The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-17
HEYPLACETRUSTIN WATER
An Enterprising Indiana Town with Its
Field of Flowing Medicinal Wells.
Martinsville Citizens Entertain a Number Of
Visitors as Only Free-Hearted People Can
Do-Blue Lick at the New Denison.

thO
weary and shipping its artesian water il
little brown jugs to ali points where its
curative properties nave become known.
The water has such reliable indorsers az
Judge Elliott. of the Supreme Court, Judge
Lamb, Hon. Stanton j. Peelle, Albert Gall
and many others who have tried it. 1t is a
little singular the way the people of that
thriving and attractive town had their at.
tentiOn directed to sanitariums, baths and
flowing wells. When the people of every
town and city in the State counted on the
possibility of having natural gas to bring
them prosperity, those of M~artinsville, al
ways enterprising, came early into line as
~prospectors. Their experimental borings
brought no gas, but they did water, and
that came into the borings long be-
fore the drill cut into Trenton
rock. With the chance that the water
might be useful, care was taken to save it,
and when the drill refused to let cheap
well-owners said they would rest the fut-
nre of the place upon the flow of artesian.
Some chemists Analysed it, and its prop
critics suggested cures for rheumatism. A
few afflicted with that disease were in
duced to try 1T, after all other remedies
had failed. They were relieved, and the
town has fame ahead. not only as a center
of sanitariums, but as a summer resort.
That is to be the M%artlnsville of the fut-
u!re: say the leading citizens, and q real
1zati9n of their hopes Is q certainty if the
people keep up the active spirit they now
manifest. While q large trade has already
been secured IN shipping the water, there
is such q vast amount of it in u~nceasing
as as" m ine% 9aly xit swo or av three ~ wells Fl that s1at
Az all times of the day the people of the
town and che visitors they now have with
them continually are going to the wells
With empty Jugs and coming away with
item filled. While at the wells, in thus
securing a supply for home use, each person
drinks one, two. or more glasses of the
water. Everybody in Martinsville feels it
incumbent upon him or her to give evil
dence of faith in the health-giving agency
by drinking all they can of 1t. Even the
children take part in thus helping to start
the town on the road to prosperity. This
having its effect, for there is now hardly o
private house that has not a boarder OF
two, while the hotels and regular boarding
houses are full. All of these visitors are
there to drink the water. battle in it and
revel in it If necessary. What is noticeable,
too. there is not one of these sol Ourners in
the place for health or recreation who
has not become equally as enthusi-
astic as the. townsmen in expressing
their faith in Martinsville a~rtesian. It
costs nothing to drink the water and very
little to battle in it. Board is reasonable,
the air invigorating and the scenery pleas
ing as whole, Attractive IN some places
and charming in one or two instances.
These conditions are apt to make within a
year the new Martinsville forget what she
was twelve months ago.
1t Is believed, and there is no reason why
the development of the future should not
establish 1t, that the drill put into the
earth anvyyhara Qhprf fha nlaaa will nrO-
duce just as good curative water and Just
as valuable wells as those now flowing.
Iais is so deeply impressed on the minds of
those who have money to spend In pros
ricks will be as plentiful in Martinsville as
they were in probable gas fields when the
pioneers in that development were hopeful
and nervy. SO certain is f.. f. Branch, a
wealthy and enterprising citizen of the
place. of the good that is to come, that he
ment than any one has done before. Lying
west of the /. g. V. railway, and
about q half mile from the Mar
tlnsvilIe depot, he has sixty-five
to erect there a fine hotel. ornament the
grounds, construct a lake a half mile long
and lay Off plats for lawn tennis and base
ball. There Is need of q large hotel. About
the same distance from the depot on the
east side is Eb Henderson's home property,
has retired from politics for q while and Is
devoting his enthusiasm to artesian water.
A drill is going into the earth not a hun
dred feet from his house. When the water
comes Mr.. Henderson will turn his hand
some house into O sanitarium and flourish,
1t Is hoped, as q doctor of artesian methods
as he did a while ago as a doctor of politics
Thus. Mr.. Branch on the west of the town,
and Mr.. Henderson on the east, are leading
in practical methods, with the earnest sup
mort Of THAR tow nsmeu II ia the idea dow
there that MartinsyilleO ughttO be q summer
home for Indianapolis people. Those oil
this city who have been there not only
pronounce the idea o good one, but EN-.
h most forcible proof of action in the
latter direction was the. presence of an ex-
cursion party from Indianapolis at Mar
tinsville yesterday. The excursionists
came on the invitation of Mi. Branch, with
the indianapolis & V%incennes railway. Al
$50 o'clock In the morning a special train
of two cars left the Union Station here
and the passengers were about sixty. IL
number. Among them were Mr.. and Mrs
Il !; Rsnn VI T cSic sss,r Genes saes' 4. 's s. F %.sss'
Col. Samuel Merrill; Col. Michael Downing
Franklin Landers, Mr.. and Mrs. jackson
| Landers, Mr.. and Mrs. Will Lowe, Cincin
ha.1; Mt Mrs ana no MRS Me- TeO ags t %rs' M HeM W "
Mansfield, Mr.. and Mrs. Delos Root, JOIN
Cary, Dr.. John N. Hurry, DR.. Alembert w
Brayton. Dr.. d. M. Purman, Henry
Schwinge, w. II. Hobbs, VIM. Higgins, w
Hensry L. Smith. Edward c. Esan
X. f, Catterson, Daniel Monpinger, George
A. Woodford and III. X. Dering, the lattel
assistant general passenger agent of tn
Panhandle. He, with Superintendent
Mansfield, of the /. a. ". represented tn,
company in attention to the guests, while
| b. Mahanna, of this city, acted in that ca
pacity for Mr.. Branch The train was de
fayed a little, but il brought the excursion
lists into Martinsville about 10 o'clock
They were met at the depot by the leadinI
citizens of the place, who were there will
every carriage and team, either private o
livery, that could be found. Once in tn,
carriages, the visitors were driven through
the beautiful streets. ined with inviting
homes, to the country, to q high hill, on tn
northeast of the town. From that point
scene rarely equaled spread before the eye
of the delighted beholders. Exclamation
of surprise and pleasure were heard Oh
every hand. In the valley below lay Mar
tinsville, nesting among the trees
Fourteen miles away, IS the -da.
was most charming and the air clear
could be seen through q field-glass th
town of Gosport. Intervening were field
and woods, and to the east, south and Yves
were the same features of natural beaut'
to fill in the beautiful picture.
Leaving the hill, the visitors were take
| IN Eth Hauderson'a home In look ar th