The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-05-28
HOT SPRINGS BATHS.
Where and How the INDECENT Poor ar,
Healed

The act of 1878 contains very important
provision to which the attention of the
Secretary of the Interior should be called.
1t provides that the Superintendent of the
Hot Springs shall provide and maintain a
sufficient number of free baths for the in
digent, the expenses thereof to be betrayed
out of the rentals thereinbefore provided
for, being the rents received from the var.
ious lighthouses and tho ground-rent of the
Arlington Hotel, which stands on ground
belonging to the Government and pays an
annual rental of $1,000. This act was
passed six years ago and the revenue de-
rived from these sources must average 49,
900 to 81 900 a year, aud yet there is to-day
only one little vat or tank, about ten feet
long and eight feet wide, known here as
F." The Mudhole IA very appropriate name
where the thousands of poor people who
annually gather here from all parts of the
country are permitted, at certain prescribed
hours of the day, to battle free of charge.
This mudhole, as it is called is located
on the slope Of the mountain, about hun
dred rods southeast of the Arlington Hotel,
and the manner in which these poor, lin-
fortunate, diseased people are obliged to
make use of these waters, if they use them
at all, is a disgrace to any civilized govern
ment. Ihaye twice visited this so-called
free bath SO generously provided for by this
great and powerful Government, and the
sights there witnessed were so nauseating
that my appetite was destroyed for the re-
mainder of the day. On my first visit /
found crowded into this little steaming vat
from fifteen to twenty human beings, white
and black, some of them all doubled up
with rheumatism others-and a majority
afflicted with loathsome diseases in all stages
of deveopment, covered with sores, and oil
crowding one upon another like swine in
stock-car while the steam and the odor
arising from this horrible pit, being confin-
ed in the little room, were almost suffocat-
ing. On my second visit counted thir-
teen in the vat, and the scene presented was
of the same character as before.
met poor man on the street to-day
with his limbs all drawn out of shape by
rheumatism. He told me he had managed
to get money enough to reach the springs
from Minnesota, having heard that the Gov
eminent provided free baths for the poor.
He Baid that he came on here to avail him
self of this privilege, hoping to find relief.
" But, y said he 6 hive been up there and
seen the place, and cannot bring myself
TO the point of entering the pool with all
that crowd, it is 80 terrible and SO indecent;
and besides, fear should find myself af-
flictod with worse disease than now have
should do So"
Certain hours of the day are reserved
for the poor women who come here, but
all are Obliged TO use the same tank. II
should be said, however, that the Govern
ment, in its great generosity, is making ar
engagements for another small tank of like
character, which is to be used, as am nd.
vised, exclusively by tho women. That hui
man beings suffering with all sorts of dis
eases, some of them of the most loathsome
character, should be 80 indecsntly crowded
together in a free bath provided by the
Government Of the United States, with no
place to dress or undress, save ON the MR.
row margin of the pool and in the faoe and
under the very nose Of twenty others wait
ing TO enter, is disgrace TO any civilized
government and to the men who are re-
sponsiblo for this disgusting state of affairs.
7---- r 49, $50 -------