The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-14
Letter from the Mountains.

MOUNTAIN TOP HOUSE,
AUGUSTA Co., VA, Sept. II, ~.
TO the Editor Of The State Journal;
A desultory trip over the length of the
Chesapeake and Ohio road evinces the fact
that there is Just now general breaking up
for theseason ofmost of the popular summer
resorts on its line, and, in fact, throughout
the State. Noticeably is this the case with
the most famous and popular of them all
the Greenbrier White, whose halls but q
few days since thronged with the beauty,
fashion and wealth Of the country, may
now be said to be literally deserted. The
season of gaiety is over, and those who
still remain absent from their city homes
are, as a general thing, located at more
quiet and less ostentatious resorts, seeking
health and comfort rather than dissipation
stoned by the cool weather with which the
present month set in, has been somewhat
checked by the return of the heated term,
and there are thousands who are still So
journing in the mountains of Virginia,
breathing her fresh air and imbibing her
health-giying waters.
This season has been by far the most
successful since the war, and careful COM
putation would no doubt discover the fact
that at no time in the history of the State
has there been so many visitors to the va
rious Springs during a single summer. The
mere celebrated and fashionable resorts
have heen crowded to overlooking, while
those of minor pretensions have been favor
ed with an ,,nprecedentedly generous patro-
mage. Returning, after a few days absence,
to this delightful mountain retreat, $50 well
and favorably known to very many of the
good people of Richmond), | am forcibly
struck with the many superior advantages
it possesses as a summer retreat, and 1t is a
matter of great surprise that it has not ere
now been seized by some enterprising capi-
talist, and hotel ofsuperior accommodations
erected. The waters, both chalybeate and
soft, are as fine as any in the State, and the
location is one Of the grandest in the coun-
try, being 1000 feet above tidewater and
commanding from its immediate vicinity
magnificent views Of the Rockfish
and Shenandoah valleys, for miles and
miles in extent. Access to the place is
now had from the eastern side of the noun
tain, but / learn that in the course of an
other season, the station will be transferred
to the western terminus of the tunnel
which traversos the mountain range at this
point. The house is pleasantly located and
commodious, accommodating from fifty to
sixty guests. A location, however, possess
ing such great natural advantages, and so
contiguous to the cities of Baltimore Wash
ington, and Richmond, should be of far
more extended capacity, and it is with
pleasure learn from the present proprie-
tor that it is already in contemplation to
erect an additional hotel and series of
cottages, and thata charter for stock com
pany, With this end in view. has already
been obtained.
Refreshing showers have fallen in this
locality almost continuously for several
days past, and the weatherwise are prog
,nosticating an unprecedented severe equi-
noctal storm.
As an indication Of the shortness of the
corn crop. mention that fourteen car loads
of that cereal were recently landed at a
station on the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
road about eighty miles from your city,
shipped from Chicago. This is the begin
ming. Yours, TRAVELLER.