Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-08-07
ACCESS TO THE SPRINGS.
Eaun,oi,S of Iy,arh and Wealth.

fOuN0fnS az ffedHH anu btdHH.
In the letter of our Sen or of the 21th July,
| from the White Sulphur, in Grecnbricr, reference
was made 10 the difficulty Of approaching the
Fountains of Health with which Western Nirgi
| mia abounds compared with the easy and cheap
access to the Northern Watering Places. We
think this subject has not heretofore received suii
| cicnt attention from the people of Nirginla-and
il i high tue that such attention should be spec
Oily and efficiently aroused.
There cannot be entertained n reasonable doubt,
that il the same facilities ior travel were afforded,
| the Virginia Springs would I've more numcrorSly
attended than those of Saratoga; and would COM
| mand patronage from both North and South.
Even with the present modes of conveyance, (not
| altogether comfortable for inyalids.) many of the
Northern people seek our Sprngs-and every one
expresses desire that something better should be
afforded, both as TO the time employed. and the
| freedom from fatigue, in accomplishing the jour
ney.
Some movements have been made on the sub
lect of extending the Rail Road from Gorlonsvillc
to Harrisonburg. Why not change the direction
little, and strike Stanton at once, thereby get
ting more efiactually into the heart of the State.
| and within ftiy.t,ro mites Of the Warm Springs
| in the County of Bath! Does any body doubt, #
| the improvement were once at Stauntop, that IT
| would not he pushed into the Mountains, among
The gushing fountains of health, and the fertile and
beautiful hills and wales OF that unsurpassed re-
gionl Has the project ever been seriously thought
of Has any one pictured to his imagination the
| busy scenes which such a state of things would
prescnt-the summer cottages of the distant mer-
chants and planters, spread throughout the whole
line of the mineral water regiUnl
Throwing out of view all previously dcsigna-
ted routes for the Central improvements may
not the writer of this ask public spirited
and Intelligent men To give the subject
their serious consideration Ii railroads are To
penetrate the mountains any where-and VIC are
told II is perfectly practicable ON the route desig
| nated-why not embark in this matter ut oncel-
Let the southwes be accommodated with what
the people Of that region a'k-a good Mac Adam
| lied road-let them reach james river in the best
way that prudence and economy may suggest
but let get into The heart Of The State where in
| addition TO the product ms Of iha country. we
shall have the transportation of thousands upon
thousands of travellers during the summer months,
and very fair share of business at all times.
With the various tributaries, north aud south,
| To such Improvement there could he no lack
| nf business. The kanawha could be reached in
| duo time--thc Ohio matter Of course. Our
Senior is right, when he says he does mot think
| So poorly OF the taste OF the southern people, Us
10 believe they would prefer the northern tour the
| confinement, tedmm, and heat, of steamboats, and
hotels, and the din and dust OF cities, To the lin.
pad streams, the green meadows, the bamy and
bracing breeze, and the unequalled baths OF this
country, if they could come with equal cheap.
ness, case and expedition" And do not think
So poorly of northern taste and sagacity, IL TO
suppose they would not Join their southern friends
in these charming retreats, in numbers tenioid Of
those who at present force their way into the
mountains.
Then let us 90 10 work in earncs; and make the
way clear and easy to the Springs What say
our cnterprizing friends of Staunton--they who
know so well how to bring within their reach
every passing advantagel Is there any thing in
these suggestions beyond the means of speedy ac-
compshmenr BY such scheme, they would
| have their road TO Richmond-One to the Springs,
ono up the Naey-and one down it, north
ward. Would they not, then, be the very centre
! OF attraction! And would not auxiliary improve.
ments follow, just the branches Of tree spring
| from a vigorous trunk