Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-03-25
LETTER FROM HOr SPRINGS, ARK.

AE AGR NUN nWA OF 0ANUS9 Ann
EDITORS CHRONICLE: There are
periods in our lives when we indeed
take no note of time but from its loss"
When last wrote for the columns Of
the CHRONICLE l thought the article
should be followed up, in short time,
by another and perhaps by several in
succession. But weeks have grown
into months and no communication
has been written you. These have
been months of unusual activity
months in which head and hands have
been full aud consequently time has
flown rapidly. During this period
many things have occurred about Hot
Springs that might have been of inter
est to your readers. Events, however,
crowd upon one another in such rapid
succession about this fountain of
youth" that unless they are chronicled
as they pass they escape the pen of the
newspaper correspondent. Hence it
is now aquestion with the writer where
to commence and where to end.
Permit me to say, by way of intro
duction, Gas the preachers express it)
that my lot is cast again, for another
year at least, with this people, my in
terests identified with the growing in
terest of Hot Springs. 1t might be
thought strange fancy to say that l
like the place, but such is neverthe-
less the case With all the suffering
that one is compelled to witness, and
with some of the darkest pages of hu-
man nature SO prominently before your
eye that you cannot escape reading
them, yet the place possesses a singular
attraction for myself and most per-
sons. The activity of our citizens, dis
played in the erection of new build
ings. the improvement of our streets
and general improvement of the place,
the coming and going of the multi
tudes who throng our streets from all
parts of the world, give us not only a
city-like appearance, but keep interest
and expectation alive and make one
feel as though he belonged to world
wide awake and moving. It could not
be expected of course that the place
would be paradise, or that it had
reached the standard of morality that
belongs to some other towns yet the
place will compare favorably in this
respect perhaps with any other water
ing place. 1t is matter of astonish-
ment that there is as little thieving and
robbing as there is.
Our people have been for months in
daily expectation of the settlement of
the title to the Springs. 1t is still
thoughtthata decision will be received
soon. In spite of this unsettled state
of the property. the place continues to
improve. Among the noticeable build
ings that have been erected lately is
the Smith House, or Avenue Hotel, /"
as it is called. 1t is quite commod-
ious and elegant buildings we'll
manned and we'll furnished.
The completion of our branch rail-
road is another indication of perman-
ent prosperity, and is cause of great
rejoicing on the part of our visiting
population. The Hot Springs railroad
is no longer a thing of the future, but
pleasant reality. We hear the whistle
of the locomotive twice day coming
to the valley with crowds of pleasure
and health seekers. All honor to the
president, Mr.. Reynolds, or Diamond
joe" as he is popularity known. Con-
sequent upon the completion of the
road we have had very great increase
in the number of visitors. There are
more here now it is said than has ever
been known at any season before. Once
but few came who were not seeking
health, and these came only after all
other remedies for disease and means
for health had been tried in vain. A
trip over these mountains in our clum-
sy stage coaches to these waters was
the last resort. But now, since we are
easy of access, our hotels are filled,
not simply with the afflicted, but with
pleasure seekers-mostly Northern
and Eastern people who spend their
winters South.
You know that we have persons
afflicted with every imaginable disease,
I have just met with a man most sing
ularly afflicted From his waist up
his flesh is as hard as piece of wood.
I felt of his face and neck and found
them about as smooth and hard as
marble. Some parties call him the
petrifed man. He has commenced
bathing in the hope of recovery. Now
for fair test of the waters. If they
affect cure you may send some of
your Tennessee fossils down and we
will try the rejuvenating waters on
them. But perhaps have said enough
at present.
Col. Paine, one of YOUR citizens, is
rapidly regaining his health and ex-
poets to return home soon, sound
man.
S. G. COLBURN.
Hot Springs, Ark, March -, 1876.
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