Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-03-10
FROM ARKANSAS.
ALL ABOUTHOT SPRINGS
Special Correspondence Independent.

SPeciai correspondents Independent.
ARLINGTON Hotel, Hot
Springs. March Sd, 1883. The
Hot Springs of Arkansas are stu.
ated on the mountain, the creek
and In the valley of the same
name, Atty. Ave miles southwest
from Little Rock, the capital OF
the State. Tie town lies in deep
gorge. between two rugged spurs
of the Ozark Mountains. From a
typographical point of view, this
is about the last place in the State
of Arkansas one would select on
which TO build a town, aud were
it not for the wonderful medicinal
properties of the hot waters which
flow increasingly from the noun
tain side. there would be no town
here, this being mountain re-
gion containing but little tilable
land.
The town of Hot Springs con-
tains a resident population Of
about 1000; has gas, water works,
street cars, telephone, and an OPP
era House. The principal street,
in fact there is but one, is some
thing like 100 feet wide, from q
half to three-quarters OF mile
long, and runs almost due north
and south with one or two curves
in it, following, Of course, the
windings of the valley, through
which it runs. A mountain stream
called Hot Springs Creek, runs
thro' the middle of the street, from
one end of the town to the other,
and it is into tnis stream that the
Springs, both hot and cold, empti.
ed. Far above.on either eide, rise
the precipitous Ozark clad in pine
and hemlock and laurel and fern.
The one on the east side of the
creek Is Hot Sprinys Mountain,
and from it alone flow all the
thermal waters that have given
this region celebrity which
to far excel Baden Ba-
den, and all the celebrated Springs
of the new and old world. The
most of them are from so to rs It.
above the level Of the valley, and
II few near the margin ofthe creek.
There are 70 or more OF these
springs in constant flow, and their
ranges from 90 deg.
TO $50 deg. Fab, and many of
them are hot enough to boil an
egg. Where all this heat comes
from is one of the things that no
fellow can find out. 1t Is barely
that the old Dutch emf
grant, who is reported to have
stopped here on his way to Next
co, over fifty years ago, may have
the correct idea in regard
to it. 1t is said that he camped
here, and STOPPING down to drink
out of one of the springs, he jump
ed up badly scalded, and cried out
to his son, 'Shon, Shon, trive on.
hell is not more ash mile from
dis place."
The United States government
has made a permanent reservation
Of Hot Springs Mountain, thus re-
entire control of it's many
Springs. The lots at
the foot of the mountain on the
eastern side of,and fronting on the
creek, are leased to various indi-
viduals and firms for bath house
purposes only, and here are situa-
ted the principal bathing estab-
lishments, seven in number, con-
Iaining in the aggregate some
thing over 300 bath-tubs, besides
arrangements for vapor and other
baths. The Government Commits
sion appointed by Congress few
years ago, to settle the disputed
claims in the Hot Springs proper
Iy, awarded the land lying on the
west side TO the various claimants,
and 1t is on these lots that the
principal business part Of the town
Is built. A view from either end
Of the street presents on one side
Of the valley, u row of handsome
and on the opposite
side, stores, offices, billiard and
drinking saloons, barber shops. OF
kinds. presenting very |
much the appearance OF any other
town of the same size, except that
everything is built Of wood, In
the side walks, the brick
being about one to every |
thirty frame. The side walks, as
\ general thing, are from five
TO eight feet above the level OF the
street, and have steps at various
points, to get up and down. But
notwithstanding, Hot Springs has
some hne stores and they carryuss
6na q nlaaa Of uonda "a can hA