Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-08-04

1t was our privilege, quite recently, to visit the
Bath Alum Springs. These Springs are situated
at the Eastern base of the Warm Spring Noun
tain, in lovely valley, where nature tanning her
widest moods, relgns none the less beautiful and
majestic. And here art and luxury have entered
in most attractive forms. The enterprising and
gentlemanly proprietor, Mr.. John w. Frazier, has
spared neither pains expense to render this place
one of the most inviting and attractive, if not the
most so, of any in the mountains.
Upon your arrival in the evening of a summer
day, after journey through that, for many miles,
apparently almost uninhabited wilderness, you can
not resist being wonder-struck at seeing here. in
the midst of the very wilderness ITSELF buildings
of beautiful architectural design and symmetry,
rising suddenly up before you, as if struck out of
the mighty mountains side by the wand of en-
chantment ., ~.
But these are real and substantial edifces, adj
mirably adapted to their purpose, and the visitor
to those healing waters has but to enter to find
them So and more than realize the comforts of
home.
To enter into particulars. This establishment
consists of a large and singuary convenient Hotel
situated at the centre of semi-circle. This, on
either side, is anked by building 63 feet by 40,
three stories high with twenty four rooms, all of
which are sufficiently airy and agreeable. To
complete the semi-crcle, on either side of these
are two cottages with four rooms each, and lattice
work porticos in front.
The whole is furnished throughout, in man.
ner most luxurious. Carpets cover all the floors,
and fine hair mattresses repose every bedstead,
filled with most refreshing and reinvigorating
qualities. Go to the table and you find it at all
times groaning under all the Injuries and delica-
cies of the season. And here, unlike many other
of our watering places tidy and attentive servants
wait upon you assiduously, anticipating your very
wishes.
By many persons, this description may be re-
garded as too fulsome and too fattering, and as
written at the prQpretors solicitation, the place
standing in need OF eulogies to recommend it. Let
us here assure such persons then, that the propre
tor is not aware that this has been written unless
he may have seen it in the columns of the news
paper These lines are written out of sincere
sentiment of gratitude to the proprietor for having
thus in manner so enterprising and tasteful,
provided and prepared every thing best calculated
to render his guests comfortably and Delightfully."-
situated.
Mr.. Frazier certainly deserves to succeed
What he has here accomplished in the whilom a
bodies of the wild deer and panther, retaining a
wilderness, and treasuring those notwithstanding
waters, should awaken emotions of gratitude in
every breast, and command public patronage.
1t were needless for us to enter into an account
of the healing qualities of the Bath Alum Waters
They are but just recommended to the public no
tice, and the place is but just fitted up for the ac-
commodation of the pleasure seeker or the invalid.
Yet, long before any but bride path led from the
highway to the spot where they gush forth, these
waters were we'll known and appreciated by many
visitor to the mountains.
In spite of the jealousy with which these springs
are regarded by the proprietors and friends of 9TH
er watering places, in spite of the almost rivalry
that exists between these and the neghboring al
um waters, whence no doubt have sprung those
slanderous and no doubt ignorant assertions in re-
gard to the Bath Alum Springs, viz: that these
Springs contain copperas and other dangerous and
deleterious ingredients, which careful analysis by
a''capable and responsible chemist, Dr. Auy A.
Hayes, of Boston, at the request of DR.. Burke,
shows to every candid mind to be without founda-
ton. repeat, that, in spite of all these, few
years will not fail to gain for these waters repu
taton unsurpassed by any other.
By careful analysis the same identical ingre-
dients are found to enter into both the Rockbrdge
and Bath Alum Waters, though in somewhat diff
erent proportions. And here we will take the lib
ery for the sake of those whose attention may not
otherwise be called to it, of suboning the compar-
alive analyses of the two waters, that every one
may see at glance the composition of each {: