Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-08-29
Spettatur.
Tuesday. august 20. 1871.
Beaver Dam and other Falls-How they
were Formed-Pleasant Summer Re-
Snrt &n
SWEET CHALYBEATE SPRINGS,
Allegheny county, August 25th, 1871.

were F0rmed-FleaSant summer he
sort, &c.
SWEET CHALYBEATE SPRINGS,
Allegheny county, August 25th, 1871.
In my letter of last week from this delight
full watering place, I spoke of this beautiful
valley and of the waterfalls on the stream
which runs through it. 1t is my purpose now to
speak more particularly of these interesting
waterfalls There are four or five Of them on
the property connected with this pleasant Sum-
mer resort. These falls range from Is to 40
feet in height on stream which never fails IN
the severest droughts, and which never freezes
in the coolest weather known to this latitude,
which qualities adapt it in a peculiar manner
for mills and factories. The only fall which
has, as yet, been utilized, is the one near the
spring. At that one is located the mill which
grinds the wheat, rye and corn for this neigh
borhood. The stream which now turns this
mill, at some time in the remote past ran
Immediately over the place where the triple
fountains of health-giving waters now gush
forth at the rate of 800 gallons per minute
The massive rocks from which they issue are
encrusted with the calcareous deposit peculiar
to that stream-thus establishing the fact by
indubitable record evidence, written by the
hand of Nature, that where these springs now
are, was once beneath fall in the bed of the
stream which now runs the mill. The junction
of this stream with smaller one-"Cove
Creek ten miles below here, forms the
stream known as Dunlap's Greek, which emp
ties into Jackson's River at Covington. At
the junction of these streams is fall, some 40
feet in height, known Familiarity as the "Bea-
yer Dam FALL" and several hundred yards
higher up the stream is another of nearly the
same height, and rivalling it in picturesque
beauty: I visited these two falls to-day and
was much interested in them. None who come
to this place should fail to avail themselves Of
the opportunity to see them. The opinion
founded upon tradition which prevails in this
neighborhood in reference to the origin Of
these falls, is, that they were built by beavers.
Though tradition is recognized as the strongest
kind of testimony and though do not ques-
ton the fact that this stream was in times past
inhabited by beavers, yet do not concur in
the opinion that these dams owe their origin to
beavers. It may seem an ungracious act to
dispel this illusion, for it serves to add pecu-
liar interest to them. It reminds me of a
stanza in the poem of Campbell respecting the
rainbow:
"When Science from creations face,
Entertainments veil Wthdraws,
What lovely visions yield their place
To cold, material laws"
This stream, as before observed, possesses
the characteristic of depositing cacareous mat
ter, and this quality endowes it with the prop
erty to construct dams wherever it meets with
an obstruction. If ledge of limestone crosses
the path of the stream, or if fallen trees OBJ
struct its course, the water commences. slowly
but surely, to deposit its calcareous matter up
on the obstructing body, and thus builds up
dam. This process of accretion goes on from
age to age till the dam is built up to height
higher than the land adjacent, when the stream
will change its course to run over the lower
land Where obstructed, it will again build
up, and then change as before, and this pro-
cess of lf-damming and changing OF its
course has been going on, and will continue to
90 on. for thousands upon thousands of years
Though this stream is not more than ten or tf-
teen feet in width, yet above and below Bea-
yer Dam Fall, for the distance of quarter OF
a mile. there is unmistakable evidence that, at
one time or another each part of the preclpice
for that distance had constituted the fall. The
man who will visit Beaver Dam Fall thou
sand years from this time, will not find it where
it is now. This stream builds up dams in the
way we have stated, and when it changes its
course. and leaves the matter it has deposited
to the action of the rains, sun and air, 1t be-
comes, in course of time, disintegrated. and
forms fertile soil. To this effect is due in no
small degree the remarkable fertility of this
lovely valley. The deposition of matter at
these falls, it may be readily understood, tends
to form projections, and they are built till they
project so far over the base that the weight,
with its advantage Of leverage, causes the mass
TO fall. Such masses may be seen beneath the
precipices which once constituted such falls,
and some of them are of great size and of i'm
mense weight.
At these falls some fine specimens of petre-
faction are found, and beautiful impressions of
leaves of plants which grew in the early spring
of vegetable creation, countless ages it may
be before the first human pair found blissful
home in Eden before the first terrible temp
tation.'' This valley is fruitful with objects OF
much interest to scientific biologists, botanists,
and mineralogists, as also to imaginative poets
and practical utilitarians. 1t is no wonder that
those who visit this place feel the influence OF
its sweet attractiveness, and remain as long as
the condition of their finances will allow. There
are visitors here now who have been here since
the season opened, and yet have no desire to
leave, and who will when they take their reluc-
tant departure, cast many longing, lingering
look behind, regretting that their stay cannot
be indefinitely prolonged, and hoping that they
may live to enjoy many returns to this delight
full resort Of health and pleasure in this beau
tiful valley rivalling in attractiveness the
''Happy Valley of Abyssinia. IF the self
exiled Prince and Princess Of the "Happy Val
lew had been denizens Of thas valley they
would never have left 1.-THE outside world
would have had no attractions sufficient to in
duce them to do so.
IF space allowed, would like to mention the
combination of things which makes this place
so attractive-such as the beauty OF the large
lawn with its nice walks and shade trees; the
innocent sports, such as bowling, billiards, GRO
ouet, dancing, &c., the copious Fountain of
Doaoo 40 Too,, robod in