The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-09-08
vIRGIEIA's NATURAL BRIDGE.

tA4soAN4A y MAJ O1bA4 04h4ANGs
|
Another chapter has been added to
the history OF Virginia's far-famed
Natural Biidge.
| 1t has been purchased by a stock
company which will build an cleo
trio railroad to the bridge and make
other Improvements, in the hope of
once more drawing tourists to this all
but forgotten wonder. For time was
when many thousands came from all
parts of the country to look upon the
phenomenon, but now only few visi-
tors are ever seen in the shadows of
the bridge.
The first American owner of the
Natural Bridge was Thomas Jeffer-
son, to whom it was decided July 5th,
I774, by King George III, for 'twen-
ty shillings and divers good causes
and considerations" Jefferson de-
signated his unique purchase "the
most sublime of natures works"
1t first received prominent mention
in "The Travels of Marquis de Chas-
tellux in North America in I78o-82,
and for three-fourths of century it
was accorded its due need of appre-
citation and admiration. However,
since the days when George Wash
ington honored one of its walls with
his autograph and Jefferson placed on
record his reverence for it, the people
of the United States have learned
that they possess other and greater
marvels.
The bridge is situated eight miles
west of the western slope of the Blue
Ridge and the Peaks of Otter, in
Rockbridge county. Just where, with
noise and speed, Cedar Creek rushes
downward to meet the historic James
river stands the Natural Bridge rail-
road station. An open shed, provid-
ed with benches, does duty as depot.
Nn S5stS Il aga sold 5sEa ssa sA fea tas cay
road. Finding upward for about two
miles, the pilgrim is borne in rick
ETY. stage. On either side are the
humble habitations of poor white
farmers and the humber log cabins of
negroes. Two frame churches and
tiny clapboard schoolhouse attest the
fact that the Bible and the spelling
book still exert their influence in this
locality.
The bridge site,' - containing $50
acres, in 1881 became the property of
Colonel H. c. Parsons. Atthe head
of the path leading down through the
gorge to the bridge stands a pic
turesque gatehouse, the proceeds of
which are paid to the widow of Col
onel Parsons, who resides in mod
ernized Virginia mansion close beside
the road to Lookout Point, the north
ern corner of the top of the bridge.
The 'hotel site," consisting of 600
acres, adjoins the bridge site. The
hotel consists of two unpretentious
frame buildings, erected in 1881. A
new hotel, on which work was begun
several years ago, is still unfinished.
The path leading to the ravine
borders series of waterfalls, spanned
here and there by fallen cedars.
Numerous quaint little pavilions-
wayside resting places for weary pill
| grims-are shaded by arbor vitae
trees of unusual size.
The height of the bridge, from the
level of Cedar Creek to the bottom of
the arch, is usually estimated as 100
feet the thickness of the arch 55 feet,
and the span 90 feet. The width at
the top is fully 100 feet. The top is
so thickly bordered with trees and
shrubbery that it is possible to drive
over the bridge without noticing it..
The crown OF the arch at Lookout
Point, measured by aneroid barome-
ter is determined as I86 feet in height.
Cedar Creek rises two miles north
of the bridge, in densely wooded
glen. Just between its source and
the bridge it makes downward leap
of 100 feet, forming beautiful cat
aract known as "Lace Waterfalls. "
| At the left of the falls is stone stair
way, from which a path follows the
creek to the bridge, passing "Hem-
lock Island pyramid of ever
greens-and 'Saltpeter Cave, which
furnished inter to the American forces
in the War of 1872, and to the Con-
federates during the Civil War.
At the first glance aloft from the
uncertain footing furnished by the
stones and planks in the creek, the
eve usually discovers the black out
lines of the far-famed eagle, carved
by some unknown agency on the in
side of the arch. Those endowed
with powerful imagination profess
to be able to see plainly the head oi
a lion under the eagles wing.
On the west side, about thirty feet
from the bed of the stream, are the
well-nigh obliterated letters &c. W.
Of these initials a bygone writer said
"No man will ever erase them ; he
would obtain an infamous immortali
ty, like him who burned the temple al
Ephesus. 1t is strange that they
have so long withstood the tooth o.
Time. They are now discernible only
by the aid of a powerful field-glass
and before many years will be invisi
bic.
Two young Virginians of a late
generation = Corbin Lakeland anC
Robert Walker -essayed to carve
their names above the initials o
George Washington. Both fell ant
were killed..
Both sides of the bridge to th'