A GUIDE
TO
THE VIRGINIA SPRINGS:

GIVING, IN ADDITION TO

The Routes and Distances,

A DESCRIPTION OF THE SPRINGS,

AND ALSO OF

THE NATURAL CURIOSITIES

OF

THE STATE.

STAUNTON, VA.:

ROBERT COWAN.

PHILADELPHIA:
THOMAS, COWPERTHWAIT & CO.
1851.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851,
BY ROBERT COWAN,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the
Western District of Virginia.

C. SHERMAN, PRINTER.

PREFACE.

So frequent has been the demand for some Guide to the Virginia Springs,of portable dimensions, and nothing of the kind having as yet appeared,we have been induced to compile the following little work,hoping to meet, in some measure, the wants of visiters to theseWatering-Places. In giving the various routes, we have endeavoured todescribe the Springs, and also the Natural Curiosities, as we proceed.

Other matter than that for which we are indebted to the proprietors ofthe Springs, has been gathered from various publications.

A number of books and pamphlets have been written about the MineralWaters of Virginia, but in no single one, we believe, has anaccount been given of so many watering-places as in this.

There are many other Springs in the State whose waters, no doubt,contain valuable medicinal qualities, perhaps even exceeding several ofwhich an account has been given in this work; but as we have not beenable to get information with regard to them,—not knowing, in fact,even their localities,—we must, of course, much as we regret it, omitthem.

There are, doubtless, also, many other great natural curiosities besidethose of which we have given a description; but as we lay no claim toauthorship,—merely being a compiler,—and having no informationconcerning them, we will have to leave them as we have done the Springsreferred to in our last paragraph.

February, 1851.

GUIDE

TO THE SPRINGS.

ROUTES TO THE VIRGINIA SPRINGS.

From Washington City to the Virginia Springs there are two main leadingroutes. One is down the Potomac River (passing in sight of MountVernon) to Acquia Creek, forty-five miles; thence by railroad toFredericksburg, fourteen miles; to the Junction, thirty-seven miles; toLouisa Court-House, thirty-seven miles; to Gordonsville, thirteenmiles; and to Charlottesville, twenty-one miles. One mile west of thisplace is the University of Virginia, one of the most flourishinginstitutions in the Union. The buildings are fine, and in full viewfrom the road.

Three miles southeast of Charlottesville is Monticello, the seat ofThomas Jefferson. The railroad not having, as yet, been completedbeyond Charlottesville, we proceed thence by stage via Cox,Brookesville, Rockfish Gap, Waynesboro, and Fishersville to Staunton,thirty-eight miles. In this place are the Western Insane Asylum, andthe Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and Blind, two noble stateinstitutions. Staunton is much resorted to during the summer by personsfrom the tide-water region of the state.

Stopping here, we have an opportunity of visiting ...