Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-08-25
INTERESTING LETTER.

Red Sulphur-p isHors-A trip TO Sal Pond-Ihe
Lake-Baid kno5-Ihe Scemery-!M1ettng Of Me
Stockholddrs-Barbecue-Ba sc.
RED SULPHUR SPRINGS, Aug. Is, 1857.
To the Editors Of The Enquirer:
1t may be agreeable, at least to some OF yeur read
ers TO hear from this delightful retreat. Its situation
the elegancy and highly medicinal qualities OF lis
waters for all pulmonic diseases and dyspepsia, anu
the attention of .'mine host TO his vands render ii
place of much interest and pleasure. Though the
visitors are mostly invads, yet one seeking plea
sure alone, will not be disappointed in scournnS
awhile in this romantic vale OF Tempe. II Is true,
these waters are sought chiefly for curative purposes
and we have here nov upwards OF two hundred and
fifty, which are as many as can be accommodated,
but only a small majority belong to the sick list AL
seem to be improving, and the gaiety at present Is
something unusual if we judge by the brilliant dis
pay in the ball room few evenings eince, where no
little beauty aud wit genmed the occasion.
Having been here for four weeks, somewhat Tilted
for taking trip and DESTROYS OF seeing SAT- lond
(of which siguar curiosity 80 little is known,) friend
Is. Of Augusta, and myself after an early oreaStas
started on Journey TO the Lake-s distance Of thir
~ or forty miles. Our ride was pleasant; and. we
were astouished to what excellent, fine KING
and extensive crops of corn, wheat, grass and tobac
60 cultivated. not only IN the valleys out even
upon the tops of mountains. The whole OF this New
River valley, whose noisy banks We closely eyed
most of the day, is said to be FERTILE and
the river itself furnishes the mountain trout and cal
Giles court house, PeariSburg, has apparently
healthy location, orderly population, good hotel, and
Que q the finest county court houses IN the Stae.-
Here We dined-and after long ride OF eighteen
miles, almost continually ascending, We reached the
hotel On Salt Pond about eight in the evening" when
il was 90 dark that but little could be seen. Early
IN the morning, however, we were out for peep
and the first object of interest was the lake. Having
procured boat, worked by side wheels like steam
or we launched forth, as free and buoyant as pos
| Al
IL is beautiful sheet of fresh water, on level with
the Allegheny range four thousand feet above the
sea in the shape OF crescent, more than three hun
dred feet Deep and in some places the depth unknown
bounded on the East and West 6y mountains, while
the North aud South, both furnish openings
Through its northern gap the eurplus water rolls
down the mountain, forming small stream
which will always prevent the water in the luke r.
sing higher. II sometimes falls beneath lts usua
land mark. The tradition to its origin is vague
but il runs somewhat thus. About thirty forty
wears ago the settlers about hero were accustom
ed 10 feed and salt thence "Sat Pond, their cattle
in deep valley, aspiring whose waters escaped
through marshy spot, at the lower end when outlet
was tranped hard by the stock, aud finally the water
from the spring had way to get out Of the valley
and arose until the spring itself became choked up
which caused other fountains to burst forth higher
up, and these soon stopped like the first, and &c
on until the waters in the lake attained it's present
| DEPTH and s now supplied by surrounding springs
mostly subterranean and invisible. Its immediate
border ia skirted with species Of laurel bearing
beautiful reddish flower, and with wild cherry pro
ducing berry which, when ripe, is of bright red
color. Farther from the brink are tall cadars and
other larger trees. In place. at the waters edge
ara rocks extending down in the water, forming pill
lars of fifty feet depth Those fond OF sporting may
be pleased hear that deer often started on ths
| mountain and killed in the lake while swmmiug.-
There are no fish in it. Last winter we were told, The
ice OH it was thirty inches thick,
In the rear Of the hotel peak rises to the heigh
| of several hundred feet, and our anxiety to visit
apot commanding visw OF the country for over TIVE
hundred miles in all directions, hurried US up tC
| the summit OF bald Knob" And what scene
At once vastness, distance, height, depth, and tht
variety and wldness Of the scenery together conspirs
| to impress the beholder with all that is beautiful
grand and eublme. Indeed il is indescrbabla There
We were four thousand aud eight feet above the sea
the highest point in Virgiua-in sight OF eighteen oil
twenty counties, and the county seats OF Montgome
| ry Pulaski, Wyths and Giles-in the distance ar.
Clinch Mountain, in tennessee, Pilot Mountain III
North Csrolna, and the Peaks OF Otter. in Virginia
while other mountains, incredible in number, rise one
above another until this last loses itself in the form
and appearance of gathering cloud. This view II
especially fine, there ae no trees to obSruct tht
| vision, and none have ever been known 10 grow
there, except fsw small oak shrubs, bearing
many acorns-hence its name. The valleys were
filled with white fog, which to US seemed hare
enough to walk upon to the opposite m"uDtalu, a dis
lance of thirty mes; aud, as the bright sun poured
his rays down on it through clear sky. the appear
sucs was truly beautiful. just to our right, some
eight hundred feet below us. lay the bright CLASSY
lake, and surely, il the Deep dark, 6'nc sea shddor'
forth The Aimighiys form, this lake must be a mir
ror for the Angels fixed in the framework Of noun
tains. We sat there on high rock for come time
gazing and looking, until our eyes became weary
and, mindful of our own insignhcance, we left the
dizzy hight and descended among the toil.worn sons
Of tue vale.
A large barbecue aud ball came off last Thurs
day. and the company seemed we'll pleased This
stockholders had a meeting, and resolution was
adopted to open a road to the Salt Sulphur only
eighteen miles.
On our return to the Red We found the number OIL
visitors greatly increased and were kindly received
by the Een,lemanly, and very oblignR clerk, MIR
Coles, whose services here are invaluable. p.