The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1878-01-10
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SYNOPSIS OF TEE FIRST REPORT OF THIS
CELEBRATED soDY-.RECoNNHNDATro
THAT THE GOVERNMENT RESERVE THE
LAND FOR NATIONAL PARKS, ETC.
Special telegram 70 Chicago Times.
H0T SPRINGS, December 29th.-The
United States Hot Springs commissioners
have Just promulgated their first report,
a synopsis OF which Is here given They
were appointed under the act approved
March Bird. 1877. On the Ssth day Of
April they organized by the election Of
Hon. Aaron Cragin. chairman OF the
board. John Anderson was appointed
stenographer and clerk, and Q. A. Clark
was chosen TO take charge OF the survey.
ing and engineering. They examined
the reserve to be laid OF into lots,
blocks. squares, streets and alleys, and
determined 10 retain control oi
all tho medicinal watrrs Tor the
general public, and directed that all the
thermal springs should be reserved from
sale. For the purpose OF properly per-
forming the work the engineer was au>
thorized 10 make a thorough topography.
cal survey Of the entire reservation.
Claimants were allowed six months to
file their claims, the majority OF whom
filed them within the last month allotted
to them. Rules were made to assist the
claimants IN filing their claims, and the
Office was kept open until IL O'Clock ON
the night OF the 9th day OF October,
1877, being the last hour that could be
allowed the claimants for filing petitions.
During he six months nine hundred and
fifty petitions were filed. The testimony
ls all taken IN short hand and tran
scribed. The Hot Springs noun.
tam, embracing all the thermal
springs, has been laid OF and reserved
for sale. The boundary line follows the
base of the mountain, and Is laid out as
carriage drive, inelosiDg an area Of PAS
acres In the reserve. The commissioner
are of the opinion, from the nature and
character OF the country and the great
importance OF this place as health and
pleasure resort, that much larger track
should be reserved from sale. The thern.
al springs all make their appearance on
the vest side of the hot Spring mountain
and west of the springs across the valley
Is the WhiPpoorwill mountain, the area
OF which Ia about five hundred acres. 1t
Is unavailable tor building lots, but it is
covered with evergreen and other trees Of
beautiful foliage. At the north end Of
the valley Is the Sovacntate mountain.
containing 200 acres, unavailable for
building lots. II these mountain lands
pass into the hands OF private individu-
ais. ii is more than probable that they
would be stripped Of their timber and
rendered unsightly, and-would be the
cause of heating up the valley. The
commission recommend the reservation
by the government of all these mountains
as general parks. II is expected that
the commission will require the exam
nation of nearly 1000 witnesses. The
examinations yet to be made are among
heavy claimants, and several OF tn. m
will occupy the commission from one to
two weeks each in taking testimony.
They ask that power be given them to
authorize the taking OF dispositions, and
and that they haye power to sell con.
demned buildings at public auction.
They recommend the donation OF four
lots tor public school houses. The COM
missioners ask that their time tor finish.
Ing up the work be continued until June
80, 1870. By act of congress April 20,
1889, congress reserved from entry the
Hot Springs, together with four sections
Of land. At that time the surveys
were not complete, nor for six years
after that. Several settlers att
tempted to enter the lands by preemp.
ton prior to congress surveying them.
Litigation continued among the claim.
ants tor thirty years. Congress author.
lied the claimants in 1870 to institute
suits in the court OF claims 10 settle the
titles. The decisions were adverse to
them. Then they appealed TO the su'
preme court April "a, 1870. which also
decided against the claimants. A re-
cever was then appointed to take charge
OF the property and collect rents, and hi
paid to the government 5000 in q few
months, which shows the financial I'm
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