The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-07-30


NKw RIVER srnIsas, gtIss Co.,
July 81.
In my last letter promised to write more par
tieaiaiiy about several things which I most ar
IDENTIFY wish could make as interesting to your
readers rs they were 20 me.
Before giving hurried addition to my former
sketch, must correct error In il. 1 stated
tina. the cliffs near aud In full view of this estab
lishment, were about two hundred feet high Me
highest OF them measures two hundred aud nine,
ty-fve feet. perpendicular height. They consist
OF series Of columns marked by most singular
fssnres, erage and projections. Every visitor is
sNack with their grandeur aud the distinct MARKS
they bear of the vjoleut agencies to which they
have been subjected.
have been twice to the B,Id Knob and the
Mountain Lake. ] could visit them both a hun
dred times with TO diminuton of the interest with
which regard them. The first view had fro n
the Bald Knob was brilliant one, though slight
haze hung over the remotest mountains which 7
was informed, could be at times seen with admir-.
able dstincfness. These are the Cllnch nountains
OF Tennessee, the Cumberland mountains of Ken
tucky aud the Pilot mountain Of North Carolina
In virginia we have a most extensive view The
Peaks Of Otter bound the Eastern view. while Ia
the North East it extends some distance bev,s6
Lexington. The beautiful farms of Montgomery
Pulaski, Wythe and Giles, are distinctly seen, and
nestled among the bills and mountains as they are.
and presenting such signs of fertility and thrift,
as they do, we cannot but regard their owners as
20 be found In this world, here would seem 10 be
their chosen abode.
The top Of the mountain itself is deeply inter
esting. Here we find dwarf oaks, two feet high.
aud many years old, having the appearance of ma
turity, bearing their full crop Of acorns; and
vegetation generally has popularity which is de-
rived from the locality. Here the snow bird is
said to breed. Here We stand on the edge of the
rocks that mark the great CONFUSION which per-
haps occurred at the time the mountain was
formed. The out cropping strata belonging to tie
si6e which fell most gradually after the upheayaI
was caught high above the other, and hence those
immense fragments that have broken off and tup,.
bled down and are piledi 10 strange disnrder These
masses sometimes present combinations almos:
bearing the appearance Of design; but generally
they are chaotic accumulation which sfartle the
beholder by their ponderousness and their wild
ness. From this point we have beautiful view Of
the lake, which is five hundred feet below, nestled
in the bosom of the mountain.
Standing upon this elevated spot, the highest
in Virginia. and looking over the broad expaDse
spread out before us, we cannot resist the OF
our own insignifeance, and the mightiness of the
Creative Power. The man who visits the scene
without q feeling of his own humbleness, in pre-.
sehce, it were, OF the DEITY, fails to derive from
it one OF the most edifyiDg lessons IL eau npart,
a lesson which must make him, at least for the
time, a wiser and better man. 1t is happy con-
cusion to this expedition that we come down to
the calm, sweet vicinity of the Lake, where the
mind is soothed and the grand picture we have
seen is softened, while the more indelibly i'm.
pressed upon our memory. Ne'er shall forget
thee and thy gentle infiuence-thoub beautiful Lake
thou bright mirror OF the mountain, rejecting
the face of Heaven.
From the Lake, on each of my visits, j went to
thesmountain residence of Mr.. Boo1H, of whom
have before spoken, and enjoyed his real Old
Virginia hospitality His house is situated in the
midst Of a clearing, not long since made in the
forest and in the heart of the very rich land de-
scribed in my last Behind it, and near by. flows
the Little Stony Greek, which abounds in trout,
aud from whose waters on both these delightful
excursions, / had the satisfaction to catch a
very large nuu,ber. Though l captured in few
minutes b, .oTU dusk mess for breakfast
bis house, tba most beautiful fishing waters were
below his mill, two miles distant. where the creek
presents the most picturesque and wild scenery
imaginable. We have fail after fall, with beauti-
ful basins below each, and every conceivable
combination OF foliage, rocks and cliffs, to give Wild
ness and beauty to the successive scenes. We fol-
low the stream in its course until arrive at last
ut the beautiful fall which is the greatest of them
ALL where the bright waters of the stream pre-
cipitated over ledge of rock down into a lovely
basin below. The height Of this fall has not been
measured; but it must exceed considerably hun
dred feet. The descent TO the pool was difficult
and perilous. At one point but narrow foothold
of earth was all that stood between the person
threading the way and the perpendicular cliff to
the rocks below, where death would be the ineyi.
table consequence of the meTest slip of the foot:
yet, two ladies' Of our party traversed this fealtui
path,
While we we're there. Mr.. BooTH, with that lib
erality aud consideration for his friends, in which
he seems to delight, order ed flight Of steps, by
which the fnture visitor to this interesting spot
may descend the most difficult part of the fearful
precipice, with perfect ease aud safety. The
achievement at present is one to be contemplated
with much more satisfaction after than before It's
accomplishment.
10 the lovely pools and light rapid waters of this
wild stream. trailed my fly, and had the Infinite
delight. not only to see tine erout leap at it, but to
nl. Afnaf aF oil hnsC Inv
ate in pulling up the beautiful fish from the basin
below the big falls. more romantic aud lovely
spot never beheid. Great as is the delight of
every true fisherman in catching the lOveliesl fish
that ever bit at hook the sport is Infinitely en-
HANGED by such scenes as those speak of, but can
only family portray. How some of those old fish
ermen in Richmond, who go persistentiy and devo
tedly essay to extort sport from MaCons, and
Beli's and Pollard's and Carters ponds, will envy
me More than of them, think, would be
willing to die, if they could but have one day of
such sport as have had in the mountains.
Mr.. Booth has disposed Of several sections of his
land to Eastern Vlrgnans, some of whom are e..
tablishing grazing farms, while others intend to
hold their lands an investmeDt-some building
cheap cottages for summer retreats. lie has more
for SALE aud il is said to be very rich His partner
Mr.. SAvAaE,o of Philadelphia, formerly of Northami
ton, Va ,)bas beautiful estate on the very top OF
the mountain, said to be wonderfully level and fer
tile. He is about to adorn it with beautiful cot
tage for summer resort
How wonderful are the resources OF fIrglnla!-
There is no part of the habitab!e globe that pre-
sents such combination OF beauty, fertility and
mineral wealth. Generally, where minerals
abound, the land is poor; but here, We have coal.
iron aud lead underlying the richest lands. And
vet Virginians emigrate, and yet they and South
erners 20 North ward for pleasure. Here are riches
unbounded-here are scenes and mineral waters
unparalleled on the globe for beauty aud efficacy.
No Swiss Mountains, no Italian skies present more
captivating beauties, grander views, or loveiier
bues than our mountains and our skies, When
will our owr people know and appreciate what
Bonefceut Providence has bestowed upon them?
A. 3. G.
Healing SDrlngs