The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-10-30
GheGGlt&ui9suGet
Tnc Hot Springs Reservation Of
which General Kelley IL now
Srnpriitt Cu;lCut,
0t"
arren WetIy

a,r.r Weekly
The engraving on page $50 presents Il
striking view Of tho village OF Hot
Soring., Arkansas, which during the past
its years has gained considerable repu-
.i5n as health resort. Although
knoSn for the best part Of half century,
/, wa not until the close OF the civil war
tbs, public attention was drawn to the
p!ace' Since tina. time the construction
II railways 70 tue ipsinSs has brought
lhem within easy reach OF the afflicted,
lrd a. present the yearly attendance OF
iaylliii amounts to 10000. The waters,
it i. claimed, contain specifics against
rheumatism, govt, scroiula, partial para.
isis, neuralgia, and all chronic diseases
arising from adisoslercd condition OF the
blood.
The village OF Hot Springs is reached
rom Louisville By way Of Memphis,
OF By St. Louis by way OF the Iron
Moutain Railroad connecting with trains
rom Memphi. at Little Rock and thence
to Malvern. The journey between Nal.
gern and the springs, formerly accom-
plished by neaEs Of stage, is now made
by rail, nGrow.guGge road having been
constructed for the especial purpose Of
carrying visitors to the latter place. On
leaving the station at Malvern the little
train duhes round q sharp curve, and in
70 4 narrow gap cut through the dense
growth Of Southern oaks and pine. The
road.bed Is very smooth, and the small
engine, az it climbs over the hills, puff,
and pants with all the energy OF full.
grown locomotive making fifty miles an
hour. Anothe sharp curve brings the
traveller TO the bank Of the Odachita
River, in which stream, according to one
Of our modern historians, the bones Of
De Soto lie unburied. Alter this, Cove
Creek Station and the town OF Lawrence
are soon passed, and the frantic little
train PUSHES into the narrow valley which
c1ntiius the village Of Hot Springs.
Then follows 4 short drive to one or an.
other hotel, and the visitor has reached
hi. destination.
Who were the early discoveries Of the
Hot Springs Is a matter involved ia 70
much obscurily that it ia useless TO pur-
sue the inquiry. But the inhabitants OF
the valley have endowed them with 70.
ulntic history more interesting than any
stupid array Of facts. 1t ia claimed that
thee are the springs which the sensation
a Iadian described to Ponce de Leon as
the fountains OF youth" Finally the
story reached the ears OF De Soto, who,
broken down by his severe campaigns,
determined to seek them, and, il possible,
regain his health through their curative
agency. This the whites learned from
tie Indians, who pointed out an old camp.
Ing ground where an army Of pale.faces
once encamped. The testimony that De
Soto was among them is not clearly sup
ported, but the same can be said Of most
traditions.
The first settlers Appearediu the neigh
borhood Of the Hot Springs ~ early as
1875, but it was not until 1880 that the
hrst permanent structure known as the
"Whittington Residence" was erected.
Prior to this three different parties claim
cd the lands upon which the springs were
locaied, one by presumption, one by squat
ter occupation, and one by having located
New Madrid land scrip upon it. The
latter claim would no doubt have been
good had i; no. been for the fact that un.
der the Law Of 1920 all mineral or medi-
ellspring4 we're reserved to the govern
ment. The claimants, however, contin.
led to occupy the lands and fight over
them in the cOurts, occasionally varying
their legal strife With shotgun practice
Shen the courts were not in session.
Notwithstanding the difficulties OF the
rival claimants, the place continued to
gov, the climate IA we'll as the curative
ProPertie, Of the springs offering great
attractions TO settlers. Added to this,
there are few lovelier bits OF scenery to
be found in the West. The mountains or
bills surrounding Hot Springs do not
present the regular appearance Of a
mountain range, but are more like a
scattered group OF hills, though the gen.
sFlI direction OF the valleys toward the
.9uth and southeast can readily be traced.
dot Springs Mountain is about mile
aida half inlength, half . mile in width,
and at tI highest point stands !, 900 feet
above tide water 1.-THE Gulf. The noun
IAN tends from east TO wcat. The east.
d'n end iJa continuous line Of bold over
hanging crags and bluffs, from 500 feet to
700 feet in height, while at their foot runs
the Gulpha, a quiet little stream, whose
Eaiers glide with a soft murmur among
the rocks. In tho spring, however, or
Alter rainfall, the GuIpha becomes an
angry river, pouring through the valley
With all the force and fury Of a cataract.
The springs at the eastern end OF the
mountain, and there are many OF them,
'rN uniformly cold. Itison the western
!,oPe that tho no: springs are found.
They are fIty.two IN number, and flow
rom the mountain eide within 4 space
LOO teet long By 200 in width. The
highest IL located at a point 1871 feet above
Ihe bed Of Hot Springs Greek, while the
lowest sends forth its warm current in the
p'G'! Of that stream, Scienliss hSvE
yielded, however, that there Is but ons
'Pting' having fifty mouths or places oil
G'aIIo". And while they have received
lluesent names, such as the "Arsenlc,n
Alum" AID big Iron" springs, a care,
!Hl analysis Of the waters Of each, made
oy Professor ]. q, WardlAw, has fully
established the fact that In every case the
constituent elements are the same. A.
Me result oil his Investigations, we have
Me following table, showing the chemical
properties OF the hot springs. 10 rs
In nnA eaIInn ~ ,Snt.. to,,....t,.,