Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-07-12
ErIIoaIAL coRREspoNpENcE.

July 9Th, 1859.
The Virginia Springs, Of the Southwestern
portion Of the State, have been connected with
the springs ofthc central portion by well gra
dcd turnpike from the Montgomery Whi,cto the
Sa!t Sulphur Springs, passing by the "Salt
Pond This mountain lake is one Of the most
remarkable curiositics to be found in these
mountains; situated almost at the summit of
the highest mountains in the State, the alti-
tulr Of lis surface must be over 4,j00 feet
above the level Of the Sea-surrounded by
rocks covered with iry and laurel, 1t presents
the appearance Of an artificial dam its waters
finding their exit to the New River over rocks,
at some places forming beautiful cascades, aud
at one point q cataract of over loo feet. lh'N
singular lake is called the salt Pond, not
from anv saline taste in its waters, but rom the
fact that within the memory OF men now living
It's bed was dry open space between the NOUN
tairS, where cattle herds n6re suited and count
cn. From al unknown cause, the waters, some
Gitv wears ago. began To rise, and have continued
until they have reached depression near the
summit Of the mountain, over which they flow
off to the river The tops Of dead trees, around
its edges. projecting above its surface, and the
trunks of others, floating over ii, visible TO eve
nv one, plainly corroborateS the account given
of il by the old mountalnecrS. Its depth l.
stated TO be over 800 feet; but this We doubt.
while We readily yield to its claims ot very
orrat depth. No fish are 10 be found IN The
oond. and those that have been placed IN II
seem to have died. Its extreme cold prcve't>
any thing from living init, except the mountain
trout. which will not stay in deep water.
This pond belongs TO company OF gentle.
men who have built upon It's banks llolei
where visitors can be accommodated. 1t Is the
thinner halt in the ride from the Montgomery
White TO the Salt Sulphur Springs. When We
left the Montgomery White, the thermometer
had been for two or three days ranging from ~
IN M but when we arrived mt the salt Pond
wc found large wood fire not only not un-
comfortable, but absolutely required for COM
f,rr and an over coat necessary out of the
hon,c. Vegetation stuntcd and wthercd told
the Great altitude of the place, and indicated
that Jack Frost had been visitor ut the pond,
but very recently.
From the Hotel, short walk OF about hall a
mile, winding around l,afh fhe mountain reveal.
mint ti in Virginia. This Bald Knob is GOV
cred with a low, stunted OAK, which, at !.
anI ls inches in height, is found with acoru'
upon il and this oak and moss, with iew Ivy
bushes. is all that grows upon the summit o
the Bald Knob From this summit rock, 4
most magnificent view opens on every side
md mountains rise above mountains. with al
Ihc regularity of steps and with the beauty o
waves IN the sea.
From he Peaks Of Otter IN Bedford county,
, to the White Top in the corner of Tennessee
and Virginia, mountains and valleys, creeks
on1 rivers present panorama, both eXten
,iyc and beautiful. Half Of Virginia, part oil
North Carolina and Tennessee, can be over
i,,L cd lrom the summit Of the Bald Knob
and one standing on It's summit, ieciS ''iat n'
ocrupics position similar to that from wiiici
the Devil tempted our Saviour with " the KIM
,IonS of the world in u moment oil time. lh'
extreme cold prevented very lengthy Visit a
the summit. and We were glad to return TO th'
fire at the hotel.
DIR Gibbs. Il Professor of the Charleston 3
c. University. passed through this place OF
his way 10 the salt Pond. for the purpose U
,,colooical observations, and the notes OF hi
y,sit will he found very interesting. should the.
IN. ,nhiished. lie is 4 man Of very great III
formation. pleasant and agreeable IN c"nyeis''
rinu and his visit to the water sheds "l III
.,iria will he one of instruction and usefulness
From the "Salt Pond the ride to the Sal
Sulphur Springs Is made in the evening, am
nos.cs over Peters Mountain, the view iron
which ovcrlooks Monroe county, and Is one "
v.rv crca, beauty. This ride from the Mont
ronrry White Sulphur to the Salt sniphn
Snr;n1s shvud be taken b. every visitor I
ttr ueuntainS Of Virginia. ltprcscnts SceLcr
UNSURPASSED in the world, and uneqnaled
the State; and. with the present arransethe
Of the stages. the visitors, whether from Mort
or South. can make, rs it were, circuit oi a
rbe Spunys. Should the Greenbrlcr Nhli
Sulnhur lie first reached from the East IN
stage line passes by the Red Sweet, the oI
Sweet, the Salt Sulphur, and the Sal; Pond
the Montgomery White, on 'hc Virginia ''''
: Tennessee Rail Road. ~ .,
Shord th. visitor come from the Sonth. IN
route lies from Montgomery WI hte' inc re'e''
, of that we have just given: iii.
Thn SaIt sulphur Springs. from which "
, ava nav. ur;t,nr. are so we'll known. that bt
l,tlc will be required to bring them to u
tl,l
his year was opened under most cncouraSii
,nJ;c.,;nns The number Of :iSi,ors last yea
: On the 9TH OF July, WAS only fifteen, while Q
c the same day this year, the number reaches o'
: hundred and thirty-Six Tins great increase
T. 1winr to this new road which was oPenei
= the pcople from the extreme Southern STATE
n This delightful mountain home-tor home II
. * without the annoyanccs and INCONVENIENCE
: ,b,t bc>ct the visitor at Northern WateriI
# rI.co. with a well furnished table OF mea
l. pnJ vegetables, supplied by the surroundll
. rnuntry. all well cooked; good bread and p'
r trv delicious milk. such as only the era
n land. Of Western Virginia can supply; fire
e mountain butter; in fact, every desirable dl
i. 10 he found on the table; and turtle sou
= coual to that which our local" has 50 mu
i ,nioyct.. Those 10 whom the management
o th. nlacc has been entrusted, make every
. lort TO render the visitor comfortable ana
is STAY pleasant and agreeable. a beautiful law
1t well Shaded with forest trees, is cnlivenea w
4. the son. and shout Of the children THAI pa!
j. is beautiful grass sward. All the a'hu>e'ie'
= that kill time at watering places are "
r. found here. while cunning and il,i't's can
er en;oycd m the mountains by which we are 81
ID The county Of Monroe, in which these spFir
ID s;,,,.,nd ';s one OF the finest grazing T.
nj 80 - Tho state: and the beautiful condItl
We Of 'Pt The " beef @ cattle horses and sheep, that
- ~, in the fields attest the value OF
as :" "onn,y ~ for grazing. Union, the county Sc
H" 'i,na,ei about two miles from the springs, i
.aa, li,tIe village of about 500 inhabitants.
Politics is, Of course, the theme of con'
s,,ion and Intervention finds an advocate
i. every visitor from the South that we have
L. convcrsed with. Planters from Ml>Slssii
nd Alabam, and Louisiana, all inform us that
people of those States will sustain slrslHl,
. her advocacy Of intervention, and Will li,s,; ;;
ro- its ado 3tion by the Charleston Conseid,'' a.
.y. and as for Western Virginia, there IS no ~
ef. as to its position being with the "kDauS;e'Ii
De-