The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-05-29
sTAUNTON. VIRGINIA. MAY 20. 1879.

emit managers, the crowds OF visitors brought
there by the we'll sustained reputation OF
the waters, have been kept away the follow.
ing season by the Indifferent cuisine, poor &C.
comodations and first-class charges. In fact,
it must be admitted that our Virginia sum-
mer resorts have not yet learned to attract
the public, by judicious and liberal advertis-
ing, nor to keep their guests, by properly
ministering to their comforts and desires,
but too generally trust to the wonderful adj
vantages showered upon them by nature. A
gallon Of the Montgomery Yellow sulphur
water contains, by analysis of Prof Gillian,
So grains sulphate oflime, 81 grains sulphate
of magnesia, SO grains sulphate of lithium,
grains chloride OF alumnia, small qnanti-
ties of the su1phate of manganese and potas-
sa, carbonate OF iron, the chlorides Of sodium
and potassa, the phosphates Of lime and mag.
nesia. and 4.6S cubic inches of carbonic acid
gas. 1t is one of the very few calcic sulphur
waters in the United States, and in addition
! to those affections for which sulphur waters
are usually prescribed, is very valuable in
diseases OF the bladder and those peculiar to
women and children. The altitude, OF near
| ly two thousand feet, and the charming en-
| vironment of valley and mountain scenery
contribute to make this an unusually health
full and agreeable summer resort.
Blacksburg, little village Of about four
| five hundred inhabitants, situated 1900 feet
above the sea, lies a few miles north Of the
railroad, on the main road to Giles c. H.,
surrounded by slightly rolling and very
fertile farming and grazing country. Strou-
ble's creek heads here and near by is the
celebrated farm of Gov. James Preston, now
divided among three of his heirs. Just above
the village is located the Virginia Agricultural
and Mechanical College, endowed by the
United States witha donation Of public lands
and designed as school for the advanced
training of the Industrial classes. It was
opened in October, 1872, and has over two
hundred students in its literary, scientific
and technical departments, under the presi-
dency Of Prof. Chas. L. G. Minor. A farm
Of 245 acres is attached to the College, and
ample provision is made for both practical
| training and remunerative labor in agrieult-
ure and mechanics. Military uniform and
drill and certain amount Of farm and shop
work are required, both Of the pay and State
students, of which latter there is about q
hundred and fifty. The college occupies
commodious and slightly brick buildings and
has met with tolerable success, insufficient
nd Of hnrp fooI
causing some trouble there at present. It
seems unfortunate that it was not made an
adjunct to the great university at Charlottes-
vile, instead of all entirely separate institu-
ton, with the necessity Of duplicating or
lacking many of the cabinet collections and
other advantages OF the former.
The stage ride northward from Blacksburg,
crossing Brush :and Gap mountains, is very
interesting and affords beautiful views Of
the valley of New River and its tributaries
on either side, as well as the towering noun
tains and their wild gorges through which
rush crystal trout streams. Descending steep
ly into the narrow valley Of Sinking Creek
and passing through the thrifty little village
OF Newport, almost hidden from sight by the
mountain spurs that have left for it but q
few acres of level ground along the stream,
we wind over the hills, along and across the
rapid creeks and around the end of Johns
Creek Mountain until Salt Pond Mountain,
said to be the highest elevation in Virginia,
and excellent one and its seven miles Of
winding ascent continually opens up new
vistas of wonderful beauty and loneliness.
The whole interior of Giles county. a fertile,
limestone valley, bounded by Walkers,
Brushy and Sweet Springs Mountains, is
spread out far below, through which winds
the glttering thread of New River. The
scene changes with every curve of the gent
ly rising road which at length winds about
under the shade of great forest trees with
rich underground of rhododendrons, azaleas,
and other towering shrubs, to Mountain
Lake, at the summit OF the road as 1t passes
on to the Greenbrier White Sulphur Springs.
Mountain Lake is unique in its way and as
great natural curiosity as the famous Nat
ural Bridge, Of Rockbridge, the Natural
Page. 1t is sheet of pure, transparent
spring water, fifty acres in extent and at
least hundred feet in depth, away up on the
shoulder of the mountain more than four
thousand feet above the level OF the sea, and
over two hundred feet higher than the top
OF the Catskills Mountains. Nowhere east
OF the Rocky Mountains is there to be found
such body OF water at such an elevation,
and surrounded as it is In June and July by
a gorgeous blaze of rhododendrons, laurels,
and azaleas In richest profusion of bloom,re-
Elected in the placid waters, and backed by
the dark sombre green OF massive hemlocks,
with Bald Knob still towering five hundred
feet above it, know not where you will find
scene of equal beauty, picturesqueness and
fascination. Floating on its surface you
look down in its depths on the naked arms
OF submerged trees, for century ago the
lake was not, but herdsmen here gathered
their stock from the rich mountain pastur-
age and sailed them, whence grew the name
priste one. Twenty thousand trout were
placed in it In 1876, and the Virginia Fish
Comm'rs have also stocked it with several
thousand land locked and California salmon,
so Piscator will find ample response to his
dinner invitations if he drops.a line to these
water nymphs. And on the mountains round
about Nimrod will find plenty Of deer, pheas-
ants and wild turkeys, and occasionally a
bear or fox hunt il he wants it,
Neither the Catskills nor the White Noun.
tains afford view more magnificent or at
tractive than that from the top of Bald
Knob. The great valley is seen far off like
the great trough of sea, and nearer the
parallel mountain ridges rise like petrified
storm waves, their crest caps forest fringed.
The silver thread of New River is seen skirt
ing its precipitous cliffs and the steeples of
Pearisburg glitter In the sun at the foot of
| Angels Rest, while Sweet Springs or Peters
| Mountain darkly bound the northwestern