The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-09-16
A Trip to tho White Sulphur.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, VA.


'' WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, VA,
September, 1869.
'Desirous ofngreeably spending short
vacation, we decided on paying visit to
this justly celebrated watering place,
and at half-past o'clock, on terribly
hot day-when IN individual was forced
to keep MS quiet as he possibly could, to
prevent being foated off by the per-
spiration-we took our departure uid the
Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Rail
road. In the cool of the afternoon, the
elevated town of Chester was reached;
supper was announced, and the passen-
gers, forgetful of the heat of the earlier
portion of the day, made q rush for
Nicholson's Hotel, where, as everybody
knows, most excellent meal is always
ready; and, what is equally important,
ample time is allowed to discuss it. Our
Wolf-ish conductor having leisurely
finished bis repast, gave the signal call
aboard" and the shrill whistle of the
locomotive re-echoing the order, we were
soon rattliDg along ut thirty mile-an-
hour rate. The run to Charlotte, and
the transfer at that point to the North
Carolina Railroad, and ut Greensboro
to the Richmond and Danville, we pass
over with word or two-merely stating
that good time is made, sleeping cars
are obtainable, and by II o'clock the
next morning, the ''long blow an
nounces that we are rapidly approaching
famed Richmond on the James" And
here we rest until Tuesday, at 8 a. M,
quartered at the "Spottswood, which,
under its present proprietors, Messrs.
James NJ. Sublett, q. B. Luck and w.
B. Bishop, fully retains its old and we'll
earned prestige. Blythe way, the new
proprietors are overhauling and improv-
ing their hotel materially other
things, adding q commodious reading
room. The gentlemen mentioned above
are "to the manor born"-havine been
connected with other hostelries for years.
Richmond presents a business-like as
pect; new and elegant buildings arc con-
tinually being erected; and in q short
time all marks Of the terrible fire which
SO unfortunately occurred when the Con-
federates evacuated their capital city,
will be obliterated. Old faces are recog-
nized in the streets, and although many
new firm names nre displayed on the
signs, still here and there well-remem-
bered business houses loom up-oases in
the desert of present mercantile lfe-as,
under this regime. a traveller cannot en-
ter his name on hotel register, unless
under tho supervision Of Mt least two
apparently yhighly-interested individuals,
who, with cards or circulars in their
hands, give pressing invitation to "call
and see them"-of course, expecting to
relieve the invited of any surplus green
o1y l,a No co ~ - l..
in his possession. The world moves on,
and we must endeavor to keep up.
At 61a a. m., We were "called," and,
depot of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
road, formerly known as the Virginia
Central This road is now running
through to the White Sulphur, and is
fully equipped-road bed in excellent
order, coaches handsomely fitted up, and
seats rs comfortable rs ones own recln-
ing chairs at home. The distance is 227
miles. and the time thirteen hours; and
when it is remembered that more than
100 miles is through the mountains, over
heavy grades, where the services of three
locomotives are required, the ''time"
may be considered good. Atlees, Cor
louisville, and many other stations made
famous during the late war, are on this
route. The pretty town of Charlottes-
vile is also to be seen, and in the dis
tance Monticello. the home of Jefferson,
is readily discerned. The pleasure of
the trip was marred by the evidences of
the prevailing drought which appeared
on all hands. Along the entire route
from Richmond, and, in fact, as we
learn, throughout the whole of Eastern
and Southern Virginia, no rain of any
consequence has fallen in ninety days.
The corn, of which great depth has
been planted, will prove an almost total
loss. The tobacco plants arc but little
larger than when set out, and with the
best weather, but half crop will be
made. Pasturage in field and wood is
burntpp, and even the forest trees begin
to suffer. Were it not for the immense
grain crop harvested in the State, an
other year Of positive suffering would
now dawn upon Virginia. The route
from Charlottesville to this point (the
present terminus of the railroad) lies
through mountainous country, abound
ing in grand and picturesque scenery.
You whisk in and out among the Blue
Ridges, which at times loom lazily in
the blue distance, and anon tower above
you in the foreground. AT length, you