives annually tn
industrious husbandman ample reward and is most pro
IN its yield OF corn wheat rye oats hay fax potatoes tobacco


eved to be extensive and consist of ron COAL SALT lead cop
per- znc marble and lime There is endless amount of tn
finest water power-oute sufficient to mannfacture all tn
cotton and other products Of the country.


Where the emgrant find inviting field and wher
will capital profitable investment than in th
this delightful region?


This road is enterprise In 1886 extensive scien


c surveys made under the general direction of Major
WIN. GIBBS MCNEIL Of the United States Army.


He had II brgades OF engineers in the field for than


that day. the valley of the French Broad and the Butt Noun
tain Gap afforded the only eligible pass through these
tans for locomotives without the introduction of inclined
planes.


What the position of the French Broad River and why
should it be favorable for the construction of railroad
From Butt Mountain Gap to Leadvae point on this river L
miles South of Morrsown comprising distance of 10(
miles, the line lies in the valley of the river the genera
direction in this distance conforms with remarkable accuracy
TO the general direction OF line from Charleston
Cincinnati


The bottoms skrng the generally above
mark which averages about 10 feet vertical in the hghe


eshets. The bottoms lying they do above the highes


eshet level the enabled lay his grade plane
their Immediate surface consequently for miles the side ditch


ing the principal work required in the preparation Of the
roadway for the reception of the iron rails


Occasionally this bottom surface line is interrupted by the
projection OF sharp spur from the high of hills
ans which lie parallel and contiguous to the stream These
points however few and nconsderabe and will be easily
blasted and thrown into the stream beneath forming of then
own MATERIAL roadway OF lncalculable duration


The average fall of this remarkable at the rate
about feet per mile consequently the grade is very easy


Where docs this river pass through the Aeghany range
mountains? At the Paint Rock What the difficulties
countercd here in the construction of road? None whatever


he river IN ages gone by excavated the track and but little
labor required prepare for iron roadess per
hap than would be necessary the sandy plains the At


But where is Butt Mountain Gap and what facilities does
offer to the construction of a railroad?


Butt Mountain Gap that remarkable pass the Blue Ridge


through which the Greenev and French Broad road North
Carolina, will pass and which approached from the North


miles Green River South is at the rate of 63 feet
per mile with excavation at the summit level of only 40 feet
in depth.


Let the friends of the French Broad road this
The grade from Green River the summit of the Blue Ridge
at Butt Mountain Gap only 63 feet per mile for about q


miles, whilst the descent North in the direction Asheve
the only 40 feet per mile with cutting excavation
at the summit level of only 40 feet in depth.


No tunnel and only excavation Of 40 feet in depth with
grades the crossing Ridge the French
Broad and Sparanbug route and almost surface line where
1t passes through the Allegheny range.


From Green river Columbus Polk county, North Carolina
the line passes Northern slope of Tryon Mountain


spur of the Blue Ridge on grade of IS feet per mile Upon
this part OF the survey the most expensive portion of road


found will be necessary tunnel four sharp very
spurs Of the mountain side with aggregate OF tunnen
not exceeding 600 feet linear,


From Columbus Sparanburg South Carolina present
terminus of the Sparanburg and Union road the work light
consequently this portion Of the road will be cheapy built
With this description Of this line by who is familiar with
every part of it. what the natural concluson If the facts
are conceded will venture to give the answer-that it
be the cheapest line that has been projected these
great mountain ranges and what remarkable closely
apProxmate the direct line from Charleston Cincinnati


Now take thread and stretch it from Charleston to Cum
0eand Gap on the map and observe the intermediate points,
Columbia Aston Union and Spartanburg South Carlna
Columbus Butt Mountain Gap Flat Rock Henderson Ashe-
vle Marshall and Paint Rock North Carolina the valley
OF the French Broad to the mouth of the Nochuc Norris
Beans Station Tazewe Court House and Cumberland
Gap in Tennessee and you will see how closely hey
the direct line At Cumberland Gap dverge the thread slightly
to the right and you pass through Paris Kentucky Cncn
natl the shortest line that be built between these
mlnal and controlling points


You will also perceive that London the proposed terminus
OF the Lebanon branch of the Louisville and Nashville road
lies in close proximity to this projected line Indeed
near that in the absence of denve location
running South


In this view Of the question: cannot but appreciate the
prudence foresight and wisdom manifested bv the
the Lebanon Branch From Lebanon Junction point On the
Louisville and Nashville road 81 miles South of Louisville the
Lebanon Branch originates and in direction South
90 miles to Crab Orchard its present terminus II be built
in the same direction to London 33 miles further.


From London to Cumberland Gap distance is about so
miles. From London to Wheeer GAP the distance is about IS
miles. -


From Lebanon to London they build their road
most TO reach the Cumberland Gap knowing that when
the Paris Irvine and East Tennessee built from Paris
to Cumberland Gap provided by charter liberal in its
provisions that their road will have been completed the
much coveted outlet by the most direct line to the South Allan
tic coast will have been secured.


Cincinnati and Louisville and the immensely fertile and ex
tensIve territory lying Just back Of thcm deeply interested
IN the early consummaon Of two grand systems of internal
improvements the of which will greatly augment their
prosperity in the future.


The one is the grand trunk, passing from Cincinnati to
Charleston through Cumberland Gap and the valley of the
French Broad and the other the line to Knox
vile, Tennessee, passing through Wheeler's Gap.


The former would open up the markets Of Virginia East
Tennessee and the Caronas including the Atlantic eapors of
Norfolk Beaufort Wilmington, Charleston and Port Royal
whilst the other would directly penetrate the fourishng States
OF Georgia and Alabama and afford the nearest outlet to the
"gT % ue InTugh the Gulf ports OF Pensacola and Mobile


IheSe are works OF the greatest magnitude and from
merela and Agricultural point of view will work