, 1860-09-27

4 correspondent Of the New York Eren5ng
PS*s gives the following account Of the Mineral
Springs, situated about midway between ottswa
ard Lus5ettes
Following the road a!ong tue great Illinois
Bottom, pleasant ride Of six miles and hall,
on the main travelled road bstween Ottawa md
I.asslc, brings us to Spring Valley, a location
celebrated for its mineral springs, and what is
remarkable ahout them is, that but very few
scientific men are aware oi their locality ana
great ra;ue for medicinal purposes These
springe, which are upon 4 tract OF land Of orer
one thousand acres, ere the prooerty Of Mr.
Soebley, formerly lawyer Of New York city.
Previous to h1r. Snebley's ownership they were
the property Of ex Recorder Smith Of the sane
city, who has IN analysls Of the waters made by
Dr.. Potter. There are two hotels here, one be.
ing now occupied by tenant Of Mr. Srebley,
and the other large md elegant three story
leg as a hotel. There are also beautiful drivea,
aud the scenery is magnificent. From the
northeast windows yon behold the Nat1alo
mountain, once celebrated for being the range
nf numerous herds Of these valuable animala.
To the West, scarcely q mile, you behold the
celebrated Starved Rock" mentioned in the
Indian history Of Illinois, where tribe Of In
diaus were driven and surrounded by their en-
emies until thcy pcriehed BY famine. Three
sides Of this peculiar bluff, which is perhaps
three hundred feet in height, are perpendicular
and inaccessible, while tic fourth side eau with
difficulty be sur1noun'ed. Below lies the clear,
| sparkling 1liinn:s, beautitied with its woody
islands, on some oi which are perfect sylvan
groves, and which appear to the beholder al.
most fairy vision. Such is the scenery about
these srr1ugs; but must speak more particu-
larry Of the waters.
Al the house or hotel os Mr. snebley, the one
spoken Of rs occupied by his tenant, and which
ia frat approached on the read coming from
Ottawa toward La Sale, You vii! notice walled
enclosure about eight fquare. Arriving at this
enclosure you will find it contains RpEnE Of
| immense volume, AID from six to eight feet in
depth, whoEe su1phurous exhalatiops at once
denote it q mineral spring Of toe dr4t order.
is clear and lmrid. leaving no incrustations
| upon the surface Near Tho canal ID 4 similar
epriDg, Jet not 50 strong, and still further on,
near tue railway, is spring Of saline character.
Leaving the tenants house We now come to the
| grounds of the hotel proper. One hundred
Yards back from The ho,ei nre TIVE stone en-.
closures Immediately adjoining one another,
/ In which are two springs, orc OF iron and
magnes;a, and the other i cha1ybeate spring,
similar to The famed Congress Spring at Sara
toga- The Iron and Magnesia Spring presents
q very peculiar appearances. the water bursting
like 4 spring Of boiling sand: The spring is
sues from un.e. the creVice Of aaaudstoue rock,
| bearing the appearance OF pumice-stone in its
formation. You take pole ten or twelve feet
long and sink it in this ebullition OF sand, and
the deeper you force it through the stratum Of
| Rnnd the greater the pressure OF the water.
| There is no a,certaining the depth Of this stra-
tun. Wood cast into this water sinks aud be.
Gomez sponRy, and SOHO substances petrify.
The Chalybeate Spring has the flavor Of the
Congress Spring, e1ceptthas it's saline qualities
ere not as strong.
Ltayirg these springs, We take path in q
southwesterly conrse towards the illinois river,
and come 10 Bnall stream which leads us TO
! another spring, which Issues boldly from Z
sandstone rock, and from which strong sui
p3urous odor Issues. This ID the Blue SULPHUR
spring. and is the most noted spring Of I'LL.
The water Is rery strong Of sulphur, and leaves
a sharp taste in the mouth for long time &feer
drinking it. The natural sin in which it il
contsined holds Enme fifty OF sixty gallons Of
water. About this spring, Is well AZ about al
Of them, vegetation is Tefy rank. and peculi-
arity is that the Mexican Cactus aud Sensitive
Plant abound. these Indications. together With
indications Of pumice stone aud black sand de-
note = volcanic origin.
The Temperature Of these springsis as follows:
Tho White Sulphur Springs C. dog; the Blue
Sulphur Sprins IS deg; the Iron aud Aagnesis,
and the chalybe.te, each IS deg; whle the
temperature OF the Illinois river is 70 deg.
There are within the space Of two equase
miles over 6fty springs Of a mineral character
many Of winch are saline, and which the cattle
resort to in great Numbers. Although having
been discovered over twenty-five years. the,
The thslr yaluabie medical qualities in cutsneou.
diseases and for purifying the blood, they mus
soon become as popular - Sazatoga OF Cheiten
ham.
These springs can be easily reached By rail
read- The hotel is admirably well kept, AMI
tho cha1ges-from IS to 81 z reek-are moder
ute compared with our other Watering -plscea
These advantages. with the beautiful natura
. | scenery and surroundings. cannot fail to brint