The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-23
NJ oney That Flows From
Mineral Springs in the
Southside Section.
OTTERBURN AND
ITS MANY CHARMS
How Valuable Mineral Water
Was Discovered in Amelia.
Rise and Progress of Otter
burn Springs-New Com
pany to Make It Vir-
ginia's Summer Capital.
ny FRANK S. wooDsoN.

+
ottcrburn Springs. Va. April 22-
Tho mineral waters that now from
the rocky hillsidcs and from the
bubbling springs in the dales OF South
side Virginia have long been n val
liable asset to the state, but somehow
the people have never made all the
money that was Justly coming TO them
from these waters. Is true that good
money has been made from springs hero
and there and the inflow OF ready cash
from this source has been largely on
the Increase for the past several years
but nothing like all OF the wealth that
may be gurncrcd from Virginias
health giving springs has yet .been
dreamed OF by the owners OF these
springs II may have been dreamed
of In y hazy, indefinite way. but only
In that way, for be It Understood that
capital, energy and business sagacity
hrc required TO develop the mineral
water industry as ,c!l as any other
Kind, In fact, 1t takes more of these
desirable factors To make money out
OF q mineral spring than il does 10
gather In Tie shekels from aoine other
industries that might be named.
The story OF n Discovery.
Bad management. limited business
capacity and dearth OF energy Will
often let the valuable waters GO on
10 waste and the money invested in
them go the same way. while good
management. business hustle and car
londs of energy. even with limited
capital can convert millions OF gallons
o, the pure waters If Southsdc viz
GINA into fortunes that are not 20
nc snc"reG at. There are many springs
In Virginia from which will flow tha,e
fortunes TO the right kind OF men.
but, 70 get down TO a very intere ST.
ins story that has been given me by
soihe sood pcople UP here in Amelia
county: ~ little more than twenty i've
years ago ". t. Robertson. who wns
.hen and is now the agent OF the
southern Railway at Amelia. n zig
sirappinE man, with ravenotIs
appetite and consequently an abundant
Supply OF indigestion at times. was oil,
hunting one day. He pretended to
~ ~ search OF partridGes. but know.
ing mat he could not hit Il swinging
barn door with twelve bore shotgun
~ the wind was blowing, he did not
eNnect 10 bag any birds. AS a matter
OF TACT Robertson was out in tho wooda
ma the helds simply trying to wink
OH an attack OF indigestion.
becoming tired and thirsty. about
me noon hour. he walked u, a loveIv
little valley in search OF a snripr 70.
and by he found pure limpid ne, e.,
or cool water bubbling from sma,,
erevice In largo rock IIo laid dovn
MS gun and drawing from his Ia
huntsman's rubber cup. he dranr -
the waters. and Robertson tbo,,r,,t
surely he had found the rock w,ins
moses or an inspired descendant ~
sno ancient lawgiver had smote. He
hs dsa ana ne fingered at the rock. and
ne drank again and again. ~ ~
UnlOOkedfnr E,~-..
me next morning Robertson felt
me new man, his indigestion 49,.
h n departed. and he attribntea
,nis uniookedfor development nora
sornd 'he pure water he had
hunt he had taken az snecieo ol II
VISITED the spring again and ar.in
sno ne carted home several den,IjoL..
OF the water. In another county $3.50
me mountains Robertson had q raIa
,ire VINO was bedridden with SOW,
KIND OF kidney trouble and wiz ~,
digestion. He was sent for ana ~ ~
several months this sick relative -. ~ ~
ted about Amelia Courthouse and IN
rock spring mile away which Robar,
son had discovered The waters c,iroa
nm ana then the fame OF tho sprin,s
spread tar and near. This In brief
terburn Springs, IL
me owner Of the land on which tho
spring was. himself a dyspeptic. was
down South at the time On HE ra
turn he heard OF the discovery on HE
land, and he, too, partook Of the watars
ana was SO greatly benefited he bro.
ceeded to give the spring a name or.
Eanize company, built a hotel. and
Otterburn became a summer resort for
oyspeptics: for folks with lame l,Id
neys and other complaints and civ
Ioiks VINO wanted to get to healthful
!estng places In the country and in
time became quite famous
Not the Best of Mnnnuemepf
a hotel man, who was not the hest
manager in the world, in time mr.
CURED controlling interest and ,n
dertook the management. At his death
the property became bone OF con
tention In the law courts. and. as is
well known 1t takes long time.
sometimes years, to finish the ''chaw
IN" when a bone gets in the courts.
In the meantime, the hotel was Leased
by order of court for only a year at n
time, first to one manager and then
to another. and no one man having an
ABIDING interest In It. the property
naturally detcrioated, but the sprinr.
never lost its popularity and the place
continued to be a popular resort, even
( though the best Of management was
lacking. 1,7.
New Hands Mt the BelIoyys.
~ flna!ly tho matters In court were
settled, the property put on sale, and
last winter new company. organized
for the purpose. bought 1t and pro-
ceeded at .onco to mako plans for i'm
provements that will make Ottorburn
an UP to-date resort. Thirty or more
workmen are now engaged In over
hauling Sthe big hotel from cellar TO
garnet; In fact, practically rebuilding
IT,. Water works arc being erected,
md the hotel and cottages arc heinf,
4 piped so that water will be in every.