Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-08-13
Letter from Bedford Springs, Pa.

Correspondence Of the Aleramlria Gazette.
BEDFORD SPRINGS, Pa, Aug. 8, lSj9.-ln
my last, attempted to describe the route to
this place; let me now endeavor to afford
your readers view of the town itself. Bed
ford is village of 400 inhabitants, situated
on an elevated plain. surrounded by high
hills and mountains; the streets cross each
other at right angles, and are kept very
clean. though they are unpaved, except the
sidewalks. There are, So far ~ have seen,
five Churches, viz: Presbyterian German
Reformed, Lutheran, Methodist Episcopal,
and Catholic; fine Court House, sarmount-
ed by cupola, containing clock; sub
stantial JAIL also surmounted by cupola
two printing Offices, &c., &c. The private
buildings are many of them, elegant They
are of all sorts, stone, brick, frame, and logs;
and there is, at one end Of Main street, one
nt the prettiest wire suspension bridges. for
foot passengers. to be found anywhere. 1t
is suspended from one magnificent tree to
another, and crosses the Raystown Branch
of the Juniata, which here assumes lormida-
bic portions during Il lreshct.
There are two chief places where visitors
to the Springs stop-Mrs. Filters Guarding
House, and Mrs. Cooks Washington Hotel
The board is the same ut each. They are
both excellent houses, and we found Nir-
ginia gentlemen ut both. Many persons pre-
fer boarding in town. and walking out before
breakfast for the water, as it is said to i'm
prove their health. During the day, an ON
nibus and carriages are constantly running,
charging ninepence-which Anticipated coin.
although disused with us, is in full cur
rency here.
The Spring is, rs | mentioned in my last,
one and a-half miles from town. The build
ings are situated in a deep, narrow valley,
On two sides of which, high mountains, coy
cred with thick forests, rise almost abruptly.
There are five boarding places, besides Off
ces, &C., built; four of them in Il sort of semi
circle, and the fifth, Il two-story cottage, at a
right angle with one of the others. The
main or new Hotel which contains the office,
dining-room, saloon, &c, is a fine three-story
brick, with pillars in front supporting bal
cony which extends the full length of the
house; next are two three-story white frames,
with verandahs; and lastly, a beautiful four
story frame house, with iron verandahs. paint
ed a dark orange color The grounds in
trout are tastetully laid off, and in tho centre
is jet d'eau constantly playing upon rocks,
into IL large basin. At one end of them is
the Sulphur Spring, and opposite, the Bed
to,d, par ercellence, containing sulphates OF
lime, soda, and magneSl;, and murinteS ut
iron, lime, and soda in solution. Ii is, ap-
parently, very small affair, gushing up
from the solid rock, upon which is built Il
seni-circular granite wall, to protect it from
the wash of the mountain. a vast quantity
of water, however, flows from 1t, and III at
tendant is always read I" hand it III glasses
to visitors, without fee or reward. though he
is doubtless often favored by the generosity
of the visitors. Fresh supplies are furnished,
without cost, at the houses in tVwn, twice IL
day. but visitors mostly prefer it fresh from
the spring, rs it then contains more carbnnlc
acid gas.
There is, within few feet, a spacious payl-
lion, and beyond it, bowling saloon, where
we saw the ladies making excellent strikes.
Between the Hotel and Spring, is quite COLI
siderable brook, in which fishing seems To be
done. An excellent road leads up from the
Chaly beate Spring, which is similar t" the
Bedford, and not far from it, to the top Of the
mountain, whence there is Il beautiful view
from II pavilion erected there.
The number of visitors at the Springs is
now 22j; when we came, it was over 300.
Besides the President and other notables,
the Belgian Minister, Count Blondeel Van
Cuelebroeck, and suite, have been here, stop
-. luIf tr;I
and the rush is now homewar:is.
Though | cannot say that all wh" come
here are cured, yet, for those seeking health
or pleasure, there are few better places.
From the hill around there are the finest "l
prospects, and the temperature has been
cooler, throughout, than III the cities. though
it has risen to $50 since we have been here.
FIDELIS.