State

Edison's Trip In the Mountains Comparal ivol.v feu people* are* aware* off llie* fact. Iiul llie* first extensive motor trip ever made* through the mountains e»f \Ve*sle*rn Nor (It Carolina was by Thomas Л. ICelisou. Iiaek in 1905. By J. I» TAYLOR WHILE il is generally known that the lat<‘ Thomas Л. Edi- son, at llie turn of llie cen¬ tury. located in Charlotte to exjwri- menl with processing gold ores, there are probably only a few of llie "old timers” who can recall the famed inventor's tour of Western North Carolina in 1905 — the lirsl automo¬ bile trip made through these moun¬ tains. The toilsome trip ended at Sylva in Jackson (bounty, where llie exhausted party boarded a train for home. Mr. Edison had rented offices for a year in Charlotte with the intention of exereising his genius on improv¬ ing methods used in extracting gohl from the low-grade ore abounding in the Carolina bills and mountains. When he sought the cooperation of the existing mining interests in the section, however, he found leaders in- elined to "hold out," so he pieked up in disgust and left for his Jersey home. A Return Trip Hardly had he reaehed home until he got reports of the existence at Webster, former "courthouse town" of Jackson County, of cohalt, a min¬ eral he urgently needed in some of his experiment'. So keenly interested was he that he got two ears from his life-long friend, Henry Ford, gath¬ ered about him four or five scientists and friends and set out for North • 'arolina. He reached Asheville with com¬ parative case and comfort, and turned towards Hendersonville and Brevard, thence swung into the Sap¬ phire Country, with Lake Toxaway as his objective. At Brevard, lie per¬ suaded J. C. White, later mayor of this thriving tourist resort, to accom¬ pany the party as guide. Traveling over ordinary mountain wagon roads that were often little more than trails, those early "horse- lesscarriages” negotiated thedistauee with a great deal of churning and groaning, in two days. At Lake Toxa¬ way. Mr. Edison ordered a halt of several days to get his frazzled nerves together, resting at the summer home of a friend. E. N. Baeheus. He was charmed with the beautiful Sapphire Country, so known l»ecause of the sparkling blue liodics of water that dot the country-side, and particu¬ larly with the artificial island in Lake Sapphire. The island was named in his honor and retained that designa¬ tion. Plenty of Motor Trouble The automobiles seemed to have heen spent by the trip, and the Inst leg of the journey to Webster wiis a series of blow-outs and engine fail¬ ures that prevented the party from arriving there until late that night. So fatigued was Mr. Edison that In- slept late the next morning, and awoke to find the hotel surrounded by a throng of curious people from many miles around. Word had been passed that "the world's most famous inventor" was in Webster, and the sensational fact that the party was traveling in automobiles. Many of the natives of the section had never SPECIAL TO NORTH CAROLINIANS If you arc so fortunate *« to reside In this State, yon are entitled to a 10 per rent dis¬ count (after April I0> on the moderate rate* for room» and meal» at The Carolina or The Holly Inn. ThU is a special Inducement to acquaint more and more North Carolinians with Plnehnrst's famous golf (Three 18-hole courses with grass greens), tennis, riding, horse racing, and congenial social life. April Is a fashionable season here. Come* Phone or write General Oftce. Plnehurst. N. C.. for Information and booklet i'TfcfiCl QoAoImo, inehurst HIGH IN THE SANDHILLS seen a motor ear, and so interest was divided between Mr. Edison and the ears — much to the inventor's relief. The cobalt deposits inspected, the party turned anxious attention to the more pressing problem of getting out of these mountains that towered above them on all sides. Mr. 1-Mi son fairly leaped Upon the suggestion that the ears limp on to Sylva. five miles distant, and there the parly board a train for home. When the ear which he hail occupied chugged up to the railway station, it heaved a great sigh and was silent as though it realized that its gruelling task was done, and it was thoroughly exhausted. Mr. Edison is said to have smiled brightly as he stepped from the ear and swept its mud-stained body with his keen eyes. Despite his weariness, Mr. Edison stepped briskly onto the train, or¬ dered that the ears be packed and shipped, ami turned his great mind to other matters — probably never realizing that he had heen the first motor tourist in Jackson County. The cobalt deposits did not prove of sufficient importance to warrant development by him. it is understood, and so far as is known be displayed no further interest in them. Work On State Parks Is To Be Speedetl I 'ji Kah-igh. Development work ill all state parks will In- »pecdi-d this summer and two more «if the areas probably will In- opt-m-d for general Use. K. Bruce Etheridge, director of • . . and development, said Inst week that Morrow Mountain -late park, in Stanly Comity could he opened formally ill «llllv through use of park fund* lutide available in a special 19Я9 law. The Hanging Rock state park in Stoke.» County also should lie ready. Etheridge said, if aihlitiomil land n coled is obtained quickly.