Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1858-08-11
Interesting Letter.

Interesting Letter.
Our thanks to our friend Viator" for the fol-
lowing interesting letter from the White Sulphur
Springs, Va. We hope to hear from Viator !" Of
ten, on any subject on which he may choose to
write.
Our correspondent says truly, that we might, by
proper enterprise, secure for State much of
the wealth annually squandered by Southern health
and pleasure seekers. The mountain scenery of
Western North. Carolina Is more attractive than that
Of Virginia-ihe air is pure, and the mineral
waters possess as valuable properties But we will
detan our readers from the letter, which is as
follows:
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, GREEN BRIER Co., VAL
July 90, 1855 I
At this season Of the year the papers are filled
with letters from the various watering places through.
out the country. have not, however noticed any
in your columns and for the benefit of such of your
readers may be contemplating first visit to this
place. propose to throw together few items which
may be considered reliable, as they are from an
entirely disinterested party.
The invalid pleasure seeker starting at Weldon,
has a choice of routes to the Sprngs-one by the
South-Side Railroad from Petersburg via Lyncbburg
the other by the Virginia Central Railroad from
Richmond Owing to the fact that there is about
thirty miles less staging the Central ronte.
fur $l5.25, left there at q p. m, and arrived at
Richmond z, o. m. I had SUPPER lodging and
breakfast at the Exchange Hotel, for which paid
s. so. including 25 cents omnibus hire. and started
at Z, l.. m, next morning; had good dinner at the
American HOTEL ut Stannton, reached Jacksons
river the present terminus Of the Railroad at 81 p.
m thence at 6. p. m, took stage, Is miles, for Cal
lAghans. where I arrived at l0i. p. / stopped
at the latter place at night. had very fair accommo
datons at 81 25, started for Springs by stage Is
L..
whole journey from Weldon occupying 451 hours.
without loss Of sleep. at actual expense Of 1880.
The advertisements for the above route inform US
that the stages are limited to nine inside and two
outside passengers; that in which | came had the
frll complement, save one; it was crowded to its
utmost capacity. Indeed, with the thermometer at.
I suppose, 90. a heavy load of baggage. mountains
to ascend and descend, and in these days Of erpan
sion, three in a seat the stage drive not only
uncomfortable but exhausting and such an invalid
should never attempt. The stages. however,
substantial. the horses good the drivers skifn and
with six to a stage. two in each seat, the travelling
would be comfortable could well be expected.
On arriving al the Springs the first thing to be
done is to register your name and obtain . room.-
There is an employee here who msy be called the
superintendent Of rooms, whose duty consists in
locating visitors they arrive, and to whom all ap
plications for rooms must be made He seems to
feel the weight of his position as heavily as II the
destines Of a nation resting his shoulders;
ana, nave no 0OuDt is often perpleXed IN the
extreme" / have heard him accused Of partality,
and have some little reason to complain myself but,
on the whole, I am inclined to think that he acts
fairly rs he well can, and act as he will, some Will
find fault Persons who intend to remain long, or
who have patronised the place for series of years
are certainly entitled to preference in the choice OF
rooms over mere casual visitors-but impudence
importantly and pretension here, as every where,
fare best
After procuring room the next duty is to secure
a seat at the table, without which precaution the
visitor will find himself alone in crowd, hungry
in the midst Of plenty, not q waiter to notice
him. The dining room is filed with round tables,
each has what may he termed It's mess, t" the num-
bers composing which are. generally, acquainted
with each other, thus forming . pleasant circle
One great pleasure experience here arses from the
fact that am one Of mess " as polite high toned
and agreeable as can he found at the Springs.
room and seat being procured, the visitor may take
to his ablutions and prepare to refresh the inner
man.
The situation of the Springs is very fine, in
valley the slope Of the Alleghanies amid
an amphithestre Of mountains The view is neces-
sarily limited to the valley ITSELF On the outskirts
under the mountains, Q number Of rooms, brick
and wooden cottages the latter with all the comforts
Of dwelling houses; these form nearly circle and
are known by various Names gwen to them by vsi-
tors such a. Georgia row, sbams row, Baltimore
row. Paradise row, &C. At the western end of the
valley is the main Spring. canopied over by neat
dome; standing out prominently almost in the CEN
tire, and obstructng the view Of the valley in what
way the eve may turn, is the hotel, in the
location If which, suppose, taste was sacrificed to
convenience The hotel ia built of brick. Is about
420 feet long. and has . fine dining loom 800 feet
by 60; At one end is parlor 100 by CO. and At the
other bali room Of the same dimensions You can
now judge Of the reliability Of correspondent of
the New York Herald who, in . letter dated 18th
inst. represents the hall room a. capable Of accom-
modsiing hundred sets of dancers At one time
L suppose twenty sets, with ordinary number Of
8 ,ecta,ors would crowd il uncomfortAbiy. The
rooms for sol 'urners badly constructed, being
d frctive both in light and ventilation; each has
two doors, one opening an inside passage and .
double door, half glass, opening oulsde pazza