Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-10-11
vIRGlNlAs NATURAL BRIDGE.


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 visitors 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
9TH, 1774, by King George III, for
twenty shillings and divers good
:, causes and considerations" Jeff
erson designated his unique pur-
chase "the most sublime Of natures
works -
1t first received prominent men
tion in "The Travels of Marquis de
Chastellux in North America IN
| 17S0.82, " and for three-fourths Of
century it was accorded it's due
need Of appreciation and admira-
ton. However, since the days
when George Washington honored
one Of it's 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 mar.
wells.
The brldgeis situated eight miles
west of the western slope OF the
Blue Ridge and the Peaks OF Otter,
in Roekbridge county, Just where,
with noise aud speed, Cedar Greek
rushes downward to meet the his
torc James river stands the Natural
Bridge railroad station. An open
shed, provided with benches, does
duty as depot. No tickets are
sold there, and tool house ad Join.
ing the shed is the only building
I in sight. Over "a red clay road
winding upward for about miles
the pilgrim is borne in q rickety
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 schoolhousc
attest the fact that the Bible and
the spelling book stll exert their
influence in this locality.
Tho bridge site, containing
$50 acres, in 1881, became tho
property Of Colonel II. O. Parsons.
At the head Of the path leading
down through the gorge to the
bridge stands picturesque gate.
house, the proceeds Of which are
paid to the widow Of Colonel Par
sons, who resides in q moderulzed
Virginia mansion Closo beside the
road to Lookout Point. the north
crn corner Of the top Of The bridge.
The "hotel site" consisting Of 900
acres, adjoins the bridge site. Tho
hotel consists Of two unpretentious
frame buildings, erected in 1881
A new hotel, on which work was
begun several years ago, ia still un-
finished.
The path leading to the rayinc,
borders a series Of waterfalls, span
ned here and there by fallen cedars.
Numerous quaint little pavilious-
waysde resting places for weary
pllgrims--are shaded by nrbor vitae
trees Of unusual size
The height Of the bridge, from
the level Of Cedar Greek to the bot
tom Of the arch, is usually cstimat-
ed as 100 feet, the thickness of the
arch IS feet, and the span 90 feet.
The width at the top is fully 100
feet. The top ia 80 thickly border
ed with trees and shrubbery that it
is possible to drive over the bridge
without noticing it, The crown Of
the arch at Lookout Point, meas.
ured by aneroid barometer, is de-
termined az 1876 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 a
downward leap of 100 feet, forming
a beautiful cataract known as
"Lace Waterfalls" At the left Of
the falls is a stone stairway, from
H. L. L. r L