The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-07-09

ALLEGHANY CHALYBEATE SPRINGS.-A
few weeks since. we alluded to the purpose OF
David A.. Kayser, Esq, to improve and bring
into notice a strong chalybeate spring discover
ed on his farm at Clifton Forge. The proximi-
ty of this invaluable water to the celebrated
White Sulphur, Hot. and Warm Springs, diff
fering with them in its essential ingredients,
and adapted to peculiar affections not remeded
by either of the others, it must in time become
place of equal celebrity and general resort.
In addition to the strong chalybeate, there is
a very fine Sulphur spring on these premises,
which affords combination of advantages rare
" met with in the mountains. The beautiful
adjacent lake, inviting the attention of the low
ers Of boating the limpid waters that leap down
the declivity in the mountains. as it rtlshes
through the divided rocks, and then placidly
moves on to the sea, and the grand and pictu-
rescue scenery that lends a wild enchantment
to the entire surroundings, combine to make
this a place where the seekers of health and
pleasure cannot fail to be gratiied. While the
accommodations now are ample for fifty or sixty
visitors we have no doubt when the contem-
plated improvements are contaminated, the AL
leehany Chalybeate and Sulphur, will rank a.
monp the most celebrated resorts of the two
virginias.
An illustrated article IN late number of
Scrtbner mentions the attraction about these
springs, as follows; So
And now having resumed our journey, we
come presently upon Clifton Forge, where Jack
son River rusi,es through one of the grandest
of gorges to unite with the bright streams we
have skirtcd for forty or fifty miles, and form
the James, and at last to mingle with the ocean
at the point from which we set out, New Port
News. The illustration we here give OF this Won
derful spot is front view of one side of the
cleft where the Great Architect has revealed
the processes by which the mountains were
made in barring to the view a mighty arch of a
half mile chord and thousand feet to the key
stone. What tremendous agencies were en-
ployed to upheave that mass and yet how 81
iently and quietly they performed their work
we may see from the almost unbroken strata OF
sandstone in the arch, strata that rise at the ex
tremities of the defile in steeply dipping walls
curying gently in the crown and spanning a
long reach OF the horizontal shore-ilne OF the
river.
The mention of ruins renders it necessary to
saw that wears ago this defile was the site of
mills, FORCES and furnaces, whence its name
Clifton Forge. and that the music OF al Anvil
Chorus once mingled with the mur'nurs OF the
stream but the buildings have long crumbled
in decay, and the messed and ivied walls now
nresent a picture of sweetly mournful desola-
ton. In view OF these iron-ribbed mountains
On either hand, however, OF the vast water
power,that lies idle between them. and OF the
great fine of transportation that now passes the
Spot, one cannot help seeing that the .pictu-
rescue here should yield to the practical. and
wishing for the wizard with the trip-hanianer
Ill. ~ har 10 u smell
Clifton Forge. And he will not be long in
coming. The James River and Kanawha Ca
nal is to pass this gorge; its boats already::run
to point within twenty miles Of it, and ulti-
mately the great freight track of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railroad, following the water
course. wifi take the same route. in running
down to the tide: X