The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-04-30

IRON The chicago lIlNuHtI
The decision of the United States SIT
preme court alllrmiug the decision OF the
court of claims, that the squatter or indi-
-----ual claims to the Hot springs terri
tory in Arkansas are unteuablc, ana vest
iug the title in the United states, Is one
OF more than ordinary Importance. Inc
Hot Springs village occupies valley
ef" "% eng S@qSrg g a2SHb bGiSSie gnr tWo
creek, an a.lucnt OF the Washita river.
Tho springs are contiguous TO the
banks Of hi. brook, aud their heal
ing gualitiu. are well-huuwn through
pnt the Union. \ flourish
Ing village has grown NJ about the
springs, and there is probably an average
OF 1000 visitor at Shc springs TO avail
thomselyo. Of the remarkable remedial
propertic. ol lc waters. These springs
and Their medicinal qualities were wei
known 10 the carly Spanish Adventures,
and even To- the Indians before them, who
told the Spanards stories OF "a tountai1
whose magic waters would heal the sick,
rciuyeuatc tue aged, and confer an ever
youthful Immortality" ln the time Of
Adam the government laid out a rcscr.
walton. covering the territory IN which
these springs are located. After the
earthquake which sunk so much OF the
country below Cairo and made so much
land untcnablc, congress passed a law
giving those who had suffered the right
10 urc-cmpt quarter sections of land. or
an area equivalent 20 what they had lost,
within certain limits and upon certain
conditions. Some OF the parties who
secured the script, in looking about. hit
upon this Hot springs property. and To-
Gated Ulelr script upon the very ground
which the government had set apart H.
national reservation. They squattcd
upon ii, aud ~ there was 40 immediate
contest theyat once commenced building,
leasing grounds, and drawing
rents, and many men have made
fortunes out of their leases. Some
fifteen or twenty years ago suits were
commenced involving the proprictorship
Of the grounds. The contest has been
a long and desperate one. 1t was inter-
rupted 10y the war. but has since been re-
newed. and j, now closed by the decis-
ion OF the supreme court. which dispOses
of all The individual claims ANA vests the
title in the government.
The government having been success.
iul car now make these springs a great
national blessing by converting these
grounds into national park and build
ing great national hospital. This will
(.naturaIly tend to improve the present
inconvenient means of access TO thcN
Better police regulations can be,Mad
than exists now. Long leases can De
given 10 tenants. which will induce per-
mancnt and handsome improvements.
instead OF the wrctchcd pine shantic,
which now stand In the village and along
the banks of the creek. In fact. now that
the title is in the government, il can
make OF these springs, which are the
most notable curative springs in the
country, great Spa, like the famous
German watering places. In thi, view OF
the ease, the decision of the supreme
court is in the Interest of the whole coun
try, and will have tendency 10 make
this remarkable region available 10 Il
much larger number Of people than it Is
now. As it is a matter OF national i'm
portancc. it should secure carly attention
at the hands Of congress.