136 



CONDITIONS BY COUNTIES. 



tion. From this point, to where it joins the waters of the Gau- 

 ley and flows on as the Great Kanawha, the stream is beset by 

 falls and almost continuous rapids descending to an elevation of 

 650 feet at Gauley Bridge. 



The wild beauty of this canon, known as the New Eiver 

 Gorge, with the clear water of the river flowing swiftly among 

 scattered boulders at the base of its precipitous and rocky walls, 

 has appealed to thousands of people, and has afforded ample 

 justification for the efforts at description made by many promi- 

 nent writers. 



' ' Who having once seen, will ever forget the ' ' Hawk 's 

 Nest" in Fayette County— often called "Marshall's Pillar"— a 

 frowning precipice said to be over twelve hundred feet high and 

 overhanging New river. Imagine yourself standing upon its 

 projecting point, a perpendicular rock, 1,292 feet from the val- 

 ley below. Before you, as you look to the east, the New river is 

 seen for the distance, perhaps, of several miles, winding or 

 rather rushing, tumbling and foaming through the towering 

 cliffs which environ it. Sweeping by this lofty promontory on 

 which you stand, it suddenly turns its course in a southwest di- 

 rection, and presents in the whole distance several beautiful cas- 

 cades which send to the listening ear the far off but lulling sound 

 of their waters. The cliffs, themselves, judging by the horizontal 

 and corresponding strata of rock on either side, seem to have 

 been originally united but torn asunder by some strong convul- 

 sion of nature, in order to give free passage to the narrow but 

 angry torrent which rolls majestically at their feet. The au- 

 tumnal season gives to this imposing picture a magnificent and 

 gorgeous drapery of which no man whose vision has been con- 

 fined to lowland scenery can have the slightest conception. " * 



"The cliffs of New river present for a distance of 20 miles 

 a succession of sublime scenery rivaled in our country only by 

 that of Niagara, between the falls and Queenstown." ** 



The immense water power of the river is adequate to supply 

 light, heat and facilities for travel to the present and the future 

 population of the Great Kanawha Valley. Within a few years, 



*Lewis's Hand Book of West Virginia, 1904, p. 13. 



**Martm's Qazetteer of Virginia and The District of Colum- 

 tiia, 1835. 



