New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-22
THE ARKANSAS BETHESDA
CONCERNING THE HOT SPRINGS.

THE BEST ROUTE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS oF III"
wATERs-DIsEAsEs ESPECIALLY BENEFITED Bf
TIIEM-QUALTTY OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS
FRoa AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THB TRIBUsE'l
Hor SPRINGS, Ark, Sept. lit seems very
singular that little should be known in the East OF
these remarkable springs. There many persons nave
never heard Of them and to the few they are scarcely
more than a name. In the Southwest they have Deen
famous for generations. All throughout this region one
hears OF their wonderful cures and hardly meet
anybody from st. Louis to HewOrleans who cannot give
examples OF the waters have done for ailing hu'
many They been largely used by invalids In the
neghborhood for hundred years, and by invads gen
orally within the last twenty, visitors Increasing every
season. The attendance this Summer mas been unus-
ualy large and there now think about 1900 per
sons undergoing treatment for great variety OF dis
eases The great majority OF the patients are from the
South and West very few from other sections especially
North East, finding their down here As have
said, Pennsylvania, NewYork and New-England gener-
ally have merely heard OF the Hot Springs attaching no
more consequences them than 10 any other springs
Internationally the OF their slender fame in the
East ia that they are not what is styled fashionable.
Considered only socially they tempting because
OF the want OF proper accommodations Persons come
here get cured not 10 drive, dance, drink, gamble
coquet set matrimonial snares, Darwiniz3-i. e. make
monkeys OF themselves the diaphanous preense
OF recreation. Health is more m0mentOus than pleas
bic Go where you may this narrow valley-t Is not
more than zoo feet wide and 5000 lOngyou encounter
bodily sufferers wrapped in shawls coaks or blankets,
walking with canes, hobDiDg on crutches or supported
by attendants Many OF them look wretched enough
pale thn bent crippled, eontorted-conveying the im-
preston OF exodus from some vast hospital. such
sights enticng to sound system, or to mind
disposed to enjoyment and those 30 constituted seldom
travel 10 this spot
THE BEST ROUTE TO THE SPRINGS.
This is the Eden of inyads. very large proportion
OF them have reason to thank the stars which guide
them to the Springs since they gain much relief II not
permanent restoration am, and always have Deen so
entirely well that best0w thought on my own
health. Consequently, have business to be here,
some one may suggest. Perhaps But | was about to
say Consequently. cannot judge by experience Of the
therapeutic effect of the Judging, however, by
my limited observation and my abundant information
the place can redeem all its claims. have number OF
acquaintance who having serious ailments Of long
standing have been cured here and are enthusiastic III
praise of the waters. am told that the patients who
came few weeks ago crutches OF so twisted that
they appeared hopeessy deformed are now moving
around with canes and nearly restored to their orig
inal shape.
The general opinion IL that the Springs extremely
inaccessible and this has prevented many from seeking
their benefit Such has been the case, but 1t is no
longer The old route by boat from Memphis down the
Mississippi and up the Arkansas to Little Rock was ex
tremely tedious and often wearing to nvads. Since
the building OF the Cairo and Fulton Railway the most
comfortable way from NewYork Is by st. Louis, the
shortest being by Vincennes Ind and Cairo, H. There
you can again take Pullman car to Little Rock come
from the capital by rail Malvern fortytwo miles, and
10y stage here twentythree miles the entire distance
from the metropolis, fourteen hundred miles, all
but sixtyhve to be travelled in luxurious fashion The
fare by this route $50 and the time occupied not
botr rha( "a andE
say they viii build branch from Malvern here.
bringing the Springs into al-ra communication with
every important point in the Republic. The stage road
is rather wearisome, being rough. winding, and uphill
nearly all the way. 1t runs through dense wood.
mostly pine, broken by few clearings and small plan
tatiOns Everything this region is or less prim
tive The county in which the Springs were, called by
the name is very thnly settled, having popula-
ton only 5000, while the village itself, now the capt.
tai of the county Garland boasts some 600 lnhaD
itants.
Arkansas naturally rich State; is rapidly mproy-
ing and WILL ere long, turn It's pleneoqs resources TO
account Less savage in semblance than IL has BEEN 1t
is stil wild enough 10 induce any man unfamiliar with
these parts the autochhons say, to believe on reach
ing the vicinity, he is last in that uncertain
region known as Out West. The signs of ciyz ton
might have liked such life az there is along the
in his vehement anti-socia moods. But he could not
have discovered his vine Julie here unless having the
transmitting power OF La Manchas Knight. he might
convert into her fair image some gaunt and yellow fe-
male emitting responsiveness from corn-cob pipe. The
sole habtations are cabins, where pair OF uncOuth
natives rear "a numerous naxen-hared family, more
healthfu than fascinating, on corn bread and bacon
SIDES and leave the rest to the protecting gods
The village Of Hot springs is comparatively though
not absolutely sybarltic. 1t contains probably dozen
ordinary inns, dignied by the name OF hotels, and
thrice as many regular boardnghOuses Nearly every
family takes boarGers, think and the popua
ton subsiss almost wholly upon the visiting valetudl-
narans. The accommodations not such as tue iati-
dious would ask; but unlike many other places ~ the
South, the price charged is not in an inverse ratio 10
their excellence You get board at from $40 10 $50
week the former for the private and the later Tor the
public houses. Neither the arder nor the cooking Is
that OF Phippes, the Cafe Anglas but to him who
wretched in body eating Is subordinate. 10 get cured
is the main object OF the 1900 nvads and IL they feel
they growing better day by day. they have no dis
position to be critical after the Brtat5ayarin manner,
over every mOrse they pierce with their FORK On the
sides Of this valley ascend mountainous wa-spurs OF
the Ozark range creek flowing through the town is
cOpousy fed from the springs and Is therefore never
dry during the severest drouth. The climate il re-
ported as very sauDrlons at all seasons the mercury
ranging from about 3 in Winter to $50 and 200 in sum
mer-the latter being extreme. The hottest part Of
the day is from 10 to O'Clock, during when feeble
patients allowed to expose themselves TO the
sun for fear Of fever and ague The nights and early
mornings are invariably cool and refreshing III conse
quonce OF the elevation LOCO feet above the sea level
The embraces the Summer months though
many come AS early as May and remain through
September and OCTOBER
The Springs the western slope OF a mountain,
within Of 80 acres are "a III number varying IN
temperature from 1902 To lG0 Fahrenheit ana dscharg
lug 800 gallons per minute or more Than iooo gallons
every "A hours. Tne quantity discharged differs at all
the springs which are however qualitatiyely allied
The do depend their heat alone for efficacy;
they contain carbonaes OF the alkaies and alkaline
which, active
duce valuable Alternative effects chronic diseases The
diseases particularly benefited those OF the skin,
scrofulous alterations, glandular engagements, de-
blity, prostratOu from long sickness, neura ga,
govt dyspepsia, Lead palsy, spinal and nervous al
fectiOns, Muscular contraeti0ns, partial paralysis,
st. Vltus's dance, uterine troubles syphilis sim
joints, and dlarrnea, ophthalma aud liver com.
paint In chronic FORM The diseases not benefited
bronchial and pulmonary affections OF the heart and
brain, determination OF blood 10 the head any apo
pcctc tendency, drOpsy and aneurism OF any OF the
larger vessels The waters regarded specific for
neuralgia rheumatism, SYPHILIS. ana chronic ailments
generally not mentioned exceptional Sufferers from
partial paralysis have often been permanently cured,
aud greatly helped in most IN which the disease
arose from other than apOpectc causes
Choulcal frequently made, show the waters