The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-29
THE BEAUTIFUL BLUE RIDGE.
ylreIris Scenery Unequaled by Any
Country Of Tho World.
ROMANTIC AND INTERESTING REGION.
The uagniaeeut Hids OF Eastern virginia
~. N.,gbborhood OF Crabtrce Falls
Nothing Like Is in the Tros"ehs'

~orr readers s0ino ioeh 'i the "ouuoI9 OF
c-sh,ree Falls / had not space to include
80 u theother attractions Of that romantic
.o3 interesting region. The country here re-
srredto. Il themap be consulted, wiz be found
o-cupvng the extreme western corner OF Nell
s,ncounty. Just where tits Joined by the coun-
tes ~ Augusta and Rockbridge. 10 at this
mint also that the Blue Ridge lifts itself up
:, some Of the Hottest elevations known III
Virginia. or in any Of the other STATES VA
vs-sel by this beautiful mountain range ]"
q lor this reason that tho famous taAs To-
f.-red 90 being thus onvroned' DeC'"o
81. attractive 10 the visitor. beIi-
VIZ their sources from one on .no
CHEST of the neichb9ung peAAs' o
marvellous effects dsp@et " '"S
,rs.ors Of the Crahtree aro greatly enhanced
f .La over cborr,r, var fyand solemn gran
F,,r If tieir stately attendants Another I'M
-to,. 900. sorv OF element OF beauty proAa-
iiv not generally observed comes IN mere 10
c,ve additional charm 90 TINS particular re-
zion The Blue Ridge AS "a RUE ulheIS nnuch
f-.-o other mountain ranges IN some o. It's
,,h,e,co1 .hqracttristcs. I'm almost all other
fr5,rto-.s tla.r tops and slopes present 20 the
evee barren and dismal aspect. In many
coed even distance declines 70 lend
~. errLantmeut and the nearer the
IiN iANlh llaANN hllNA ARi hAAiAillh De~
c1nes the scene. The bleak and bare sum-
nfs stand exposed 20 the poltings Of the
storms Cd. winter and tho heats OF summer
naxed but patient under the ceascless lniiic-
ton. and anording striking example Of that
,rv-ter0us decree that the whole creation
should grOan and travail in pain together un-
ul now. This feature IN mountain scenery IS
frcby exhibited among the European
ranses. especially IN the bleak sOltudes OF
iis high Alps and the rocky and serrated
SUBMITS Of the Pyrenees.
yIRGINIAs BLUE HILLS.
N0tso. however. with the subjects Of our
present notice: an exception having appsr-
srtv been made in the case before us No
where iu the world is the eye afforded greater
Measure than in looking upon the blue hills
a. eastern America. even up 10 their very
semmits. The reason is obvious.
The, are covered with forests from bottom
q. TOD The original sol. already rich. Is
regularly repen.shed by the vast accumula-
t.not leaves and debris no every change of
Gle seasons The clouds pour out their treas
rrs. which are caught and detained on the
surface until the process Of decay IS accom-
p.-hed. while the surplus rain descends to
ir-r.te and enrich the valleys below. BY
tls means the wilderness Of yerdure Is over
perrrtuated on both sides Of the mountains,
il' particularly on the eastern slopes, for the
reason that they are more protected from the
blasts u the western winds. and are chiefly
favored by the genial rays Of an eastern sun.
NfIGHBoBBooD OF oRABTREE FALLS.
The region of which / now speak Is. per
haas made more attractive from these and
other causes than any other part of this far
stretching range. and 10 IS owing TO the adj
vsrtages just reierred 10 that the Blue Ridge
presents TO the eye go much softness Of out
line aud doiicacy Of coloring. The neghbor-
hood of the Crabtree Falls particularly
sdolnds In the advantages enumerated above
Al that favored spot have assembled, as If
bya concert Of action some of the most
augus, 0f mountain dguitaries." Each
stands alone robed IN his special attractions
while tie entire group from their pride If
place. seem pleased TO assume the guar
diaushlp ~ IS lovely realm as
ever claimed the attention Of man or
mountain High above his fellows Mount
Pleasant lifts hls head. then the Pinnacle. 50
suggestive in name. points 10 heaven through
soaring clouds big Dapriest' next follows
ID the stately train. while IN proud succession
"Ilree kid-e" Cardinal "Wilkie" and
Spy exchange rscOguitlOns with the famous
Apple Orchard peak and the still more re-
mote Peaks ~ Otter seen doing, in the blue
distance far away southwark beyond the
James river As the ocean on one side is ever
repeating what the wild waves are saying, 50
leIe the solitude IS relieved by chorus of
glad waters forever flowing along their
rugged ways. Meantime they dispense bless
llgs Us they 90. their pure streams Astounding
sd trout and other fish for the use of man.
while their waters refresh the thirsty earth
below
THE FINEST TIMBER.
Asa consequence Of the richness Of the soil
tHs immediate country, unlike most noun
tain regions. abOunds ia variety of the finest
timber lie language of another more
graphically describes this feature than any
thing + can say Speaking Of the high table
IN Ohio rIr..
station. the writer says The soil OF the
greater part of tins forest IS deep black
..aln. and, strange to say, much Of It
is entirely free from stone, making
cleared splendid farming lands. The
sound 0, the axe has never been heard
Lete and there are places near 10y which are
ger uueXp.0red The timber Is oak chest
Lut bIi s-eye maple. locust walnut. hickory.
cucumber. out q which the well known
pumps are made. aud kind of birch known
as tle mountain mahogany said to be most
beautiful wood for furniture. Lower down
iA i.e vale there are enormous hemlOcAs
ana White pine. Any one who speaks of the
stsO. these trees Viii be suspected of lying.
tlt ] measured q locust seven feet seven
i-.-es around as straight as a mast and
iAy seyenty-hye feet 20 the first limb" DC.
iie had also been told of an OAK seven feet
lcfoss the stump The mountain mahogany
.eie TeierIed to- is what is generally known AS
+-e sweet, black or cherry birch, which Is
common ID the North. but is found also in
"eo south Oh high mountain piateaus IN a con-
tei.a. climate. 10 attalns considerable size.
ANl is valuable on account of its fine grained
wood which is susceptible Of high polish and
.'e'a. 'or decorative purposes. SO much for
'-e timber OF this region.
INTERESTING NATURAL FEATURES.
Irdescnbng the Crabtreo Falls twas neces-
@ IS io dwell at length upon the extraordinary
natural features winch characterize that re-
i-iAeo.e spot and your readers may have
all, account become somewhat stated with
s sort of literature. la the meantime
...e bass been said OF the scenery in the
-ilsi ~ which they are located. This should
-.. allowed 90 pass unnotced. because of
close association with the tails and its
o-sr unusual attract ons. The world
s-ol.d DO made aware of these go that in the
cure country now 30 little known may
PC ono the resort Of the people. not only in
pursuit oft health and pleasure, but be allowed
e opportunity OF catching the insplra-
'-' excited by looking upon the majestic
"''19 oi nHturc. which not only enlarge the
Ieialous OF tho mind, hut at the same time
'-A u cuKlndle 10 the heart moro profound
D'e pi ones country. With the great ad-
'-leses before Us. we. the people OF Virginia
Ave goo much neglected our opportunities.
Gnu here must be allowed 10 illustrate my
meaning by personal experience In the
ping OF 1860. soon after the fall OF the
1lAerh toniedaracy. two Of US were travel
iu@ along tho val ley OF KOckfsh river from