The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-01-23
Letter from Western Virginia.
CORRESPONDENTS OF THE RICHMOND DAILY DISPATCH. ]

C.rALPA GROVE, VA, Jan. IL, 1855
In travelling through the wiIds of Western yir-
ginia, the attentiye observer will find many oh.
jects of interest, even in winter. The natural
scenery, always rugged and wild, even when
clothed in the rich verdure of summer, now wears
an aspect we'll calculated TO inspire the seutimen-
tai mind with feelings Of admiration
The grandeur of is rugged cliffs and mountains,
"clothed with the nakedness of winter" it's natu-
raj towers cutting up from some high peaks
standing in gloomy silence, as If contemplating a
leap in the fearful abyss below; the roaring tor.
rent which springs from: the side of the mountain.
then dashing, tumbling its transparent sheet of
water over immense piles of rocks, which seein,
by accident, to have been thrown in its channel,
all inspire the mind with the thought, that, The
power that made them is Divine"
But did not intend in the outset, to give you
letter of the sentimental highfalutin order, but
simply to dot down sorhe of the more particular
objects of interest that struck my fancy.
In the first place, will speak Of the Salt Pond
Mountain which has had its share of putting, but
which really deserves more than passing notice
1t is situated In the county of Giles. about five
miles from the Blacksburg and Giles court house
road. Near its summit IL lake of clear water
three quarters of mile in length and quarter
in width, which seems to have been formed in the
last century. The lake is unquestionably great
curiosity. 1t is said to be some two hundred feet
Deep yet clear, that standing trees may be seen
at the bottom, the presence of which confirms,
beyond doubt, the belief of Its recent formation
The most elevated point on the mountain Is only
some two hundred feet above the water, from
which top the scenery IS perhaps the hnest in
Western virginia. Inc Peaks of otto may be seen
IN the "biue distance, besides an almost perfect
view of the surrounding counties The height of
its situaon the wildness OF Its scenery, make it,
in my mind an OBJECT OF interest;
There, also, no%s az no great distance from this
mountain creek whlch rs somewhat out OF the
natural otder OF thlnSs: ltrises IN the hills near
Newportahd after receivihg numerous tributaries,
ana furnlshing suncient water ior thelargest mill
operations, IL suddehiy disappears, whence no
one knoweth.
Now, leaving the rough nils OF tiles, the fertile
lands OF Monroe ana more wiliihgiy leaving the
bleak ana uesoiate mus OF haieign, with their
dark raVines' ni,ed with gigantic though meian-
emory spruce and white pine, we nna ourselves In
the manson OF an Eastern virginia gentleman,
VINO mas Dy some strange notioh' nesued down.
iopeiy tnousn IN Que ot tue most ier
tiie resions Vi Iayete Ieuh,5; Wno' WIN MS
heaft Ia ms manu-, aau n.s manu- al~ayS open wei
comes t,ie Uolns VI ~ .p Win, VIII lahhhess
ana c0roialy 10 ; 70 VIC nTai. oi weary
tiatelei, anu "a ih1 ,auy anu ueau
tiiu, uasku'1'' a,N...ns .poi On ~eary
ROAD, WINCH an .. . .st aIliong
the oo1eets @ oi ,nteiess ne' WIN III my 'Ia'ei
'h,o.su 'nis .sa os;isn.a - ,,,s ,a,,,.,. =;
4, No. ,n,."I ,a s.M".,,n ~, ,, ~. ,.eIi i,a.