Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-08
UNION AND AMERICAN.
BEERSHEBA.
The Discovery and improve
ment of this Celebrated
a16 Watering Place. mo
The Grand and Picturesque
scenery around the Springs
"A Magnificent PIANO @
rama.
Pure Water, Fresh Air, the
beautiful in Nature: the
Pace for the Invalid and ?
the PIeasure-Seeker.
BERRsHRBA SPRINGS.

BERRsHRBA SPRINGS.
These celebrated springs, situated in
GIundy county, Tenn, upon one of the
peaks of the Cumberland mountains,
tweniy-three hundred feet above tide
water, are eighteen miles south of Nc
Minugile and about the same distance
north of Tracy City, which are the near
est railroad depots. Stages furnish IN
yeyance to visitors at reasonable prices,
from either place. By far the larger
number come by the way of McMinnville
as the accommodations are much better
at that place than at Tracy City, and the
hacks larger, more numerous and more COM
Portable. These springs are said to have
been discovered in the year 1888, by Mrs.
Rershebs P. Cain, whose extreme deli
.cse= of health led her TO look out noun
sain situation as means of restoration.
Ia August of the year above named, she
G 'opped with VIM. Dugan, in the valley
hol, w. and regularly attended the springs
frop, there until she could have cabin
erected uesr the springs for her own ac-
comnoda Don. She was completely re-
stored nv ,iNe use of the water, and 9th
ers hearing 6 it, began TO resort to this
healing fo1ntsiH in searth of health.
Geo Smart. an e. Nergetic and prosperous
man, erected the firL$ buildings Tor the
sec jmmodation of visitors. They were
rude structures, built o. logs, but the
patronage of the springs, by reason OF
the excellence of the water aud the pa
rity of The atmosphere, increased SO rap
idly thai new buildings were adced each
year.
In the year 1855 Gen. John Arultield
bought the property of Buck White,
banker of McMinnvilie, and determined
10 improve the place IN such manner as
to make il attractive 10 visitors from
abroad. His idea appears 10 have been to
settle around the springs ga num-
Der of permanent cottagers, who would
form society within themselves, and
induce their friends from q distance 10
spend the summer months at the springs,
amt so enable the hotel to do remuner-
alive business. His first step, therefore,
gas to add other land to the property
Tatil he increased the estate to 3 300
acres. He then proposed to give to any
ixiyen number of acres, with permission
to use weed and water from the main
TRACT forever. By this liberality, many
distinguished gentlemen made the springs
their summer home, among others Bishop
Polk, afterwards General, Bishop O.ey,
Dahlgreen, and many other gentlemen of
refinement and culture from the Southern
States. Under thus judicious policy more
than twenty cottages were erected, and
were occupied every summer before the
war by their owners and their families.
4 large hotel became necessary under
3the liberal policy of Mr.. Armfield,
co accommodate transient visitors, and
this be erected. Gen. Armfield sold it
before the war, AMI since then it has
passed into various hands, and finally into
that of Sam NJ Scott 81 Co., who are
the present proprietors. The fitness and
ability of the proprietors for conducting
IN enterprise of this kind are well known,
snj 10 surer guarantee Of its success is
wanted, by those who are acquainted
with him, than the fact that Mr.. Scott
has entire control of the place. His
known energy, sffability and experience
make it certain that in short time Beer
she5a will be as familiar TO the people
IF the South as Saratoga is tothose OF the
North.
The main building of the hotel, 'front.'
ing the northeast, is two stories high and
commands q beautiful view of the deep
valley below and the swelling mountains
beyond. The dining room, one hundred
and thirty feet long, runs out from the
southeast corner of the main building and
al right angles to it. The upper story is
used as ball room and for dormitOries.
Id q line with the dining room q
row of cottages runs out for two hundred
vsros, and similar row from the norths
west q, rner of the main building. About
halfway tie length of these rows another
row is built parallel with the main build
ing, and enclosing a courtyard of about
half acre. This courtyard is beautifully
shaded with trees and is favorite resort
for children and younger persons. here
are erected swings, croquet arches, gym
V8stic poles and other Appliances for cut
do. VI exercises. Early IN the morning
and ate in the evening, this courtyard is
merry With fun and fIolic. The ringing
lsupb- awakening echoes from
the bui,, tngs around, enliven
the whole nlsc>s and makes the most des-
nondent and inv,SeE invalid forget for
= while his aiInf The lines OF cot
tages have porches OF one or both sides,
running their whole length, winch ahoTo
an excellent place for exeI rlse anrlng the
heat of the day, or in damp OF rainy
weather. The buildIngs and grounds al
taken together may be accurately ttescn9-
ed by SAYING they form in their ground
plan the letter II with one end incfSAP
by the main building. There are discon-
nected from these, other buildings which
are used by guests, the largest OF which,
called in honor of st. Paul, he having
been an unmarried man, is used by single
gentlemen. A building for billiards and
also one for nine pin alleys are st con-
y @uient distances from the hotel The
bo,e can accommodate four hundred
visitors
THK SCENERY AROUND BKERsHEBA.
Immedis tely in front of the hotel and
inst ON the v, erge of the mountain side Is
creed an obse ryatoEy from which an cx-
tensive and varie,1 view may be asd Of
the valley and ranl'es of mountains eI-
lending towards M,HMinnville. These
mountains rise up to a Weight equal TO the
ore upon Which the h,otel is situated.
Tbey stand like sentinels guarding the
slee1ing zen valley below. The scene
from The ervatory is one OF singular
beauty and bveliness, late in the ever'ng,
when the shadows of the peaks towards
the west, to crawl up the mountain
and varying tints of purple and gold and
amethyst, painted by Natures hand makes
a picture Tar beyond any powers OF ours
10 describe. We have sat and Watcneq
tbe varying panorama for nours, s'IS
..Du,imes The effect has been intensified
~ tbs shadows of pearly clouds skimming
lie nhan IONS of the air ever the rugged
snrface of I, nc mountain side.
This observa tory is fsvorite Place fcl
all visitors late in the evening. From II