Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-06-10
OJO CALIENTE.
improvements Mt the Springs-Solendfd
Properties of the Waters-A
Cosby Letter.

| Special Correspondence OF the New Mexican
OJo CAlIENrE, June S, lSS9.-l9 our
readers are kept we'll informed OF the
mineral resources and agricultural advan-
| tages OF New Mexico. The qualities of
one climate and fruits and the enterprise
| of our people are justly praised and com
| mended to all the world. But We may
speak with equal confidence OF our me-
dicinal springs which are ~ remarkable
as any of the other possessions for WHICH
we are justly proud and grateful.
These springs have their origin in a re-
markable formation on tine west bank OF
the small river which takes its name
from them and empties into the Chama,
A bleak range of naked trachyte and has
attic mountains, is skirted hya lower series
of hills and cliffs formed by alluyial de-
posts and bordering the valley. The
mineral constituents OF these deposits are
chiefly sodium and iron in a coarse gravel
and above these are masses OF conglOm-
crate. In the lower strata lie the sources
OF these wonderful hot springs. Through
them are flowing streams from some
higherssecret reservoirs, abundantly and
constantly supplied. They dissolve the
chemicals stored up ages ago, and the
chemical action resulting evolves the heat
which keep these rapidly flowing springs
at temperature OF from 80 degrees to 112
degrees f.
To utilize these natural fountains which,
issuing from the cliffs, kept two or three
acres overlooked and covered with soda
incrustations, the Hon. Anthony Joseph
the proprietor OF the grant on which they
are situated, turned the river bed from
the cliffs into the middle OF the valley,
cut down the hill for site for his bathing
houses and boarding departments, made
reservoirs for the hot waters which were
running away in streams, and laid out q
small park in front of the buildings where
formerly flowed the river. The distant
mountains which form the valley are
varied in shape and color, and the wind
ing of the stream above and below the
springs makes an attractive alienation OF
grain and alfalfa fields on the bottoms,
studded with the brighter green of clumps
of cottonwoods under which smaller
Mexican villages are seen or familiar
ranches of this country. The health
seeker is most anxious for the effects Of
the waters upon his system and will make
all other considerations of value or pleas
ure secondary to these. The buildings at
Ojo Caliente are comfortable. The baths
and copious draughts OF these delicious
waters make one forget the rest, and the
kind and courteous treatment of the
Messrs. Joseph and their families are I'M
failing sources of comfort to the invalid
sojourning here. One finds in Mrs.
Anthony Joseph true friendliness and
counsel in the distress and weakness
which is here brought for relief to her
judicious care.
There are four kinds OF baths, suited to
almost every form OF disease. The waters
are brought fresh and hot from the rocks
not ten feet away into these bathrooms,
which are fitted up with enameled iron
tubs, or in other places in natural reser-
voirs of rock and gravel. The water is
constantly flowing in and out of these
baths and kept at the same natural tenn
perature, which is as high as can be easily
, borne by the patient. Their mineral and
electric qualities and the abundant car
bonic acid gases in the water give an
exhilarating effect that counteracts the
heat. The effect of a stream OF this hot
chemical water, six inches wide and three
or four inches deep, falling upon the back,
or the sensation of floating in reservoir
of the same two or three feet Deep with
out fear that the temperature will increase
or decrease, is ndescribably pleasant, and
the waters are as agreeable to the taste as
to the touch. The mud baths, for quality
and effect, can not be excelled in the
world. From the cliff, the mineral clay is
dug with pick and placed freshly in the
bath. In fifteen or twenty minutes the
rock has become soapy mud, heated by
constant flow Of the not mineral waters
from which this rock long ago was formed
The transfer is easy from the bath to the
v reservoir below, and one comes out witt
r limbs fairly tingling with electric currents
and an impaired vigor which leads you tt
wish for another plunge.
Z The spring most used has the following
n amounts Of mineral matter III 10000 part'
| of the water