The Caldwell tribune., 1922-07-18
GREAT CAVERNS
Of SHENANDOAH
OPEN TOPUBL|C
Fascinating Caves One
of Natures Wonders,
Attract Thousands of
Tourists this Season.

WASHINGTON = The exhibition
of caverns to the travelling public is
noted by the United States Geological
Survey as growing industry in the
Shenandoah Valley of Virginia The
famous Valley Pike, now link in the
New York to Atlanta highway, is ira
versed yearly by thousands of automo-
bile tourists properly intent upon see
ing America first, and no one has ade-
quately seen America who has not
visited one or more of the caverns in
the Shenandoah Valley. Until recent
ly the only caverns that were access
ible to the public were the celebrated
Lural Caverns, in Page County, and
Weyers Caves, in northern Augusta
County, near Grottoes. However,
within twelve months, the Endless
Caverns, near New Market, in Shen-
adoah County, have been thrown open
to the public, and on May 81 another
cavern near Mount Jackson. also in
Shenandoah County, made its first bid
for public favor.
The latest-opened caves have been
named Shenandoah Caverns. They are
about 3 miles south of Mount Jackson
and 2 miles west of the Valley Pike,
Myth which they are connected by a
macadamized road. They are close to
Shenandoah Caverns station, on the
Harrisonburg branch of the Southern
Railway, and are readily accessible
both to the automobilist and to the
railway tourist. Commodious rest
rooms are provided near the railway.
The visitor descends into these ca
verns by concrete stairway and soon
sees the first stalactites which appear
as stout daggers of crystallized lime
carbonate, hanging like icicles from
points where surface water drips from
the limestone roof. At the foot of the
stairs is the spacious anteroom to a
long chain of high-vaulted chambers
connected by narrow passageways,
forming in general plan gigantic let
ter S., all illuminated by cleveriy con-
cealed lights. Attractive natural dec
orations are found in every room
Here the side walls are covered by a
huted veneer done in crystal stuccc,
there in graceful drapery hang creamy
lambrequins in ruddy-tinte stripes.
From place to place, singly or in
groups, are pendent stalactites and up
rising stalagmites-the first inverted
narrow cones fed by trickling films o.
y lime-bearing water; the second pillars
or columns fed by spattering drops o.
the water. Giving free rein to fame,
the visitor finds resemblance in these
cavern deposits to whatever he may
choose from the realms of the eartf
or of the waters under. the earth. Th'
beasts and the birds are there, ant
some of the fishes; silhouette portrait
of celebrities, towers and minarets
dungeons and domes, hanging gar
dens, high cliffs mantled by patterned
growths Stimulating the dainty corall
inc fungus of moist summer groves
In one room midway down tn
chain of show piece is narrow so
foot cascade of white glittering crysta
Aanked by twin falls of pale translu
cent ocher. At the base and to the rea
of this diamond cascade, visible b
peering between slender columns G
oriental alabaster, is the "Fairy-s Sc
cret," tiny pool illuminated in du
season by animated torches, presun
ably carried by brood of phospore:
cent larvae of some insect, perhaps.
small fly that is commonly present
such caverns.
As he progresses from room
room the visitor is apt to think eac
succeeding chamber superior to II
last, but whether or not this is tr,
all are likely to agree that the mo
charming of all is the one that con
pletes the inbound trip. At the er
! of the developed portion of the caveI
a chamber of high vaulted roof su
denly gives place to low-cei,ir
room containing lakelet in which a
mirrored a multitude of delicate sta
actites-a pool of thousand cryst
pendants, the very quintessence of q
subterranean charms.
According to A. c. Spencer. of 4
United States Geological Survey, I
caverns of the Shenandoah Valley a
far more numerous than the cast
visitor would be likely to imagine, T
rocks in which this broad trench-li
valley has been excavated by wat
are mainly limestone, and wherev
these rocks occur the existence OF
vers is indicated by two unfaili
signs-the presence of innumeral
water sinks and the absence of broo
tributary to the rather regularly sp'
ed creeks. The brookless tracts
= ceiye a due share of rainfall and m,