The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-16
s.arrcspondence of the Richmond Dlspatch.j

s1,orrcspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.J
THE RAMBLrR's RooM, Aug. II, 1913.
Dear Dispatch, where'er ! go my heart
:. still fondly turns to thee" do not quote
Goldy thoroughly, because cannot say ,hai
nv heart is ''untravclled.' IL does tra'ei
when my body goes and enjoys heartiiy
all the things that are presented 10 my
senses. Indeed, with Inc "travei Is the
balm of travail-the needle which knits up
the rayellcd sleeve Of care; and want to tell
Won of some of the wonders and pleasures
I have enjoyed; but am afraid my dis
course will be like Bottoms dream-without
bottom. Nevertheless, here goes for jour-
pey In
THE KASAwuA VALLEY.
For the first time paid visit TO that val.
ley of whic. had heard all my life found
it more than equal to NIL my expectations,
and the scenery along the great Chesapeake
and Ohio railway exceled all that had pre-
yiously seen, aud, in my opinion, has no equal
in the Atlantic States, and can hardly be
surpassed by any on the transcontinehtal
routes. The
ALLEGHASY SECTION
of the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad is grand
enough. The engineering on that section
does honor 10 the art and is the object OF
general eulogy. But most OF your people
are familiar with that, and it has been de-
scribed very often by you. | went through
the Lewis Tunnel for the first time. That
was great labor, and its completion winds
up the temporary tracks which have tor SO
many wears been the bugbears Of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railroad. Great AS are the
things in both nature and art TO be adj
Iun.E
shany section, they improve in regard to
nature at least. and certainly do not dlmin.
iSh in engineering and art rs you go onward
towards the Ohio.
Leaving the White Sulphur and running
along the steep hills Of Howard's creek you
strike
THE GREESRRlER RlrER
six miles from the White Sulphur. How
clear and how refreshing flows the lovely
river between its bold and dceply-sfladed
shores! 1t is one Of the loyelieSt of rivers
1t is not so rapid as the New river 1t con-
siSts of stretches of eddy water looking like
4 vast mirror Of pIate-glass intersected by
what are called critics." with no abrupt
fall in them. The GreenDrier is more nearly
straight than the New river, having no re-
markable bend until you reach the "Big
Bend" which is avoided by the railroad by
the Big Bend Tunnel" the longest on the
line. This is near the junction OF the New
and Greenbrier rivers.
The scenery along the Greenbrler is more
gentle than that on the New, but yet it is
bold enough. There is q peculiar greenness
and GOODNESS in the steepest mountain slopes
that delights the traveller. Nearly the whole
distance to the junction with the New river
limestone appears. The steep slopes are
covered with fragments Of that fcrtilizing
rock, and between the big trees are few or
no shrubs, but q rich growth of succulent
plants that form rich carpet in 4 superb
forest. Such is the scene along the steep
shores of the Greenbrier, here and there in
terrupted by clearing along the narrow
low-grounds that occasionally occur and the
steep but rich hills adjacent TO them. / had
seen this exceedingly refreshing and beauti-
full part of the road before, but would find it
ever grateful and lovely were l to travel it a
hundred times. The engineering is splen-
did achievement. Parts Of the road skirt
the steep side of the mountain, where access
TO the point of location had to be gained by
ropes and ladders, and that not without
peril.
Passing down this sweet river flowing be-
tween its bold and uncovered shores we
finally clear the Big Bend tunnel, and reach
the
GRAND JUNCTION OF THE GREESBRIER AND NEW
RIVERS.
That is q scene man may 60 long way
to see. Opening out enthusiastically from
lis we beheld great gap with its steep,
green shores rising possibly five hundred
feet high, and between them, and washing
their feet, is the boldiv-ilowing New river,
the nearest shore abruptly sunk down to adj
NIT the Greeenbrier to pass on to the embrace
of her sister river, and her rival in loneliness
and grace. The two openings in the great
hills that allow these chrystal streams here
10 unite have mysterious appearance. One
we had travelled and scen-the other was
new. 1t stood as Il great gateway 10 hap
py land away beyond: for who could sup
pose that so marvellously beautiful an ell
trance could be any other than the way to
some earthly paradise. 1t may seem absurd
to others, but yet looking upon that scene
my mind invOluntarly passed into dreamy
state, and figured to itself fairy lands suited
to the bright way that led to them. But as
we continue down New river the sweet pic
ture here presented by nature to the admi-
ration of man is changed into widely dlf-
ferent one.
NEW RIVER, ITS FALLS, ROCKS, MOUNTAINS, AND
CLIFFS.
To attempt to follow Systematically dis
tances and localities would be to 20 too
much into detail and become tircSomc. Be
sides, YOU have had the milestone sketches |
before must just take the thing by whole |
sale. |
AS We leave the junction and descend |
New river it widens little, and seems to be |
passing over u Slaty bed, becoming very
shallow and increasing Ill speed. Thus ii |
flows on until it reaches Richmond Falls,
near by. Here the water falls abruptly nc.
cording TO old statements twenty feet. | do |
not believe the fall exceeds fifteen. But that
will do. II is Il bold and inspiring sight. Ii
fills every beholder with pleasure. The VIII.
tiers dash hcadlong down the fall with great
roaring, and alc white from their violent
conlnotion. No man can look ut water fu-
riously a@itatcd without beng excited with |
admiration and sort of buoyancy Of feeling |
that would be Sratiticd by al effort of some
sort. TO me It seemed leap into the water
Gei0,r the J0iLS (not above them) would be |
the one thing needed for the occasion.
These falls will be well remembered 10y all
lUvcrs Of the grand in nature who once see |
them.
After passing these fails the river becomes
avid being. Nothing restraints it but It's
high mountainous banks lateraliy. IL mas
ery few quiet stretches Of eddy water. It's
nrrent Is in its least agitated parts right on
Yard to its next series of falls, which folio"
upidly after each other. The traveller dis
rus ahead q mass OF white foam, and soon
he comes upon fall where the water is
white from dashing and whirling among the
rocks. They are nearly all Astounding with
.,rent boulders of immense magnitude,
amidst which the waters curve and mount
AND roar With deafenlng sound. These fun
,nanse hon,ders have fallen from above, and
L, s,,,a r,laces they seem to nearly It'll up the