"The temperature of the Sweet Spring is 73° Fahrenheit, the same as that which, in England, by a strange blunder, is called Bristol Hot Well. There is considerable resemblance between the two in other respects, as well in the evolution of carbonic acid, as in the earthy and saline matters held in solution. In the Virginia Spring, however, iron has been detected, whereas the Bristol Hot Well has none in its composition.
"One quart of this water by Rowelle's analysis contains:—
| Saline substances in general, | 12 | to | 15 | grains, |
| Earthy substances, | 18 | " | 24 | " |
| Iron, | ½ | " | 1 | grain. |
"The saline substances are; sulphate of magnesia, muriate of soda, and muriate of lime, with a little sulphate of lime. The earthy matters consist of sulphate of lime, a small portion of carbonate of magnesia and lime, with a small portion of silicious earth.
"This water is serviceable in dyspepsia, dysentery, diarrhœa, cough, and all calculous and nephritic complaints."
The following is from a writer who describes a morning's ride from the White Sulphur to the Sweet Springs: "We left the White Sulphur long before the inhabitants of Paradise Row were stirring, and in a little while our dapples were winding their way through some of the finest scenery romance or poetry had ever pictured. Over a smooth beaten road, which seemed to have been carved through the mountains, like the pass of Mount Athos, we went on, with woodland steeps on each side of us, and afar for many miles in front, we had a refreshing perspective in the high green hills. Occasionally, in coming to a turn in the road, some new wonder would open before us. At one time we were bordered on each hand by a rocky palisade of some hundred feet in height. And again, where the road was more narrow, we passed under natural arbours, formed by the meeting of the tops of the bending trees from each side of the way, and where the laurel was twining its own laurels on the branches.
"A ride of ten miles brought us to Crow's, with a relish for breakfast, or anything else that might be offered us.
"This is the place where so many excursions are made from the Springs, for dinner parties and picnics. The tavern stands on the corner of the road at the foot of a mountain, and the sign-board swings out in front, after the manner of Nicholas Vedder of old, and many a Rip Van Winkle can be found in the whereabouts, who knows the legends of the neighbourhood." Leaving Crow's, he continues:—"We left the picturesque behind us, and for the next six miles of our journey, we passed through a more cultivated country, with many large fields of waving wheat tops and corn blade. Within a mile or two of the Sweet, we came to what is called the Red Spring, an old dilapidated building, gray with age, and all its windows shattered.
"Before 12 o'clock we entered the smiling valley of the Sweet Springs. Whoever comes to the mountains, should make a visit to the Sweet Springs, if but for one day. Much of the scenery in the neighbourhood is of the most beautiful and refreshing kind, and the whole place is redolent of life and animation, particularly at a time when thronging with company."
The accommodations at this place are sufficient for about 400 persons.