University of Virginia Library

RED-SWEET SPRINGS.

At a distance of one mile from the Sweet
Springs, on the road leading to the White
Sulphur, is the Red Spring, owned and very
recently improved by Philip Rogers, Esquire.

To those who have been in the habit of
visiting the Virginia Springs, this gentleman,
some fifteen or twenty years ago, was favourably
known as lessee of the Sweet Springs,
and a kind and accommodating landlord.
We have not ourselves forgotten his blunt but
cordial manner, and the hospitable treatment
which we received in common with all his
guests.

The Red Spring is a chalybeate, and a
most powerful agent in cases that admit a
tonic treatment. This is an advantage which
this establishment possesses over its neighbour,
having, besides, the same kind of water
which is so abundant at the "Sweet Springs."
The acidulous or "Sweet" waters, at both
establishments, seem to be so much alike, that
there can be no essential difference between
them, and as they are situated in an abundant

region, and on the great thoroughfare
connecting Eastern Virginia with its trans-Alleghany
territory, we hope that notwithstanding
their proximity, they may both do a
good business.

The situation of the "Red Spring" is a
beautiful one, overlooking one of the most
fertile and best cultivated farms in Virginia.
The celebrated Beaver-dam falls are on this
farm, and about a mile and a half from the
Spring.

The original name of these Springs was
"Red Springs," but, in consequence of mistakes
frequently having occurred in the direction
of letters to this place, and the Red Sulphur,
the name at the head of this article, has
been adopted. Since the first edition of this
book appeared, this property also has changed
owners, and is now in possession of Richard
Sampson, Esq., of Goochland, and his son, Mr.
John R. Sampson. The father and son rank
among the best farmers of Virginia, which is
some security that neatness, order, and system,
will prevail through the establishment. At

this place we spent the greater portion of our
time, during the last summer, and we feel
great pleasure in testifying to the excellence
of the fare, the comfort of the chambers, and
the polite attention of Mr. Sampson, Jr., and
his manager, Mr. Powel. In every thing that
conduces to comfort it compares favourably
with the best conducted establishments in the
mountains. The improvements now made
will comfortably accommodate sixty to seventy
persons. It is the intention of Mr. Sampson
to extend his accommodations for the next
season to the capacity of 120. The main
building here is of frame, and judiciously designed
as regards convenience, but being
thrown across the valley, as in the case of the
Sweet Springs, it is destructive of the natural
beauty of the locality. It contains thirty comfortable
chambers, a ball-room, dining and
bar-room, and has two galleries of two stories,
extending the whole length, communicating
at intervals by open passages, in which there
are stairs leading to both stories. Nowhere
have we seen a more convenient arrangement
than this. It has but one fault, and that is,
that the double rooms communicate lengthwise,
instead of enjoying the advantage of
both porticoes and the delightful draught that
passes through the valley.

The great Red Springs, which are most relied
upon for bathing, issue from a limestone
stratum covered to a considerable depth by a
soft porous stone, apparently a deposite from
the Sweet Spring stream, which seems to have
once taken this direction. There are three
springs, of which the upper and boldest seems
to differ in composition and temperature but
very little from the Sweet Springs. The two
others close by, and separated from each other
by a thin partition of rock, differ materially
in the quantity of iron and temperature from
the first, the temperature of those being 76½,
while that is only 73. All, together, would
probably discharge 250 gallons in a minute.
The two lower only are now conveyed to the
Bath. This is a frame octagon about 20 feet
in diameter, and admitting a depth of water
of five feet. The water is conveyed by a
trunk to the reservoir, and by reducing the
depth of the bath to four feet, affords the finest
spout imaginable. After swimming about
for two or three minutes, it was our custom to

place ourself under this noble stream and let
it fall on our chest and shoulders. We never
were tempted to remain in longer than five
minutes, we then got up on the platform, took
in our own hand a towel and dried our head
and neck while a servant was engaged in
rubbing the body with all his might. In two
minutes, when the water is likely to suit, the
skin becomes as red as crimson under this operation,
and the person feels as if he could
jump over the moon. We are disposed to
think that some of the cases in which there
is no reaction are attributable to bad rubbing
and permitting the body to get chilled. We
would strongly recommend to Mr. Sampson,
who informs us he is going to take away the
present house, and build separate bathing
places for ladies and gentlemen, as at the
Sweet Springs; to have two rubbers instead
of one—a man and a small boy for the gentlemen;
and a maid and little girl for ladies.
After getting out of the bath, the person
should be made to stand on a platform two
feet square and about six inches elevated from
the floor. In this should be some grooves to
carry off the moisture from the feet, the junior
rubber should then kneel down and with a
coarse towel dry perfectly the legs and feet,
while the bather and aid are employed on the
head and trunk. With one rubber, the feet
are apt to be left too long wet, and the circulation
is thereby delayed from the inferior capillaries.
Where there are so many young
negroes doing nothing, it would be no additional
expense, and would greatly benefit invalid
bathers. A few paces from the house there
is a large and very pleasant bath similar to
the Sweet Springs; it was, however, but little
used, most persons preferring the higher temperature
of the Red Spring. The difference
is very perceptible to the feelings. Both are
delightful after the shock of the plunge is over,
which in the Red Spring water is slight. Our
experience of the two baths, which we used
for the purpose of experiment, causes us to
give a decided preference to the Red Springs
bath. We are disposed, however, to think
that its advantage lies more in the higher
temperature than in the carbonate of iron it
contains, though we can readily believe that
this property may increase its tonic power.
Whether it be so or not as applied to the skin,
nineteen out of twenty will think so. As a
drinking water, its tonic property is acknowledged,
and where such an agent is desirable it
is not surpassed on the habitable globe.

After we had transmitted the article on the
Red-Sweet Springs to the printer's, we received
from the worthy proprietor the following letter
and Analysis. They will be read with interest
by the admirers of that lovely valley, and
all who desire to avail themselves of a bath
possessing tonic powers nowhere surpassed.

 

1st. Solid matter procured by evaporation from 100 cubic inches, weighed after being greatly dried at 112°,

40·76

A portion of this is combined water.

2nd. Quantity of each solid ingredient estimated
as perfectly free from water. In 100
cubic inches,

               

Sulphate of lime	14·233
Sulphate of magnesia	3·107
Sulphate of soda	1·400
Carbonate of lime	9·411
Carbonate of magnesia	1·166
Chloride of sodium	0·037
Chloride of magnesium	0·680
Chloride calcium	0·010

 

Susquioxide of iron

0·320

Organic matter in small quantities.

Iodine, a mere trace.

The iron is no doubt dissolved in the water
as a carbonate.

3d. Volume of each of the gases contained in
a free state in 100 cubic inches of the
water.

     

Carbonic acid	46·10 cu. in.
Nitrogen	2·57 cu. in.
Oxygen	·20 cu. in.

Sulphuretted hydrogen, a trace
too small to be measured.

4th. Composition of 100 cubic inches of the
mixed gases rising in bubbles in the Spring.

   

Nitrogen	62·5
Carbonic acid	37·5