The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-06-10
A Visit to the Hot Springs of Arkansas.
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.

May 18Th, 1859.
DEAR SlR.-Brightiy cleaned tho rising
sun of u glorious May morning over the
pine-clad hills which nearly surround the
metropolis of this little corner of "Cotton's
Kingdom" us your correspondent mounted
upon his coal black stced, wound his way
down tho shaded valley and up tho adj ,cunt
hill sido. by which tho main roads leaves
this City, leading to this great woudor OF
tho West, thankful that business now called
him in direction in which curiosity had
been greatly inclined. Or the country tra-
verscd by this route, but little can bo said
in tho way OF substantial praise. Although
in variety OF Appearance tho beauty oi lis
vallies, tho music Of its ripping brooks"
aud the grandeur of its hl.sidcs, it is sell
dom surpassed in tho south.wcst. Tho val.
leys are usually narrow, and when unim.
proved arc often closely do;tod with large
sycamore and cottonwood trees, among
which winds tho travellers route, npon the
margin OF "pearIy pebble streams, aud
around tho bass of bold and timn-defying-
hills, whose donso foliage OF underground
pino gracefully waves to and fro, like tho
tall stocks of ripcning grain, or the gently
moving waves OF tho brerze-swept lake, often
an intGrposing barrier of rugged rocks
threatens tho immediate obstruction Of h S
route, when by sudden turn he omcrgos
into the valley of II strolm, aud follows it t"
its confluence with some larger ono. and by
ascen ling that, ho gains u height before
thought 10 bn out of reach. Most of this
route, being u dsancc of fifty five miles, is
but sparsely settled; human enterprise novei
having essayed to copo with the rugged dif
, liculies nature has SO protusely scattered
aud off aroused by tho" cIanking boot" upor
tho rocky Garth;
"The aurercd monarch of tho waste,
!, Nprnga from his heathery couch in haste
Z Aud speeds well his toisOmu race"
until the secuson of some deeply shaded
nook restores tho consciousness of safety.
:. Here aud there however II pleasant litt
hamiot uustles among the hills or us tn
- valley widens aud becomes more fertile,
and unprotonding beauty repOso botwee
their ample shade,
Two O'Clock of the second day found u
entering romantic valley scarcely ski
wards in breadth on either side of whic
arises lofty hills or mountains running ucari
east aud west, ana high up on tho on
the south side of tho valoy issues from abor
fortydffnrent opening stho steaming water
fresh from tho tord depths of one of natur,
groat fires. The valley is closely occupio
hy ienements Of almost every kind. ombraC
lug large aud cNmmodinus hotels for rh
entertainment of visitors. and nnmornu
of tho different Springs. Tho temperatuI
of this water, as indicated by tho cOmmn
thermnmeter. when It first issues from III
ground is about Ouc hundred and forty eial
Id degrees. Tho power of its heat has bee
- varinusly attcsted. aud tho results in son,
instances have been remarkable in tho g,
!. trcne After being conducted several rOl
into reservoirs, tho hair of slaughtered an
mails which have been immersed in i. for II
We space of twenty minutes is readily remove
lr, whio no injury 10 donu TO the hesh and
ey is said to possess all tho advantages of Il
" purest spring water, for cleansing and cuI
- nary purposes, 1t may be drank muC
ri. warmer and produces mono of the nausc
ting effects of water otherwise heated.
We learn that chemical experiments ha