The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-09-05
The Summer Resorts.

The Summer Resorts.
The Cincinnati Commercial takes glance
at the resources for health and amusement Mt
the summer resorts of this country, and
thinks these, in great part, not at all equal to
the demand. 1t is generally very accurate in
the estimate it places uponth several seaside
bathing places as well as the mineral springs
of the interior. Few are, in respect TO conf
fort and economy, what they should be; and
it is not at all surprising that so many thou
sands annually leave this country for the
European tour, where, both for accommoti'-
ton and economy, they fare much better
than they do ut our own summer resorts.
The crowds crossing the Atlantic have allnll-
ally increased with amazing rapidity. and boz
tel keepers ut the bathing places and springs
will have TO increase accommodations or
lower charges, or this summer drain for
Europe will soon seriously curtaiI their
profits.
The Commercial, remarkng upon the bar
renness of the West in the attractions OF
scenery and curative waters, concludes that
the western people must seek them either
upon the Pacific slopes or upper Ia es. or they
must 20 far eastward. After criticising all
the saltwater bathing places and Saratoga,
and Richfield, and Lebanon, and Sharon. and
Bedford Springs, it comes to the conclusion
the retreats and mineral waters of the Nir-
uinia mountains are the most accessible, or
will be after the completion Of the Chcsa-
peake and Ohio railroad mow at hand), and
most preferable of all for the western people.
OF the ocean watering places the CONNER
cial says Long Branch, the Presidents
"s,Inlmer capital" ais the most fashion
able and the most detestable." Very true.
Bathing in the hot blaze of the sun and
pursuing pleasure under difficulties are only
relieved by the fine beach drive. At Cape
May and Atlantic City there is fine lathins,
but the heat and the crowds rob the traveller
of comfort.
OF Cobbs Island The Commercials report
is better. There Is good bathing. hunting,
and fishing; it is free from crowds, and has
good fare; "but as yet too difficult and
irregular of access" Old Point and Vue de
Eau, within the capes, are not apparently
known to the Commercial, and very fine
bathing places they are. And there is yet a
site for salt bathing-place, not much known,
that is destined to become famous. That is
Cape Charles. 1t has the finest beach for
bathing and the finest beach for driving in the
United States. There is question about the
case oflanding there in rough weather, but the
Peninsula railroad down the Eastern Shore
may be readily extended to Cape Charles,
and then it would become the most popular
of ocean resorts on the Atlantic coast. For
bathing, for hunting, and fishing it can hardly
he surpassed. Standing at the mouth Of the
Chesapeake, the ocean on one side and the
grand Chesapeake OIL the other, it is hardly
ever without refreshing breeze, while &
luxurious and quick soil supplies super
abundance Of vegetables, melons, and fruit OF
various kinds. Figs equal to those ofthe Medi.
terranean shore uregrown there. Wecall at.
tention 70 this as an addition yet to be made
to the means of summer recreation in Eir-
ginia. When that is added we may boast that
in her mineral waters, mountain retreats. and
sea-batbing places she SURPRISES any of the
Atlantic States.
The Commercial rejects Newport us en-
pensive and exclusive-Narngansett, Watch
Hill, Bristol, and other places in Rhode
Island, have cool breezes, are comparatively
inexpensive, and are much resorted to, but
we conjecture very monotonous. Marthas
Vineyard, in Massachusetts,, famous for camp
meetings in August, and the hotels in close
proximity to the camp-ground, and remote
from the bathing place. Cape Cod hus no
notable hotels. Rye Beach, Hampton Beach,
and the Isles of Shoals are all pretty expen.
sivc. On the Maine coast are many pleasant
places nj from $3.50 to $3.50 per day. But
the water there is too cold save for those who
are In vigorous health.
CHANGING at the mountain retreats of Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, New YORK, and
Pennsylvania, which all have much to COM
mend and something to condemn. the Com
merctdl speaks of Saratoga rs city not suited
as q fit place for one who has left crowded
city to seek relief. The hotels have for their
leading features "gregarieusness, frivolity,
/" and display. As valuable as the mineral
waters may be to some constitutions as an
/" alternative, there is otherwise nothing at
:" Saratoga TO draw people of simple tastes
!" who need repose and the relaxation Of new
" and attractive scenes" The Commercial
closes Dis follows:
owe come next to the mineral springs of
Virginia and West Virginia, region which
needs only TO be more widely known to
render 1t fayorite place of resort for
western people in pursuit Of summer plea
sure and relaxation. There Is not one of
these springs, we believe, but is surrounded
with tine mountain scenery, AID In This re- |
spea they are far more attractive. al well ais
wholesome and inaigorating, thai, the more
treluented springs OF New York. The
summer temperature in this mountain airI
flor the springs themselves are at an aver.
sge elevation OF two Thousand feet ui,oyeI
the seal is cool and bracing, ranging from
65 TO IS degrees. Such % thing as o bot |
night Is unknown. The White Sulphur |
Springs though more generally famed than |
amy 81 the rest, are by no means the most |
desirable or attractive. The waters POSSES.