The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-16

pavk's Ncs. nj, believe. nine hu'o.eu wy,
high. This reputed height IT preserves
until some of the engineers of the chesapeake
and Ohio railroad reduced 1t by actuai mea-
surcment TO $50 feet. To me 1t was oeep
Grief to have this great wonder had SO long
Stoned IA behold, reduced down to halt It's
boasted dimensions.
THE fact is, the height, up to the time
when It was measured, had been merely
copiectura!. The stage-road passed near 1t,
and passengers would 60 to the brink of 1t
and throw out stone (classic phrase always
made it biscuit), which, although the cliff
seemed perpendicular and to be washed by
the river, they could not throw into the
river. "Then,' said they, it must indeed
be 900 feet high" wish the agreeable de-
lusions like this would be left to US. why
did the engineer measure the Hawks Nest!
l do not thank him.
Nevertheless. the Hawks Nest is grand.
There are two distinct cliffs very little dliter-
ent in height, and above and In rear OF them
the same rich forest that is everywhere seen
prevails. A small clearing near the Nest
shows q comfortable. neat cottage, "here
travellers may refresh themselves alter
" doing'' the Nest And not far OIL Is
hotel where seekers of rest and health may
find a kind landlady Mrs. Tyreel, good fare,
and the most delightful and invlgoratlng
climate. But return We to
THE NEW RIVER,
which is certainly not ne,c, but unquestiona'
Div without rival for its wild pcculiarltles.
The railroad crosses it at the "ncst !" by a
beautiful iron bridge, and with the bolo
scenes just there it presents one OF the grant
est railroad pictures to I've found anywhere
Below the Hawks Nest the river relents:
rs it we're; it assumes much gentler ano
syeetcr temper, and having fewer OF the
riant boulders to contend with it takes us
rest and wears somewhat the air OF serenity
But it has yet troublous waters ahead. we
soon. rapidly whirling along the lovely shore
of the river, reach the point OF junction
with
TIE GAULEY RIVER,
which seems like messenger from, the great
neighboring mountains sent to welcome tilt
fair stream-that has come so far from the
east through so many trials and troubles tc
pour her precious flood into the hanawha
Valley. Whilst the scene OF meeting com
pares not with that of the junction Of Green
brjer and New rivers, it is, nevertheless
what would be considered wonderfully CRANE
almost anywhere else. At this junction We
sec first the kanawha river, which flows or
for two miles. and is precipitated over th'
TIE KASAwuA FALLS,
say ten feet, if that: but they are still yer!
bold and very grand. AT ordinary water
the whole current descends by two mario"
passes.-one near each shOre-Whlle the
great bed of exposed rock intervenes 90
liuuely between them for space Of seVera
hundred feet Over the whole great mas;
the river ut high water pours its hood
making wonder Of natural power.
THE VILLAGES
are rising along the line, such as lions
covert. in Greenbrier, and Hinton, neal
the junction of Greenbrier and New rivers
and others. The space. between the
river and the sharp ascent of the neal
bill or mountain is generally very narrow
where there is any space at all, and tae room
for buildings and commerce is so restricted
that one would think it would be well "a
build over the river and leave the bit OF land
for commerce. Hinton is the most active
and confident of all the new towns on the
line. and if it does not soon appear to be
fiourishing town there will be dlsappolnt-
ment.
1t will take another letter to finish my
narrative; for which beg forbearance OF
both Journalist nd reader. q. & +. Z.