USA > North Carolina > Rutherford County > Rutherford County, North Carolina, its establishment, early history, topography, soil, products, and other resources > Part 2
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Rutherford County.
the heart pine of this County is equal to the best, in quality and quantity.
Our climate is simply delightful. The atmosphere is clear light, lastic and dry as that of Denver, Col., in Win- ter and Spring and free from dust in Summer and Autumn. We have a temperature as eqable as is known so great a dis- tant from the equator. For persons who have chronic pul- monary disease or who inherit predisposition to tubercular phthisis, these conditions are favorable in the highest degree.
The earth's surface is rolling. There are no swamps and no stagnated water here, marsh miasm does not exist, and only in instances of gross negligence do heaps of debris accumulate.
For several years succeeding 1873, certain families in different sections of the County were affected by a continued fever which usually assumed a typhoid character during its course. In some instances typhoid symptoms were observable from the inception of the disease. These fevers ran a comparatively wild course and the patients re- covered under the use of appropriate means. I noticed quite a difference in grade, in persons who were well clad accus- tomed to wholesome articles of diet, and those who were poorly clad and used the most inferior articles of diet, and who gave but little attention to personal cleanliness and other rules of health. In the former the type of the disease was sthenic ; in the latter I saw a few cases very nearly approach- ing typhus.
Local cause for the prevalence of the disease was pointed out in each neighborhood. Such as inattention to drainage, uncleansed cellars, heaps of decomposing debris and espe- cially accumulations of animal excretions being allowed to moulder and exhale their noxious gases, near sleeping apartments.
Epidemics are exceedingly rare and are usually limited to circumscribed sections. Of course some ofthe exanthemata make their visits here, as they do wherever human beings live. but generally in such mild form that the good wife with
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Rutherford County.
her armamentarium of "oil, turpentine, camphor, and root and herb teas," usually sees a favorable termination, partie- ularly in measels and roseola.
I have seen cases of scarlatina that demanded most prompt and vigorous treatment, through that dread scourge of infancy and childhood, "Scarlatina maligna" is seldom met with, and then only in children of previously impaired and very delicate constitutions.
I have seen but very few cases of diptheria since I came to the County in 1864, though I have on several occasions been called in haste to attend little patients with acute disease of the throat supposed to be diptheria. With very few ex- ceptions the disease proved to be malignant scarlet fever, which had attacked with especial violence, tissues of the throat and mouth-(Scarlatina anginosum.) There has not been a case of small pox in the County since my residence here.
A vast majority of all cases of disease I have treated were either of catarrhal origin, or could be attributed to impru- dence in diet and exercise, and could have been easily pre- vented by an observance of the simplest hygienic rules. At all events the attacks could have been greatly modified, and often spells of weeks duration might have been only indis- positions of a few days.
In most instances attacks among children are ephemeral, occasional attacks of dysentery (Sporadic) diarrhea incident to dentition in Summer and catarrhal affections in Winter is very nearly the record of diseases of infancy and childhood, barring contagious exanthemata. Violent attacks of chol- era infantum, is the exception, not the rule.
Persons who have delicate Inngs, or those who inherit predisposition to tubercular phthisis do exceedingly well in this Sheltered Mountain Cove. Lying as it does up on the Southern and Eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge and South- mountain ranges, the surface receives the earliest rays of the morning sun, which warms and dries the air at an hour when the ground is still shaded by mountains in other and
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Rutherford Conuty.
less favored localities. The currents of cold, humid air, so injurious to delicate lungs are broken up, and thrown above us by the high mountains surrounding us on the East and North-east, West, North-west an 1 South-west. I have men- tioned but a small proportion of the physical conditions ex- isting here that are known to be beneficial to consumptives. There is as much here to contribute to the wellfare of that class of invalids, as can be found elsewhere, and as little to detract from it. Nothing can impare my faith in the opin- ion that there exists here, combined physical conditions, which antagonize the development and progress of tubercu- lar phthisis, and which influence it most favorably after it has developed. When I see children and grand-children of ancestors who died of tubercular disease, in good health, without an indication of the tubercular diathesis; all argu- ment to disprove the belief, fall like flakes of snow on the ocean's wave. Fascinating theory and the subtleties of logie yield in the face of facts so stern.
Jerusalem's hills is part of her history. The boast of mighty Rome is and has been her seven hills, and the pride of beautiful Richmond is her hills. Rutherford can boast of her hundred hills. Located as it is npon the head waters of Gleghorn creek and among the foot hills of the Blue Ridge mountains, a more beautiful site, or one possessing more advantages in many points of view cannot be found. Four large branches run into the town, and uniting make Gleg- horn Creek. The surface is rolling and slopes in pretty grades to the banks of the streams , so that it is impossible for debris to accumulate. With a little attention to drainage, brisk rains act as effectual scavengers and insures the water of our springs and wells against contamination. There are hundreds of beautiful and romantic building sites within view of the town and near the corporate limits, that are suscepti- blo to the highest improvement in the way of landscape gardening, terracing, &c. Most of the hills about Ruther- fordton are well wooded; the soil is good and produces well. From the crests of these hills the view of South Mountains,
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Rutherford County.
the Blue Ridge and Tryon Mountain is sublime beyond the power of expression.
To those who wish to seek new homes, I beg leave to say that the country in and around Rutherfordton possesses vast resourses yet untouched. Lands are very cheap and can be bought on easy terms.
OLIVER HICKS, M. D.
SCENERY SPRINGS, &c.
The scenery of Rutherford County is one of the chief sources of her pride; she may well boast of the varied and valuable quality of her soil, of the gigantic trees of various kinds that make her of advantage to the lumbermen, of the water power that cheers the face of the machinist and quickens the pace of enterprise, but all these also add to her beauty. While one may sell her timber, another her land another establish factories and machinery, yet respectively and combined they add to the charms spread out for the tourist and authorize us to invite the lover of natural beauty to sojourn with us.
Situated at the Eastern base of the Blue Ridgeincluding several spurs of that grand chain, her location is different and perhaps more interesting than any of her sister counties.
Stopping for the night at Rutherfordton, the county seat, the traveler cannot fail to be struck with the peculiar beauties of the situation. Even the rising and setting of the sun impress us. The view toward the East is over hills at first steep and sharp then round and smoother, then grad- ually receding into the flat lands miles and miles away where the long leaf pine takes the place of the oak and poplar, forest pine and hickory. Over these the slanting rays of the rising sun cast a glorious beauty until they touch and gild the distant mountain sides. At evening the setting of the sun seems hastened and the twilight prolonged by the mountains West of us. Space would not justify us in particu- larizing, but we may add a brief discription of a few of the striking features in our scenery.
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Rutherford County.
The "Cherry Mountain," so called from the fine quali- ty and abundance of the fruit grown there, is in the North- eastern portion of Rutherford County, and affords a view of Cleveland and Burke Counties in the foreground and Lin- coln and Mecklinburg and portions of South Carolina and the blue summit of King's Mountain in the back ground while the South Mountains stand as a rear guard to the North.
The streams are, with one or two exceptions, clear as crystal-and many brooks burst forth boldly from springs cooling and sweet that far surpass the water coolers and ice casks about hotels.
One mile West of Rutherfordton on the Hickory Nut Road a view of the mountains in the distance that is unsur- passed may be had. Southwest of us clear and distinct fourteen miles away the Whiteoak Mountains and two miles farther the Tryon slumber in their majesty. Farther West the Sugar Loaf, Bear Wallow and Bald Mountains lift their heads toward the sky, and aboveall Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak in North Carolina and indeed East of the Rocky Mountains adds its shadow to the already gloomy grandeur of the scene.
When we draw nearer, the varied beauty and curiosity of the landscape increases; and in our immediate borders we find the noted Chimney Rock, standing on its own responsi- bility more than 500 feet high, from which the postoffice, hotel, &c., derives their names. While this rock is a curios- ity as it stands thus isolated, as its name would indicate, still the view from its base is grander still. It is a two hours tramp from the Chimney Rock Hotel to the base of this Rock, and none have ever made the journey that did not feel repaid. As we stand with heated brow and tired limbs and contemplate the surroundings, we acknowledge that few mountain views can surpass it. The Mountains across the river; "Round Top," and pinacles stand as our "vis a viz" wInte the Sugar Loafthrows its benign shadow over us. The "Broad River" chained to the hills by the links of a thousand
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brooks and rills, glides away like a silver serpent flashing in the sunlight down the valley on its way to the sea. On the same Mountain a little way to the West, the stream known as Fall Creek rises, murmurs along for half a mile, turns the wheel of a little mill, and then plunges headlong, a distance of 1300 feet down the face of the rock and then throws itselfplay- fully into the current of the river. The Hickory Nut Road lead- ing from Asheville to Rutherfordton, and also the Henderson- ville road leads the traveler down this romantic gorge. Travel- ing East the mountains already mentioned stand on the right, while on the left stand Round Top with its "Vance's nose" projection, (named in honor of our U. S. Senator.) The noted Harris' view or Pinacle from which may be seen several towns in adjoining counties and affording the finest of sun-rise and sun-set views, Bat Cave with its swift cold breath, Bald Mountain with its shaking propensities and volcanic reputation, and its cave in the rocks and fissures in its sides, all add their quota of interest to the charms of this landscape.
These are the leading features of our scenery, but there is many a vine clad nook and cosy glen, through which flows a little rivulet down some minature precipice, where the mosses and ferns never fade nor grow sere. These springs and brooks are not only things of beauty; many of them possess medicinal qualities unsurpassed by the most noted springs in the world.
Two miles from the Chimney Rock Hotel, once owned by Washington Harris, now dead, the mention of whose name will awake pleasant memories in the minds of many a weary traveler and hunter who have tried his hospitality, and now owned by Judge G. W. Logan, is an Alum Spring, where the twigs and pebbles by its current collect lumps of solid Alum.
Within one-half mile of the Hickory Nut Road and the same distance from the Chimney Rock Hotel, is the "Spicer Spring," which for pure, sweet, and delightful free stone.water is unsurpassed.
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Rutherford County.
North-west of Rutherfordton four miles is Lewis' Spring, strong Sulphur water, and possessing all the qualities of more noted springs of the same character. Near Rutherfordton are two Chalybeate Springs-one even inside the corporation -where the inhabitants have easy access to it, and many of them as well as many strangers have derived material bene- fit from the use of the water. Upon the ground is a beau- tiful site for a hotel. The water has been analyzed by the State Geologist, and is said to contain some of the finest medicinal properties. This spring is owned by Mr. T. B. Justice, of Rutherfordton, and no charge is made for the use of the water.
Ten miles South-east of the village in Sulphur Springs Township is a strong Sulphur Spring, the property of Mr. Henson. Several persons who have tried its water have re- ceived permanent benefit therefrom. So it will be seen that the beautiful is also combined with the beneficial.
To L. P. Erwin, R. J. Balfour, M. H. Justice, Committee :
Previous engagements prevent compliance in extenso with your courteous request to make a statement of "what I know about" Rutherford County. I take it you would like to hear from me because I am "from the North."
I arrived in Rutherfordton 18th of October, 1851, from Lyme, N. H., was then a young man fresh from college. My main reasons for coming South were to escape the con- sequences of the cold climate of the North upon a con- stitution with decided tendencies to rheumatism and by no means safe from consumptive troubles there. The move was in these particulars a great success. Neither of those dread- ful maladies has given me the slightest trouble since my ar- rival here 35 years ago.
I firmly believe there is not a spot of territory on the face of the earth, of the same size of Rutherford County, that excels it in healthfulness of climate.
As to soil, natural resources, elements for the develop- ment of a rich and prosperous and thickly settled communi-
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Rutherford County.
ty, nothing can be said that will exagerate the actual facts. For an intelligent, law abiding, generous, kind-hearted peo- ple, Ruthford County is not excelled.
Men of means looking for a desirable home-men of education-men dependent on their daily labor-every class of people who come to make up a population of good citi- zens will be most cordially received in every part of Ruther- ford County.
Very respectfully, L. F. CHURCHILL.
LETTER FROM W. L. TWITTY, EsQ.
Rutherford County embracing both the mountain and piedmont sections, owing to its peculiar physical formation is noted for its healthfulness and mildness of climate and un- der the impulse of capital would soon be marked for its dis- tribution of labor and yield a generous return for all the money expended in the improvement of its fertile soil and magnificent water power. It would be safe to say that the water power of this county is ample to duplicate all the fac- tories now running in the State and the surplus products of its farms sufficient for the sustenance of their operatives. This section is divided by its various mountain ranges into two semicircles tangent to each other on the South Moun- tain range each having an Eastern and South-eastern expos- ure and each being protected on its Western and North- western boundaries by outlying ranges. The first semicircle is formed by the spurs of the Blue Ridge and separated from it on the Western boundary only by the Reedy Patch and upper Broad River and capped by the peaks of Sugar Loaf and Bald Mountains and from 3600 to 4000 feet above the level of the sea through which Broad River cuts its channel. This range from its height intercepts the Eastern currents bearing moisture and condensing them and thus rendering protracted droughts, (such as arc felt in many other sections) improbable if not
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Rutherford County.
impossible. At this point the turn of the range is parallel to the axis of the Blue Ridge, (that is a little East of North) extending up to the range dividing the head waters of Cedar Creek in the County from those of Crooked Creek in MeDowel County, thence the watershed extens in an East- terly course to the South Mountains and thence a South- eastern direction to its terminus in the Flint Hills. The tan- gential point of the second semicircle with the first is on the South Mountains and the general turn of the range is nearly North to the head of First Broad and thence Easterly to the Cleveland line. These sections are again subdivided into the watershed of the First, Second and Mlain Broad Rivers. The Main Broad River basin extends from the South Caro- lina and Polk County lines to Forest City and the lines of railway one and a quarter miles North of Rutherfordton, thence along the dividing ridge of Mountain and Cathey's Creeks to the Northern boundary of the first semicircle. In this basin are three entire Townships containing ninety square miles, and four-fifths of four others with an aggregate area of one hundred and thirty-one square miles. In this first section is the justly admired scenery around Chimney Rock. The bold outline and grandure of which is rarely equalled and not surpassed by any in the South. The pools, three successive chasms, at the foot of as many cascades, worn by the action of the water upon the stratified rocks through succesive ages. Their depths are variously estimated from thirty to sixty feet and their diameters are from ten feet in the upper to fifteen or twenty feet in the lower pool.
Chimney Rock two hundred and fifty feet high and one hundred and fifty feet in diameter at its base is a segment of the clift of Sugar Loaf severed from it by some violent force of nature and rounded by the action of the winds presents to the eye almost a perfect chimney, separated from the Mountain by a distance of only a few rods. The water cap- ing over the falls of Sugar Loaf thirteen hundred feet and partially disolving into mist and spray are some of the at- tractions ofthis delightful mountain pass. Another peculiarity
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Rutherford County.
of this section together with the two others are the dewless and, consequently in the winter, frostless belts found in the coves along the Eastern slopes of the Mountains. These belts seem designed by nature as the habitat of the peach and grape; both attain their greatest perfection here. Wild summer grapes hang upon the vine until midwinter without losing their flavors or wine producing properties. I have known them gathered late in December and made into wine. Peaches grown upon these belts are far superior in favor to those in the flat woods and the fruit grower can rely with confidence upon a good yield almost every year, the average loss being only one crop in fifteen or twenty. Why this strat- um of dry air hangs upon our mountain sides is a question awaiting solution by scientists. The soil of this section va-
ries from the black loam, the alluvial, the red, to the gray silicious. The black loam found in the mountain, not only richly reward the labor of their owners but are the benefac- tors of the denizens of the low lands, for the waters percolat- ing through them and streams running thence carry in solu - tion the alluvium; thus renovating our bottom lands so heav- ily taxed by the one crop system of the country. These lands produce corn equal to our fine bottom lands, and grass, Irish potatoes, &c., much better. They also yield large crops of the heavy qualities of tobacco. Next in succession comes the gray, silicious soil which forms a belt extending to with- in eight or nine miles of Rutherfordton (most of it) and thence from the Hickory Nut Road to within a mile of the Polk line on the South, the two qualities of red clay soil predominate. These soils differ in the amount of silica in their composition. In the one the plowshare will clear itself and in the other it will not. They are both productive and lasting soil. They produce cotton, corn, wheat, tobacco, &c., well. In response to a query put to one of our best and most intelligent farmers I received the followingreply: "I have nev- re yet found anything that they are not good for." This non- silicious red land is of the same quality as the celebrated black lands of Texas, and the yellow clay lands of Mecklen-
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Rutherford County.
burg, of which a citizen of that county said to me "that a hundred years of culture would not exhaust them. North of the Hickory Nut Road the gray soil is the prevailing one to a point North or North-east of Rutherfordton. These red lands extend to Gleghorn Creek at the Scoggin place and thence South to the Polk County line. On both sides of Main Broad River this belt extends with an average width of one and a half to two miles to Mr. Wm. Harris' on Floyd's Creek. From Floyd's Creek East the uplands are nearly all gray, and from Gleghorn Creek East they are with the base of the same quality. This gray silicious soil is fine for cot- ton and fine yellow tobacco. It is a generous soil and re- wards the laborer well. The most valuable lands in this County is the rich alluvial lands on our watercourses. Where the hills jet in forming water breaks to the overflowing streams thus causing the deposition of alluvium, these lands are practically exhaustless. Some have been worked from fifty to sixty years in succesion without change of crop and without apparent depreciation of the soil. All of our bottom lands are, however, not equally fertile, many of them form drifts, &c., in the streams giving the currents force or bore causing them to raise the sands from their channels and de- posit them on original soil, are more or less injured but in most cases this could be remedied by proper management and culture. What is said of the different kinds of soil of this section is equally applicable to the other two sections. The waterpowers of this section is as follows : On Broad River, the narrows in (Chimney Rock Township,) shoal at Poores Ford, and Bey Island (Sulphur Springs Township) and Beech Shoal in (High Shoal Township.) This stream offers from 50 to 100 per cent. more water than Pacolat on which are located the factories of Clifton and Trough Shoal on Mountain Creek three water powers, on Cove Creek three fine shoals, on Cedar Creek two fine powers, on Bill's Creek two good powers, on Charlie's Creek waterpowers, on Horse Creek, South of Island Ford two, McKinny's Creek one, IIenson's Creek one, Shephard's Creek two. In sections
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Rutherford County.
second the lands are gray selicious to a point nearly North of Rutherfordton on the Easten portion of Camp Creek Town- ship extending thence to Robinson's Creek, from that point to the Cleveland line the soil is gray. The waterpowers of this section are the following : On Second Broad are fine water powers,at Nabor's, at Bostic's, near Forest City and below Forest City on the same stream is the Burnt Factory Shoal, a very fine power, and a few miles further down the river is High Shoals and Tumbling Shoals, two of the finest powers in the State for the size of the stream and either one of which is sufficient to run as many spindles as Clifton's Fae- tory. The powers at Nabor's and Bostic's are equal to Burnt Factory, also fine. There are three good powers on Camp Creek and two good powers on Cathey's Creek, on Rob- ertson's Creek is a very fine power, at Andrew's Mills and very good power at Bostic's. The third section and the second semicirle are identical. The uplands are gray. The water powers of this section are the shoals of Yelton, Painter, McCurry, and Whisnant on first Broad River. The minerals of these three sections overlap each other and hence will be given together. In the Eastern part of the county extending from above Forest City to near the Cleveland line are extensive beds of oar of red oxide of iron in the central portion of the County is found magnetic and spoltie iron, though as yet in small quantities, and in the up- per portion of the County on Cathey's and Cove Creek are found gray iron ore. That on Cove Creek is in large quan- tities. Near MeDowell's and Anderson's Shoals two of the finest unimproved waterpowers in the County. Gold is found on Richardson's Creek and South of Main Rroad River (in Union and Green Hill Townships,) at the head of Cathey's Creek, at Jamestown, (at one time the most noted places or deposit Mines in the State, from this and the Bracket and Brindletown Mines more than one million of dollars worth of gold is said to have been taken) at the head of first Broad River, four miles North of Rutherford- ton, on Cove Creek, and other sections of the County-
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Rutherford County.
Malichite at Cooper's Gap, Lead on Cove Creek, Manga- nese in large quantities South of Main Broad River, and on Bill's Creek Corundum in the Jaemstown Mountains, Asbes- tus in Logan Store Township, Metamorphic rocks inclosing water on Dr. Harris' place, near Rutherfordton, Graphite in considerable quantities in the Southern portion of the county. Mica in large sheets at Morgan's and Allen's Mines, but stained by admixture of iron. No native silver ore has been found in the County, but it is found in connection with gold at the Shemmels or Atkins Mine on Cane Creek. The gold assays only 60 cents a pennyweight on account of the silver mixed with it. A mine at the foot of Tryon in Polk county has the same per cent. of silver as the Atkins Mine. The Tryon Mine is South-west of the Atkins which is the gen- eral course of veins. Does this point to the discovery of a silver mine in our borders ?
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