The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-05-07
The Natural Bridge.

representative i 10 III, OF lTGlUid,
whose district embraces Rockbridgc
county and other mountainous terri
tory, introduced bill last week pro-
viding for the purchase of Natural
Bridge by the national government,
and the development Of the land just
above the bridge into national park.
Like everyone else in the State, Mr..
Flood regards the Natural Bridge as
the equal Of Niagara falls, and looks
upon it as wonderful work Of nature
which should belong to the govern
mcnt and be jealously guarded. In
this he has the hearty support Of
many representatives from other Sec
tions Of the country and the entire
Virginia delegation.
In one Of the house galleries, when
Mr.. Flood walked to the speaker
desk and presented his bill, was one
Of his constituents, who lives near
the bridge, Charles IL. Paxton. The
latter was as deeply interested in the
measure as Mr.. Flood. Cup in Rock
bridge" he said to reporter, "thc
Natural Bridge is estimated as one Of
the most interesting things in Nir
giuia. Jefferson, who was its first
owner, spoke Of it as famous place
that Will draw the attention Of the
world. John Marshall called it
Cod greatest miracle in stone
Clay said it was a bridge not made
with his hands, that spaus river
carries highway 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 undertook the same
journey at the same cost Today in
terest in the bridge seems to have
grown with the country. 1t has be-
come necessary for the railroads to
build new stations and 10 adjust their
schedules to include Natural Bridge,
exactly as they long ago included 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 I don't believe all the pic
lures in the world can indicate its
solemnity and grandeur. 1t is a sim
gle block Of limestone, with many
shades Of color, wide enough to span
Broadway and high enough to throw
i'll the shadow the turrets of Trinity
church. The walls are as smooth as
if cut with chisels. The heighth Of
the arch is almost 215 feet, about half
that of Washington monument. It's
width is 100 feet and its span is clear
80 feet. Birds high in the air pass
under the blue arch. The place is
full Of echoes. Lightning struck the
bridge in l7779 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. 1t was
mentioned first, think, by Burnaby
in 1883, who spoke of it as natural
arch or bridge Joining two high noun
tains, with a considerable river under
meath. A bloody Indian fight occur
red near it about 1870. Washington,
when surveyor for Lord Fairfax
visited it and carved his name, where
it can now be seeu. During the Revo-
luton the French organized two ex-
petitions to visit it,
Prom their measurements and dia-
grams picture was made in Paris,
which for nearly half century was
copied in Europe and America as cor.
rect. The original tract was granted
by the king to Thomas Jefferson in
1774. After Jefferson became presi-
| dent he visited the place. surveyed i,
and made the map with MS own
hands. The next year he returned.
taking two slaves, Patrick Henry
and his wife. For these two the for
mer president built lcr cabin with
two rooms and directed Que TO hr kept
open for the entertainment uf >tran
gers The slaves were never mann