Savannah morning news., 1886-06-18
THE VALLEY OF virginia.
A Trip from Lexington Through
Goshen Pass.


NEAR GOSHEN PASS, VA, June H.
Starting from LeXington-not by rail-
YOU rise to an elevation overlooking the
town and giving fine view OF "House
Mountain" with the Blue Ridge on the
right and spurs OF the Allegheny on the
lett, getting an occasional glimpse OF
the North river bouncing over its rocky
bottom, appearing almost covered in
places with huge bOGlders, while along
the rolling, hiily and half valley road
many substantial and attractive farm
houses are passed, with fields Of blooming
wheat and clover and stock of all kinds,
in keeping with the rich products of the
country.
This and much more is what can be
seen IN q drive of Is miles from Lex
ington TO the foot OF Goshen Pass.
Here the North mountain range cuts
of all view forward, and the
stranger thinks the road must soon
end, but the saucy hGIle river has made a
way psssable, winding around the points
Of the range tnaL lap by each other so far
that in many places the river and road
can only be seen for short distance in
front, but as the trail is well worn tie
traveller has confidence that it will carry
him into another valley, and he is not
mistaken.
The pass is about five miles through,
hut as the crow flies-and he would have
to fly high to miss all the cliffs and get an
air line-the distance would not be more
than 0ne-halL
The road is made in the rocks along and
above the noisy stream. which tumbles
down with fall OF over 100 feet to the
mile, at times near it and then rising
above to height that looks airy to low
lander.
But the great beauty of the pass now is
the innumerable and continuous growth
OF laurel in full bloom, with its variable
and beautiful tints, from pure white to
dark pink, growing from every crevice in
the rocks where there is earth enough to
support them, and high up on the noun
tam side they can be seen until the view
is stopped by some abrupt bluff or over
hanging cliff of rocks.
1t is no wonder that Commodore
Maury, with mis- great love for sea and
mountain, should have made the request
during his last illness-at Lexington
that his body should be taken through
Goshen Pass while the laurel was in
bloom on Ils way to its last rest, and this
wish of his was truly carried out.
AT the foot OF the pass, in most sjngu-
lar place, is a genuine sulphur spring on
Il
known as the Wilson Spring." 1t Is al
most icy cold and valued for its medicinal
qualities. Toe family whose name it
bears are supplied with everything Vir-
ginia farm can produce, including fruits
of all xmas, from the red and sweet black
cherries and wild strawberries, now ripe,
on through curl ants, gOOseberrles, grapes
and all the list OF fruits.
Two miles down the river and little val
ley are the Rockbridge Baths, owned by
the genial and skHlful DR.. Morrison, who
has everything to make the place eBjsy-
able for a sOlOurn either well or ill. The
spring is certainly an interesting one,
bubbllng up all through a pebbY-cOvered
bottom over 40 1eet square, and so
arranged with gates that the
depth can be regulated for
the bather-whetheF a swimmer or not
in few minutes, as the spring is a bold
one, making quite riYulet after it escapes
from the walled enclosure. What the
lmpid water holds ia solution is a mys-
terry 10 the writer Of this, but it is rare
beyond description.
Tie top of Jump Mountain, some three
mile from he foe OF Gosaen Pass, has
an elevation OF over 800 feet above the
river aud OYerlO0ks tnis varied aud beau-
tiful sect on Of country, made Of bill and
dale, with the peaks Of Outer in TIE dis
tance. But, dOubtese, some OF aYannah
remember the beauties OF the Valley Of
Virginia, which call to mind the lines
Of Campbell:
"Aye, those sunny mount aims half way down
That echoes fageolet from some romantic
town"