Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-06-29
The Press Trip to the Iron Springs.

and properly toned up for the facilitating
heated term by the iron waters of that resort.
which are properly vouched for by medical
authority as 1.-The strongest chaly beate in the
United States" Until recently the inconve-
nience of access to the Rawley Springs has
caused the place to be rather local health
resort than national one, though the yearly
increasing number of guests has made it ne
cessary TO add TO the accommodations until
now the buildings enclose a spacious square
OF ground, in the center of which are three of
the principal springs. There are accommO-
dations now for some six hundred guests and
more will be required. as was demonstrated
by the crowded condition of the place before
the season ended last summer. Through the
construction of the Metropolitan road and
the extension OF the Valley Railroad beyond
WINCHESTER to Harris0nburg, the trip is
vastly shortened from Washington, both in
time and miles; and by leaving here at 8 a.
m. one can reach Harrisonburg at p. m.
anu, after dining there, reach the springs
eleven miles distant) by coaches by o. M
or IN about ten hours from Washington in
Guiding stoppages.
Up THE METROPOLITAN ROAD.
AS heretofore stated, the press party left
on Wednesday morning, with the veteran
Major KoOntz, of the Baltimore and Ohio
road, as "guide, philosopher and friend, !" and
marshaled by Major George c. Wedderburn,
OF Richmond, through whom the invitation
A
trip over the Metropolitan branch at this
season, serves to show what a delightful
country is now accessible by rail for sum-
mer residence within easy reach of the city,
A constant succession of magnificent eleva-
lions for hotels, boarding houses, or private
residences, present themselves all the way to
the Point of Rocks, or rather the locality
formerly known by that name, but which
now takes the name of "the Washington
Junction." the old "WaShington Junction
at the Relay House having in turn lost that
tltle, and taken the new one of ''the Relay
Station" The accommodations for the
number OF city people seeking summer board
on the line of the Metropolitan road are said
10 De quite inadequate; and the land holders
make the great mistake of placing the price
OF building lots AT a speculative figure ask
ing more for single lots than the price of a
whole farm before the road was constructed
The result is that many have been deferred
from building on the line of the road and
nave sought cheaper lands elsewhere. There
are two or three places where summer hotels
could not fail TO do a good business on this
road; notably at Gaithersburg, where the
contemplated cut Off from the Baltimore
branch will intersect the Metropo' itan road:
and also on the top of Sugar Loaf mountain
Whlch throws up It's slightly and breezy ele-
walton of thirteen hundred feet in the midst
OF most picturesque landscape, and can be
reached tthe mountain tOp) in three hours
from Washington.
FIRST CLASS AMERICAN RUINS.
Harpers Ferry shows as yet little recovery
from the ravages of the war, and presents
the anomaly on American soil of first class
ruins" that element of the picturesque
ceemed so essential to the sentiment of the
landscape in old world travel. The Hudson
river with its bold banks, has concededly as
striking scenery as the Rhine, but then the
Rhine has ruined castles and that sort of
thing, while the Hudson hasn't a ruin to
show for itself. The Potomac and the
Shenandoah have bold scenery and ruins, so
long as Harper's Ferry remains in its present
dlsmantIed condition, and the marks of
Sheridan's raid up the Valley continue to
sand out in the shap pc of ruined mills, barns.
&c. Judging by remarks of the inhabitants
II the Valley this element of the picturesque
S not appreciated there. The America rs
are progressive people and do not dote
on ruins. 1t is understood that Representa-
tive Faulkner will next session undertake
10 nave the government armory and work
shops restored to Harper's Ferry and that
President Garrett will cooperate on that
line. Ii is doubtful, however, if the perma-
rent prosperity of the place would not be
better secured by the utilization of this I'M
rivalled water power by private enterprise
Tor the running OF flour mills, cotton mills.
&c.
UP THE VALLEY.
AT Harper's Ferry Col. ]. III. Ayerill, su-
perintendent of trains Of the Harper's Ferr,
and Valley road, Joined US by invitation of
Major Koontz, and proved a most intelligent
cicerone TO the points of interest in the Val
ley along which we were speeding. At Win
chester he took us to the roof of the building
occupied as headquarters by Gen. 10. John
son. From this commanding point long
stretch OF the fertile valley, with the spark
ling Shenandoah meandering through it,
was to be seen, while to the south was the
appropriately named Blue Ridge; further up
the Valley was that long, curious mountain
ridge, so regular and sharp cut in its out
known MaSSQnnftpn tai
which divides the Luray Valley from which
jackson emerged to flank Banks in 1862 from
The Shenandoah Valley or the Valley OF Vir-
eInia. On the other side was the great North
Mountain. Below us was spread the ram
bling city of Winchester, with its long ir-
regular Main street. up which Jackson and
BANKS mad their race, with Banks Z" leetle
ahead Then over to the right was
the turnpike up which Phil. Sheridan
rode his famous twenty miles, and beyond
was Ashby's Gap, through which johnson
slipped TO the begGilement of the simple
Patterson, and went down TO Manassas to
the aid of Beauregard
Winchester, like many other places. has
found 1t q disadvantage TO have a railroad,
IL was very well for Winchester while the
railroad extended no further up the Valley,
but now that it has been Carried 10 Uarri-
sonDurg, the trade that used to linger there
is carried past. Yet Winchester is the CEN
Ter OF large Touring business. There is a
large steam flour mill capable of turning
out 2tO barrels of flour every q hours: and
within radius of eight miles from Winches-
ter there are fifteen mills. Everybody knows
of course, that the Valley is famous for its
wheat, and II was therefore a matter of sur
prise 10 be told that the corn crop here last
year exceeded the wheat crop. The orchards
OF the Valley are also getting notable. Last
year II sent out $4,000 barrels of apples of SUI
periOr quality.
But our first view of the Valley did not con-
firm what we had heard of its wonderful fer
Utility. The wheat looked thin; the corn back
ward and of unequal growth; the grass
pinched; and whole fields were infested by
the blue thistle, and all this in Jefferson
county, that used to rank as the banner
wheat county of the state. But tor the last
seven years Jefferson county has been
affected by drouths much mere than the
upper portion of the Valley, and this lime
stone land does not stand drouth we'll IL is
probable, however, that the thrifty graneers
of the upper Valley, who are largely of Ger
man descent, and who work in the fields
themselves, are better farmers than they of
Jefferson county.
AS we shoot on by rail, wheat field after
wheat field OF constantly improving quality
presents its golden tint. and oy the time we
reach HarrsOnburg 1t would seem that we
had seen wheat enough to I'LL the granaries
of the world.
AT Harrisonburg, a thrifty, busy-lookinx
place in the midst of fine agricultural dis
trict, we were received by that sunniest OF
hosts, Major c. II. Luck, formerly OF the