San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-10-06

worid-The Climate is Balmy
and the Scenery is En-
chanting What hi
seases the Water Will
Cure - Improve
ments - Per-
sOnal.
ToPo CHI co, Oct. 2, 1892.
To the LIGHT.
presume many of the readers OF
the LIGHT have no idea where the
Topo Chico Hot Springs are situated
or know anything about the healing
qualities of those waters. For their
benefit we inscribe this letter.
The Topo Chico Hot Springs are
about six miles north from the Main
plazs in the city of Montel ey and four
miles from the Mexican National
railway, half q mile west from the
crossing of the Topo Chico creek by
that road, and at the foot of Topo
Chico mountain.
The existence of those springs were
known to the Indians for
generations before Columbus dis
covered America and SO closely
were they guarded by them that only
few tribes knew of their existance.
1t was not until the Emperor Monte
yuma contracted rheumatism and
malaria during the rainy season that
their mediumal:: virtues became
known throughout this wonderland.
When he was confined to his palace
with the above disease the medicine
men and wise men of his empire
were sent for, for the purpose of re-
lieving his suffrages but he failed
to find remedy that would reach
his case. But some of the wise men
had heard of the healing power of
the Topo Chico springs from Indian
captives, and so informed the EN-
peror. He then gave orders that
runners (scouts) should be sent in
search of them and when they dis
covered the springs, they returned to
the Emperor with the glad tldings.
They then had large saddle made
and mounted it on q large mustang
horse for him to ride on (the Mexican
National Railway was not built in
those days. while his escorts rode on
mules and burros, and started north.
When they arrived at the springs the
Emperor was so stiff and emaciated
from he rheumatism and malaria,
that he was not able to walk, so that
he had to be carried by the men
and put into the water. After
taking q course of baths, he was
restored to health. He felt so elated
at this that he wanted to notify his
people, the sick. and afflicted, where
they were. He commanded his sub.
jects to surround the springs with q
chain of mountains so as to protect
them; hence the Sierra Madre. AS
many of his subjects were very re
ligious, and in order to crafty their
vanity, he crowned the mountain on
the west with mitre and called it
Sierra Ia MitIe; the lesser one in front
he named Sierra la Ohispado; while
on the larger mountain to the south
east he caused bis saddle to be placed
and called it Sierra Silla. Back of the
springs be caused to be erected q
mountain Of black marble, for the
purpose of keeping out northers and
boiling democrats from Texas. When
all these works were completed, he
and his escort started for home. They
were met on the outskirts of the city
by his loyal people, who received him
with open arms. They gave them a
banquet and got upa barbecue for the
true history of the discovery of the
Topo Chico Hot Springs, as discovered
and complied by your correspondent
in the LIGHT. It was not until 1882
that there were any efforts made to
develop them. That y ear Major Jules
A. Randle, q citizen of Washington
county, Tex, leased them for a
a.
buildings over them, put in
bath tubs and improved the
grounds and built a street railway
from the city to the spring, and in
June, 1887, they were thrown open to
the public.
This street car line is connected
with his street car line in the city,
all the hotels, the belt line to the
Bishops mountain, and with "AI
Oriente y Sur de Monterey" and the
"Empresa Mexicaao," two lines OF
street cars thatare connected with all
the hotels, plszas, parks and churches
throughout the city so that visitors
to the springs while going through a
course OF treatment can visit every
place of interest in Monterey.
Analysis OF THE WATERS.
DIR. Jose Elenterio Gonzalez, q dis
tiDguished physician of Mon terey
analysed the waters aud found that
they contained the following:
Cloride of sodium OLA
Cloride of lime. O DIG
Cloride of msgnesis ..... ..O.OlS
Bicarbonate OF lime. o 2O7
Bicsr Donate of soda OOPS
Sulphate of lime. ......... .....O.lO4
Silicste of alum. ..O.027
Slncate OF lime. ...,.............0 OS5
Traces Of iron
Tamneratura 101 f.rh