The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-08-23
ARKANsAs HOT sPRINas.
CllRAle..AecOmmOdationH.-AmuS
ments..The Walton; the Natlye1..

CIimate.sAecOmmOdationS.
mentS-sThe Visitors; the Natives
Correspondence OF The IntsllIgGncSF)
ARKANaAs HoT SPRINGS, Aug. 10.
In my last / gave you description Of
this valley, tho waters, mode Of bathing
and diseases treated. In this shall en-
deavor TO Impart some additional intoF-
nation, and first as to
CLIMATE.
One would suppose from the latitude oil
this place that the heat OF the summer
would be oppressive and stay here Oh
that account undesirable. But such Il
not the case. l have been here now
about 4 months, and during that time, ex.
cept few days in the latter part Of June
and the first Of July, the mercury has
rarely risen above IS degrees, while dur.
ing the evening and night 1t falls IN 40
and 70 degrees.
This Is owing 10 lis situation among
the mountains and It's extreme elevation,
It being about 1900 feet above the level
OF the Sea. Generally during the day and
almost always at night there Is q cool
breeze perVading the valley, while the
early disappearance Of the sun behind the
which Overlooks the valley on
the west, gives long and lovely twilight
which, with the breeze, brings an inVig-
Grating coolness from the midday heat
ACCOMMODATIONS.
There are about fifty hotels and board
Ing houses In the place, accommodating
all the way from two OF three toOne hun
dred and fifty guests. But Of none Of
them can Ispeak 10 praise. They are all
mere shells with board partitions, not
one being lathed and plsstered; the
cracks in the partition walls afOrding a
seCure retreat to the vermin which iniest
Tho beds. There arc no bell ropes TO the
very necessary convenience
where a vast majority Of the occupants
IRE invalids.
With an abundant reservoir OF water
IN the mountain side that could be car
lied TO the rooms Of the highest houses,
The chambers are still supplied with the
I'D wash bowl and pitcher. OF the
TABLE FARE,
cannot write in much better terms,
But the sterility Of the soil about Hot
Springs, and It's difficulty Of access afford
Iome excuse. There Is, and can be no ex-
,use, however, for insipld tea and coffee,
Iour bread and stale butter. Mutton Is
Icarce, and beel Is the main staple in the
way Of meats. But as stock raising is
lot practiced in Arkansas, and pastures
Ire few and far between, the beei is
ough and stringy, requiring for its eating
harp inclsors aud solid molars-storc
eeth won't do.
With the Washita, a beautiful stream,
only six miles distant, atlOrding, II the
Dains were taken to catch them, an album
liant supply Of trout, black bass, and
wen shad, fresh fish have mt been on
he bill oil fare Tor weeks. EenisOn Is all
most constantly on the table all tue year
'ound.
Fowls are plenty, but apparently oil
,rC.adamite nativity. Allthe vegetables
md fruits OF the season are scarce and
,oor, melons being an exception, They
re plenty and delicious. In justice, /
must add that the pepper and &h are as
oOtl as can Be found Gny'chere.
BOARD
aries from $40 to $75 per month. The
alter Is the frice at tho Hot Springs Ho.
ei, which Is the best In the place. At
he upper end OF the valley, there Is a
lew hotel about completed, called the
Irand Central, in which, US the rooms
re lathed and plastered and the furniture
ntrely new, the guests will not be an
Ioyed, for q season at least, with reaches
nd other Vermin. 1t Is to be hoped that
/ will be an improvement on the others
q its cuisine, ..-...
In fact to one coming here from the first
lass watering places Of tho north there
viii be great disappointment, not only In
he hotel life, but In all surroundings,
There are no good drives, no grayeled
walks, no beautiful arbors or vRriegated
,Rrks. Every thing Is In state Of al
most aboriginal simplicity. 1t Is as yet
,nly q great SlnitdriunI without attrac-
ions for the mere pleasure seekers. The
eason Of this was intimated in my for
ner letter, The springs and all their
are In the clutches Of the
aw, and those who would build up this
)lace and make it beautiful and attractive,
low have their hands tied, not knowing
whether the money they spend will revert
o them or go into the treasury Of the
United States. 1
VISITORS.
The number of visitors In 1902 was
bout 500. From 1862 10 1865, the valley
vas entirely abandoned, on account Of
Loslile forces. Since the war the number
Jas been constantly increasing, until II Is
low estimated that there will be not less
han 5000 to 10000 persons who will
ave visited the springs tor the year 1878.
Here you will find, US at other places Of
csort, the high and low, rich and poor,
no cultivated and unreflned, differing,
IoweVer, in this that they are all inyalids
n some form or other. ....
From morning to night the one long
tTagglinS street Of the town is an Anus
ng sight. Here may be seen, side by
ide, the nabOb who can ride In his own
:arrlago, and the mendicant, who, weary
md foot sore, has begged his way here;
he occupant Of the tent on the mountain
ide in his home spun and the hotel board.
II in his city suit; fat men and lean men;
I'D and young, men with CrutChes and
women in go carts, all with their blankets,
heir water cans and towels vending
heir way to their daily baths. There
5 no effort here at fashionable display.
Iii have come for the specific pur-
,ose Of being cured Of disease in some
orm or other, and any attempt at
usS or feathers or proud pretension
would be met perhaps with mockerY or
idicule. For example: The charming
md accomplished Blrs. J. E. R. Whose
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