Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-07-11
Natural Bridge Park.

Natural Bridge Park.
Representative FLOOD, of Virginia.
whose district embraces Rockbridge
county and other mountainous terri
tory, introduced bill recently pro-
jyiding for the purchase of the natural
bridge by the national government and
the development of the land just about
the bridge into national park. Like
every one else in the State, Mr.. Flood
regards the Natural Bridge as the
equal of Niagara Falls, and looks up
on it as a wonderful work of nature
which should belong to the government
and be jealousy guarded. In this be
has the hearty support of many repre-
sentatives from other sections of the
country and the entire Virginia dele
cation.
In one of the House galleries, when
Mr.. Flood walked to the Speakers desk
and presented his bill was one of his
constituents who lives near the Bridge
l Charles IL. Praxton. The latter was
as deeply interested in the measure as
MIR. Flood. up in Rock BRIDGE" be
said to reporter for The Star, 1.-THE
Natural Bridge is estimated as one of
the most interesting things In Virgin
la. Jefferson, who was its first owner,
spoke of it as famous place, that will
draw the attention Of the world John
Marshall called it God s great miracle
In stone Clay said it was bridge not
made with hands, that spans river,
carries a roadway, and makes two
| mountains one.' Those men visited
the bridge at the cost of long trying
stage Journeys, but they were not the
only ones attracted to Rockbridge to
see it. Monroe, Benton, Jackson. Van
Buren,, Sam Houston, and no one
knows how many others undertook the
same journey at the same COST Today
interest in the bridge seems to have
grown with the country.
1t has become necessary for the rail
roads to build new stations and to ad-
just their schedules to include Natural
Bridge exactly as they long ago in
cluded the great summer resorts on the
main line.
"Those who have seen the bridge do
not require to be told about it. But
for others, don't believe all the pic
lures in the world can indicate it's
solemnity and grandeur. 1t Is a single
block OF limestone, with many shades
of color, wide enough to span Broad
way and high enough to throw in
shadow the turrets of Trinity Church. |
The walls are as smooth as if cut with |
chisels. The height of the arch is al
most exactly 215 feet, about half that |
Of the Washington monument. Its
width is 100 feet and it's span is clear
80 feet. Birds high in air pass under
the blue arch. The place is full of
echoes. Lightning struck the bridge
in 1879 and hurled down an immense
mass of rock, but there is no sign of its
displacement on the bridge itself.
"The history of the Natural Bridge
is remarkably interesting. It was men
toned first, 1 think, by Burnaby in
1853, who spoke of it as a natural arch
or bridge joining two high mountains,
with a considerable river underneath.
A bloody Indian fight occurred near it
about ITO Washington, when a sur
veyor for Lord Fairfax, visited 1t and
carved his name, where it can now be
seen. During the revolution the
French organized two expeditions to
visit it. From their measurements
and diagrams picture was made in
Paris, which for nearly half century
was copied in Europe and America as
correct. The original tract was grant
cd by the king to Thomas Jefferson, in
l774. After Jefferson became Presid-
ent be visited the place, surveyed 1t
and made the map with bis own hands.
The next year he returned, taking two
slaves. Patrick Henry, and his wife.
For these two the former President
built log cabin with two rooms, and
directed one to be kept open for enter
of strangers. The slaves
we're never manumitted. Jefferson left
here large book for sentiments, and 6
'he sayings by Marshall and Clay 1
lave Indicated were taken from that s
look. Unfortunately the book was
destroyed in 1915 and only t
/ part of it remains.
Above the bridge is an immense
lien, probably once cave, which ex-
ends for mile to Lace Water Falls.
There is much to see in this glen,-a e
altpeter cave worked for nitre during
he war of 1872 and by the Confederates f
n 1862, and Lost river, a subterranean
tream which shoots out of a cave high "
the wall and disappears in another
early opposite. Above the arch some n
ne has carved whoever drinks here
nall return.
Natural Bridge Park is a plateau 81
800 feet above the sea and comprises =
bout 1000 acres. 1t is about twol
lilies away from the James. '-Wash-
lgton Star.