Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-09-30
MIsoNT4LANws
TILE WONDER OF WONnERS.


The Mammoth Cave Of Kentucky is I'M
doubleday the greatest natural wonder now to
be found on this earth. The bare thought of
two hundred square miles of territory beneath
the rocks, hills and barrens of Southern Ken
lucky, realm s'unvisited by the sum- with
no glimmering moon orstar to pierce the ever
lasting obscurity, is enough to chill the fancy
and make the Imagination teen with images
of gloomy depth and sombre coloring.
BY the New Y DIRK Journal of Commerce
we learn that the most astonishing discoveries
are still in progress i'll that subterranean world.
Mr.. Stevenson has passed over and bridged
what has been hercStore considered the bot
tomless and impossible boundary of the cave
in one direction Here his discoveries have
been grand beyond description. Roaring and
deep rivers, placid lakes, upspringng domes,
vast halls, and fishes in the rivers, who having
no use for eyes in those stygeian waters, have
been provided with none by nature are among
the wonders which have rewarded recent re-
search.
When this Cave shall have become suili-
GENTLY known to the world. Niagara will
cease to be the wonder of the Western Cont
nent The following articlefro the Journal
OF Commerce describes DIR. Croghan's I'M
provcments III making the cave habitable.
"Ihe improvements within the cave COM
mence about half a mile from the mouth, in
that branch formerly known as the Great Rat
Room, but now as Audubon's Avenue, named
by the proprietor after his old friend, the Gel
ebrated crnIthoogist. They consist of cham
bers IL feet square and 10 feet high. The
chambers are piaceda aside ofthe cave woll and
10 feet apart. A handsome panel door opens
upon the avenue, and TO the side of those to
be occupied by families are sliding doors. A
curtain of 10 feet in width extends from one
chamber to the other; and whenle down and
the sliding door opened, communication
from one chamber to another can be had with
out being seen by those promenading in the
avenue. The reasons which influenced the
proprietor in selecting this situation where Its
isolated position, It's vast size of 60 feet wide,
by as many Nights contiguity to good water,
its affording pleasant promenade to those
wishing to visit the hotel above, its greater
convenience and cheapness than if it had been
at more remote distance; andmoreover, it is
at the nearest point where the atmosphere is
uniform during winter and summer.
Sowing TO the extensive hotel which the pro-
prietor is erecting above ground, there have
been only four or five chambers erected in the
cave; they eXhibita most picturesque appear
ance. ! have no doubt but the hotel above
will be measurably deserted as soon as the ne
cessary number of chambers below are COM
pleted A restaurat will be established at a
convenient distance from the chambers. The
cave possesses peculiar fitness for such an es-
Enlistment; because meats, butter, Sc, will
keep any length of time. Cooking will be
performed with alcohol. Such an establish
ment as this is imperiously called for by the
community. Last winter number of persons
laboring under chronic diseases intended talk
ing up their abode within the cave, but were
disappointed, owing to the accommodation
within not being completed. The peculiarly
OF the ar OF the cave, It's extraordinary influ-
ence Oh the healthy as well as diseased would
constitute perfect study for the medical phi
iosopher. Its temperature is 60 degrees Fab
renheit summer and winter. It's never de-
gree above or below so. Nothing putrifies in
the cave. The water pipes which conducted
the water TO the saitpeter watts in 1910, are now
IN perfect preservation, and the corn cobs left
where the oxen were fed, thirty years ago, are
as sound as at that day. Lamps burn with
more brilliancy within than without the cave
lhis occurs iii every part of it. The cave is
abundant IN minerals, such as the sulphate o,
lime, or gypsum; epson and glauber salts, nj
fous earth, chalk, sand flint, pebbles, red and
grey ochre, calcareous spar chalcedony, chrys-
alized carbonate Of lime, chrysals of quartz
&c Inc discoveries recently made in the
cave greatly exceed i'll extent all that was
known at the period of your stay there. A
gentleman unquestionable vcracity, and who
mas ample opportunities for acquiring correct
information, having resided there and in its vi
Gnity thirty years, gives it as his opinion, that
mere are not less than two hundred square
miles OF cave. No wild beast, reptile or YER
nm mas ever been seen in the cave No dog
mas ever been prevailed upon to enter the
mammoth Cave; often has this been tried
ma this peculiarly results from know not
Nothing lnhabits the Mammoth Cave but the
bat during the winter, and they are confined to
particular spot. ! am told there are rats, but
have never seen them. The country South
Of the Cave, which in 1913 was barren, is now
grown over with timber.
"The cave is eight miles from the Dripping
Springs, and eight and half miles from
Fruits knob. The Turnpike from Louisville
to Nashville runs within six miles Of it.