The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-08-29
rHF nAHY DISPATCH
Corrsspondenee Of the Dispatch.

Correspondents OF the Dispatch.
NOTES OF A TRIP TO THE SPRINGS.
nvrsyswre - Wsstham Plank Road Home-Made
Caryia1es-Masakia Tora, It's appearance and
i,s abandoaed Pifs- Resources Of pirginia-Hu-
xaesot-Mods of Reception at SPRING. Soe;abd
isy and Cssom at the sriass-Ta Hassenof
Springs.
AUousr Is, 1854.
Dear DispuacA /: For want Of better occupation
snd with the risk of frespassing even upon your
,nduIrcnt saste, have busted myself since our ar
rival here In writing out the notes of our late jour
ney from Richmond
Going over the ground lab iniiio,' you win r.
member how we contended for the necessity of 3
change OF air. though we did mot altogether admit
that we were invalids. Having decided upon the
movement, we soon put our household 10 order and
made the requisite arrangements for reaching the
mountains BY private conveyance. intending to ira
vel independent Of Railroad cars and stage coacher,
This settled, the great difficulty was to condense
trunks, carpet bags, packages, &c. &c into porta-
BILE tize. It was therefore near 10 o'clock before
were fairly off, and with mingled rnisgivings as
to our overfed nags and dim visions of exortionate
landlords and rsscally ostlers struck the plank
road. II was about hot any day Of the season,
but we looked back upon the dusty city. with its
heated buildings and parehed pavements With
tho full determination to change our climate
a. rapidly as possible. On we went smoothly
enough for the first Ave miles-for thanks to the
terprise of the gentlemen of the suburbs, the old
"Westham pike" lie no longer quagnire Those
who had occasion a few years ago to travel the
"river road" will readily agree that no greater i'm
provement has been made In the vicinity OF Rich
nnond and those who may still feel disposed to test
the difference between ''paDk roads" and natural
roads" have only to try the route sualIy travelled
between Richmond and Manskin Ferry.
few experiments of the sort attended with the
usual mishsps OF crossing the rocky gullies near
Tuckahoe creek will impress one with the impor-
lance of looking after the running gear, especial
~ spokes and axlee.
All honor to Richmond handicraft fold fashioned
though 1t be3 give us Tor such journey one OF
Boshers home made vehicles. But we shall have
more TO say upon this subject, including the quail
ties of roads (not forgetting our host of the Bath
AlumD before we have completed our peregrina-
tons.
Turning off at the stone chimney, the road fol
lows a gged defle which leads to the low grounds
and after crossing the canal near the spot where
once stood, but now repose, the Manakin Iron
Works." we paused to survey scene OF about
ginia
Not human being was visible in the extended
landscape, but amidst the smoulderng ruins of the
works stood nine diapidated stacks of furnaces,
like mourning sennels guarding the solitude of the
place. No smoke issued from their summits and
no sounds Of hammers or machinery broke the
stiffness OF the scene. few rods distant the
buildings once used az the working men DWELLINGS,
but long left to the sport of the elements and the de-
predauons OF the watermen. In sad harmony with
This desolaton were the remains of structures for
merly used In mining for coal. 1t in this vicn-
iy that the earliest discoverers Of that precious
mineral were made, and if half the time and CAPT
tai expended by the first families in political pur
suits had been dedicated to the development of
these mineral riches, the present condition of Vir
ginia would have been perhaps far in advance of its
actual state.
Curious to view the condition and depth of the
abandoned pits i managed by the aid of piece OF
timber crossing the mouth OF one OF them to look
down into the dismal abyss. Its depth was lost ia
darkness, but projecting stone which rebounded
from side to side there were several rounds before
II reached the water. To one unaccustomed to OBJ
ects OF this Sort the sensations intensely Inter
esting, though not altogether agreeable. The mind
becomes hlied with mysterious musings and soon
lost In the wild realms of philosophic specula-
tons. Not feeling inclined to indulge such reve
rtes, we resumed our vehicle and crossing the low
grounds, soon reached the ferry.
The river 10 crossed by fiat which 10 soon poled
to the opposite shore-on either bank were fields of
luxuriant wheat, extending above and below as far
the eye could reach-for hundreds of miIes thi,
noble liver; with the aid of such adjuncts canal
aud railroad seems to have been intended for the
special benefit Of one OF the most fertile regions of
America The productions of numerous and wide
fer up to the recesses of the Allegheny are mine.
of every variety OF minerals that priced By man.
Surely such country should be the seat of an en-
Pire az powerful as ir 10 boundless in resources
Why 10 1t, that with so many incentives to enter
prise with all the means and appliances to stimulate
the energies of man, with climate exempt from the
extremes Of cold heat, with geographical posi-
ton admirably defined, and in fact with ali the eie
the hand Of the Creator wthin the reach Of ts meg
pie, that 20 little has been done to develop those
great source: OF power which elsewhere 10 distir.
Illuminating upon these problems and thousand
Others. We continued our drive until reminded of
guenot.
A. we have found pretty much the same routine
enaIacterists OF al the watering places, 1t may not
On the first intimation of arrival the stable bell
rings for the ostlerthen the Office agent bangs an
iron triangle furiously for the cabin The
last signal is always answered by a bevy of attend
anita, amongst whom you are sure to recognise some
fellow, whose obssquious politeness cost Won QUAR-
Tor the last time you stopped at the-hote In
Richmond "
Whilst unpackins your vehicle, and threading Won,
way into the reception rooms you will catch the
slsnces of many curious face peering from the nor
iieoes or windows above. In few minutes the re-
sister 10 signed and by the time you have reacbsd
your apartmenta your arrival is generally ino~n to
the guests OF the house, and the excitement sub
The next act of the Major Domo il to ass;,o Won q
seat at the public table, and at the ensuing meal RI
CONDUCT the new corners to their places After tbi,
parties ind no difficulty in cleaning the rones
una cnaracterstic OF these places, that for the
whie IT least fuli scope given {, social
Many OF the artificial barriers thrown ssSs ID
sometimes even the Formally of introSnct;n,e o =;
waived BY both gentlemen and ladies' Ths n.1, Is
the ball room. and the bath nrs eon, Pat,ot'
forms and open to ALL One seutiment ssa Pis'-
vade the and that ds,re To contr;h. pet-
general enjoyment. Breakfast dinneT anS ~ ~ tne
coed each other 1t regular intervals and .ss sue
sitois name 10 placed by his plate upon ~. VI
there rarely any confsson or irreguisrity '"'e'
Tine larger the crowd the greater tbe hs.t. g., =;
patching the meals When il u consdsrsS ~. IA as
sra1eemsna tor company at these places are OH
ior the onet period of few weeks and thai dr,,ny
the balance Of the year. they are entirelv dess,,
the marvel 10 that 20 much can be sccomnl,.he 81
Le.sny man witness the management of the rvs;,se
senne rush" at any of the SPRING. and he NM,
% eH1ck with the nimitable tact and dextsry ~
.as lsowi Not all the skill and appliances Of ~
"onscns in the same limited time n"oty
Tae Husuenot Sprngs posses marie -, A..
nisss A' ssenoed 60 the more fAshonsble vsts,,r.
psess In many respects they are much mo-"
toftsee Ia cleanliness and sood fs,. sL com
hardly IN equal. A. to the chemical L. sney have
S uster: We shall say little NOT harins onsion 81
10 the virtue OF any mineral vat. kieH isith
lArties Of the vater may be inf rres bo-ne pecn-
the tact that these Springs find their issns 49, rom
the centre OF the coal basin which has No. spo 7.
Ia 20 many different points In ts immeas,s P,sreeo
The proximity 10 Richmond 10 ALEC a yeco,r. e.iy
too to many, especially those who ccnsldsr r. na