The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-17
oun IA11Er. or. HApoxA
Faots Abeut . FaMeas Government Resort
or1avaiids. Baseball Clubs. asa Tourists.

or1nvaiids. Baseball Clubs. asA Tourests.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 16.-Last winters leglsla-
tion OF Congress for the Hot Springs reserva-
ton In Arkansas has already been OF much
use. During half dozen years or more the
lessees OF the land. and especially OF the
waters. had been secretly pooling their profits.
through covert violations OF the stlpulations
in their leases. intended to prohibit the as
signments OF their interests without the con-
sent of the Secretary Of the Interior. 1t was
found that at least 344 tubs were In the pool:
that Old Hale. Horseshoe. Magnesia. Ramels-
berg. Independent. Ozark. Palace. and Lamar
Springs were all dividing their earnings on
system OF ratings. and that six persons con-
trolled five OF these springs Tho ilegalities
I'm their tenures were such as really to war
rant forfeiture OF the leases and OF all the
improvements made by the lessees.
Besides. OCCUPANTS OF the hotel and bath
house sites were securing valuable privileges
for Inadequate rents. Fifteen wears ago Con.
gress provided for Saying cut the reservation
into squares. lots. and streets. reserving the
tract containing the springs and the four
mountains that overlook the valley. The fol-
lowing year It directed the Interior Depart.
ment to lease the site Of an existing hotel to
its proprietors for ten years. at $1,000 year.
Some time afterward a committee OF the
House OF Representatives visited Hot Springs
and took testimony upon the value OF the hotel
rontaL The lowest estimate given by any
witness was $1,000 year and the highest was
$4,000. The majority Of tho committee re.
ported that 1t should DO $4,000 a year and the
minority believed that it should he $500.
Possibly doubts as to the degree OF COMPETE
uon offered by town hotels caused this differ
ence. or course. the ten years OF the lease
had to run out ut 81 900 only. and even then 1t
fr,,nl hat ~s.I.
CURED. on account OF the peculiar wording OF
the statutes. in order to procure an increase
Of rent. Accordingly. at that time the renewal
OF tho lease was made to contain provision
for Its annulment by act OF Congress or for an
increase Of the rental
These facts will illustrate the necessity for
last winters legislation. The act approved
March 3. 1901. for granting lenses at Hot
Springs. was designed to prevent the control
OF more than one bath house by any one person
or combination Of persons. and also to secure
a proper form Of construction for new build
ings. Under it's provisions two old houses have
already been removed. and their places will be
taken by more substantial and handsome
old pooling system OF icssees and others has
also been broken UP. and new lenses drawn.
and useful OF ali tho Government reservations
Il, originally consisted OF about 1910 acres.
and constitute the portion forever reserved
from sale and dedicated to public uses. The
laying o9t s q ft5ssts and alleys t9ok Up a
these lots 2.0la were planned. and 1858 were
sold or Otherwise disposed Of leaving 500
last winters act provided Tor the sale Of these
lots a as tSs new at to be
ake psse eary he sale
homes ana stores viii thps BE- estsbsGed and
fsNv, DC lnvl
ment and identifying Of the splendid noun
tain side parks.
Vailed p o e hs ysss bs sGps that
not only self sustaining hut financially pros
porous: The twenty persons or firms now
rentals aggregatinC more than S13.OOA and
the total years receipts from water rents and
M.46i after ali expenditures were deducted.
There Is also balance Of sls.57l to the credit
Of Hot Springs in the Treasury which. can be
poor. 81 these free baths bout * 900 were We're
Eseq an daily :" 1sa snd h;
Sas. only il ops6sS that the new free BATH
sSpsh as eHe L sns
up there. there are about four hundred board
h9sf teta ~ ana esh
number will soon be 100. 600 The thorough.
fares have been cedod to the corporation. 30
that the Government now only has it's own
grounds to look out for. With the recent in
crease in rentals and the prospect that for the
remaining lots high prices will be obtained.
there ls clearly nc need OF any appropriation
deed suggest that $40 900 should be- laid out In
scientific Investigations OF the hot water
fountains. but there Is nothing very mysteri-
GUS snont them. Secretary Noble also wants a
liberal appronriation for i'm IMPROVING the noun;
permanent
OF nearly $50. 900 which can be 30 used. be.
sides net earnings Of between 5000 and
$4,000 q year above all current expenditures
for repairs.
The Hot Springs reservation. in fact. can and
should be self-sustaining. since the sanitary
virtues OF its waters and climate and the
beauty OF Its surroundings will always attract
q multitude OF visitors and Justify the legisla-
ton which held 1t for public uses.