New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-24
ARKANSAS SPAS.
OF THE HOT SPRINGS.

TRADITIONS OF THE HOT SPRINGS.
THE FIRST WHITE SETTLER THERE-sLow GROWTH
OF THEIR REPUTATIoN-TIIE LAND HoPELEssLY
INVOLVED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FUTURE OF
THE SPRINGS.
lFRom AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUSEI
HoT SPRINGS, Ark, Sept. 4-What causes
the heat OF the Hot Sprngsi The question has per
picked not few, and given rise to many theories Some
OF the most plausible OF these ascribe 1t TO the internal
heat of the earth he latest scientific postulate is that
the globe solid inward fires bosh) fermena-
ton subterranean combustion OF coal strata contact
with sulphur pyrtes latent heat generated by the water
in depOstng sediment, and the absorption Of oxygen
with the consequent eXrcaton OF caOrc and electred
During thunderstorms, which quite common
here, currents of electricity have often been seen to
pass from the earth TO the Clouds albeit the Hot Springs
Mountain has good deal OF iron copper zinc, lead and
lOadsone all admirable conductors OF electricity. And
this fact presented by many confederation Of the
last theory.
Notwithstanding the Unreasonable time the Springs
have been known, they have long been resort The
earliest white settlement was made here 6S years ago.
by Jean Prudhomme, Frenchman, who put up cabin
titled few acres, and stayed for four years, when he
transferred his interests James Perciva. and de-
parted. Percival cultivated portion of the narrow
valley though he does not TO have been aware OF
the virtues Of the waters. In 1872 the aing planters
OF the neighborhood were wont TO come during the
Summer and get healed OF their maladies. The repua
on of the waters grew very slowly that there was
little increase of visitors tor twenty years The reputa
ton Of the Springs may be said to have been hardly
than local until short while before the breaking
out OF the Rebellion. During the Summer of 1850 there
were some COO inyalids; but while the continued
the village and neIghbOrhood were practically abal-
doned of the armed occupation OF most Of the
State The improvements that had been made were
destroyed and when came nearly everything had
TO be done again. Since then matters have mate
rally mended and the hamlet enjoys an extraor
binary degree of prosperity This year surpasses all
previous years. and the patronage of the place is des
tined henceforth TO q continuous and rapid augmenta-
ton Patients are constantly arriving aud departing
and those who have visited the Springs since June
probably number 1900.
The ownership OF the land in this neighborhood APP
pears quite Indefinite 1t is owned much that IL Is
hardly owned at all The Government has the best be-
cause the strongest claim having by act OF Congress
in 1888 reserved for itself 1900 acres, including
those containing the Springs. AT least so much OF TINS
territory was to be held for the public good in conse
quence Of the healthgving qualities of the waters E1-
Gov. Rector also claims the Springs under an act Oh
Congress granting lands to the New-Madrd (ho suffer-
ers. SO does Col. j. c. Hale under the preemptloh
laws of 1914 and MAJOR W. H. Gaines, likewise under the
preGmption laws of 16 years later score or two OF
eutenans, generals, judges exState treasurers eN-
ctattOrneys also have claims, believes ana there
fore il safe TO predict that nobody can possibly gam
of the supremacy contested acres 1O te heA
ten centuries. Each Of the plaintiffs claims agalhst
each other and ali OF them against the Government SO
thar there is as fine field for endless litigation as any
lawyer ought to ask. When Gabriel shall execute MS
aforementioned SOLO on the cOrnetaplhtOn 10 inc ac
compartment of the crack Of DOOM suspect that nd
won't be half settled That Is case the Sprlngs
(you might add the Summers and Autunns, and WIN
ters tool would never be able TO heal.
Within three four years there have been, ana there
arc now a number OF capitalists DESTROYS OF purchasing
the Springs aud the vicinity. we-knOWn New-hork
gambler who came here completely broken down, ana
was completely built up, was very anxious 10 oul Nv
acres round about and offered, II Is said, SOO0OO Tor
them. or course title can be given under the CIR
cumsauces. The blackieg wanted To make tins SOuth
tone by erecting first class hotels gded Dar-rOos anu
gaudy farO-banks. II the legal tlngles can ever DC
unraveled and the world do not wear out some suc
thing Will eventually be DONE lt Is often asserted tlat
the Hot Springs destined 10 be the American BADEN
Baden, and there are those VINO declare tne9
situation that renowned spa. Persons acqudlnteeu
with the German waterinsplace Will hnd dlihcuty III
detecting any resemblance. Ihls Is IN narrow NaieS,
and IL Badcn-Badeni Dut tnerc Tue parallel IL 10
one abruptly terminates. There be no question that
If money were literally expended here III modern I'M
movements and metropolitan accommodations the
Springs would become great ana crowded center LOT
ne, t nr time crow TO be the principal watering
nlace of the continent Strange may seem 10 those
familiar with the state, there are 10 musketoes III tbls
ncrhbOrhOod. can hardly realize 1t myself, since
Arkansas. for number size, nalguy ana venom % the
winged pests, has long Oeen the banner Sae Oh INC
Iuon recall the valleys or It's turDll streams III nl
summer feel again the burning poison oi thousand
stlngs. ,- , -. .u.
wrought here by the application internally and eXter-
nally OF thermal waters. lnydllds nave received
borg Wesbaden, Carlsbad. Nichy, and Toepltz; ana
there is reason believing that these springs as rene
dial agents scarcely equaled on the giODe. nave
tried to give clear, practical and detailed account Oi
the Hot Springs ia the nope that sufferers Will test te
especially do not remember 10 nave seen any iull
description OF them In any New-fOrk newspaper