The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1895-07-20

beds Of water cress. The town is pro
tected on all sides by high hills clothed
with mountain pine, but the general as
pect is rather more bleak and desolate
than charming ard conveys but little of
the beauties of nature found farther
north. But what nature lacks man has
added and money has been poured out
without stint in Hot Springs. particular
ly by one man, Nlr. f. Il. Evans. He
ownes the Evans Hote,, plunge bath,
electric light plant and water works, all
told representing an Investment of near
ly half million. Hot Springs can
show over million and half of public
Improvement made within the space of
very few years. 1t has dozen church
organizations, five of which have their
own buildings.
We question il there is handsomer
hotel between New York and San Fran
cisco than the Evans. Others cost more
money and are larger and more elegant
IN their furnishings, but no pleasure re-
sort east can boast Of hotel like it, The
house Is constructed OF the beautiful
pinkish-brown sandstone quarried near
by, five stories in hight, with recess
courts front and rear-giying it the
shape OF the letter Hand covers full
block of ground. magnificent yeranda
encircles the house OH two sides and eX-
tends back in front over the entire court,
making a floor space sufficient to accom-
odate dozen sets Of quadrilles here
on every pleasant summer evening hop
takes place. The veranda is bordered
with electric lights, giving the building
stlkingly beautiful appearance at
night.
This brown sandstone referred to en-
ters largely into the construction of
buildings in Hot Springs and vicinity
and is the finest building stone the
writer ever saw. 1t appears to have all
the qualities of the famous Ohio sand
stone but is very much handsomer. The
Gillespie. another very fine hotel opposite
the Evans, is constructed of this stone.
as are also the Soldiers Home, court
house, railroad depot and other public
buildings and business blocks.
But Hot Springs chieftest glory is its
plunge bath-the finest OF its kind in the
world. In fact, take away the Evans
and this plunge bath and Hot Springs
would have but little charms for the
average tourist. The plunge bath is
hugh stone cement basin. 775x25O feet,
covered with glass r0of aud lighted
evenings by electric lights The water
is clear as crystal at all ,imes-even il
hundreds are bathing AID bubbles up
from the pebbly bottom from hundreds
OF tiny springs at the ra. of 100000 an
hour. The water is from four to seven
feet in depth and OF a temperature Of 96
degrees the year around. There is 80
foot toboggan slide, spring boards. ropes,
floats and every contriyance the most
reckless acrobat could wish for. A bath
here on cCOl day Will warm up the
system for hours and on the hottest day
is equally refreshing. 1t gets away with
all the bathing places the writer ever
saw. When people once get in it it
takes club almost to drive them out
and they go again and again and make
their final leave taking with extreme
regret. There are six other bath houses
in the town where baths may be had in
every imaginable form.
Monday morning the Press association
met in the opera-honse in regular ses-
sion and transacted the usual amount of
business. After dinner the citizens gave
the party carriage drive to principal
points ofinterest, including the Soldiers
Home. This is beautiful building,
much handsomer than We expected to
see, and a magnificent view Of Hot
Springs and its green background is
had from the verandas. The Home rests
upon an eminence within so acres of en-
closed grounds and a finer home no man
could ask for. 1he Home is very finely
furnished Throughout and the cuisine is
superiorto the average hotel. We dare
say that not one of its inmates ever
Jared so we'll. The library is cool and
well lighted and contains an abundance
of books ami all The current magazines.
together with many OF the state news
papers. Still those familiar with the
Soldiers Home VIII tell you that it con-
tains more hickers 20 the square inch
tnpf pf
them are much abused and neglected
heroes-in their own minds-and here
are found philosophers, statesmen and
political economists who can give Uncle
Sam more pointers in minute than
wagon would hold It's trying posi-
| tiOn for he who holds the Office of COM
mandant and he comes pretty near earn
ing his $500 salary. Men who were dead
set against Capt. Lucas when he was
commandant before were equally as
anxious to h0"p lin back. Others,
probably, willwant TO hang him in setli-
gy before many days. It's an exceedingly
delicate job to handle 10 to 100 men
who are neither paupcrs nor prisoners
and yet necessarily subjected to certain
rules and restraints applicable to either.
Tuesday we hired livery stable for
n day and drove out 12 miles or so to
sec the famous Wind Cave, the owner
and agent for it having kindly offered to
admit the party at half price-50 centssa
head. Gov. Sheldon, who arrived the