The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-06
Another Letter from Chester.
NHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va
August 4, 1879.


ICorrespondence OF the Richmond Dispa'ch.l
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va.
August 4, 1879.
II is understood that the Springs property
will soon be exposed for sale at public auc-
ton; but no Que that | have yet been able
to see seems to care much about it. take
it for granted that very few people will eX-
pend their money to come here to be trifled
with rs they have been heretofore. Post
ponement after os'ponement has made all
| heats sick.
AN OPPORTUNITY MISSED.
There was time soon after the compile
ton OF the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad to
these mountains when lit is Saidl the
Springs property could have been disposed
OF for million dollars. A prominent
West Virginian, now deceased, is credited
with having defeated the sale-honestly be-
lievinG that that price was too low.
Well. it is true that it would not have
cancelled all Of the Springs Company's in
dcbtedncss but i. was just about two or
three times as much as it will bring now.
MYSTERY.
There was a bid last year OF 100000, but
it was the commissioners own, iustto make
4 start.
Why the property is not sold or leased
out for long term OF years is what no fe-
low can find out. There seems to be an
almost unanimous feeling against further
tiifiing, but it does no good.
The county paper in its last issue says:
1.-THE continued delay Of any effective ac-
ton is a matter out OF the ordinary course,
and especially so when it is known that
every day during the last ten years the pro-
Derty has become less salablc, while the
sol,, ~; RI innraacnl
more than twice the utmost price the pro-
perty will bring"
NOW MAKE UP YOUR MIND.
As it seems reasonably certain that the
property will not sell for more than enough
to paw off the first mortgage and the Costs
OF the suit, and the expenses of the various
sales which never take place, the commits
sioners, or court. or somebody, will SION
have to determine either to let the property
90 ANYHOW, or to lease it out for eight or
ten years. In the latter event the lessee
could afford to erect new cottages and fur
nish the rooms handsomely. and do what it
would be wholly unreasonable to expect Of
Mr.. Peyton With his unsatisfactory tenure
from year to year.
THE PRESENT MANAGEMENT.
There have been some people weak
enough to think that Peyton & Co. ought
to 60 ahead anyhow and improve the pro-
perry. With their tenure here they would
hardly be justified in driving a nail. Ii
they have done less that the public expect
it may as truly be said that they have done
more than the majority Of men would have
done. Next year their interest here may be
nothing whatever. Why should they as
sumo the risk? Ii the owners Of the pro-
perry can't see that the present policy is
ruinous, why, then, it is useless to expect
others to become concerned.
The conclusion OF every visitor and old
friend Of these Springs is that either the
property should be sold or leased out at
once.
THE SARATOGA PLAN.
The Court has authorized the commits
sioners to receive bids for any part OF the
property. When one slice is taken of the
remainder will follow as natural conse-
uuepce, and in such event there may IN
coming wears be two or three hotels here,
and the guests OF all will have access to the
springs. But alas it sounds foolish 10 talk
about sale.
The next hest thing is lease for eight or
ten years. Pcyton & Co. made PROPOSE
ton years ago TO take it for ten years, ana
they would have spent forty or fifty thou
sand dollars on it, have heard. If sa-
gacious policy had then prevailed there
would have been none Of the present trou-
blcs, and the Springs property, doubt not,
would now, despite hard times, be worth
81 .OOC, 900. The annual rental OF $4,000
barely keeps down current expenses.
IT IS GRAND.
Though there is large amount OF unde-
yeloued beauty about these springs, as they
are thew are grand. The big sulphur
snring is q great fountain OF health-giving
waters. The park and lawn are not equaled
at apy watering-place l know, and may be
greatly enlarged simply by the removal OF
underbrush. The company is every season
large and agreeable. There Is pleasure in
coming here you do not find elsewhere. IL
is the metropolis of the springs reglon-tne
centre OF ttraction-especially in the month
OF August, when it is indeed sight to see
the company at dinner or the ballroom I'm
full blast"
CALwELL HOUSE.
This year the Calwell House. at Dry
Greek, Is under the control OF Peyton d Co.,
and is q sort OF White-Sulphur "annex."
Mr.. Miller (who is kindly remembered by
all our people who came in contact with
him at the Spotswood In old times, or at the
White in more recent years., is the clerk
and cashier, and Mr.. Handy, Of Charles
ton, w. Va, in charge OF the dining
room, &c. There is a pleasant company
chiefly families) at the Calwell, including
number OF naval officers and Richmond
people. They have all the privileges OF the
"a q and Orr a