The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-10

over $500 900 with capacity for several
hundred guests. 1t is perched on a knoll
45O0 feet above sea level and $50 feet
above the surrounding valley near
point where the Spray river dashes furi-
ously over a series of rapids into the
blue Bow river and. commands fine
views toward every point of the compass
for here are mountains to the
right, to the left, before and behind,
and from the revolving room on the
roof the guest can get any outlook he
desires. one says. the Candian
Pacific Hotel contains corridors
for the invalid, turrets for the
astronomer and balconies for low
ers." Looking in any direction from
its wide verandas one is puzzled To un-
derstand how he got here and still more
puzzled as to the way out. This is ab-
solute isolation from the rest of the
world: a spot where no sound or sign
of civilization is found save when we
gaze towards the hotel itself, for this
is. virtually, the only human habitation
dscernable as far as the eye can see
across these miles upon miles of ragged
mountains. Connected with the hotel
are baths supplied from the hot springs
where one can rejuvenate himself in
the magic hot sulphur waters i'm a por-
celain tub, or he may plunge into ma
omen air-or in dome rooted cave.
CURATIVE SPRINGS.
These hot and sulphurous springs
possess wonderful curative properties,
and since the opening of the railway,
have attracted thousands of people
from all over the country and the world
The character of the water is said to be
similar to that of the Hot Springs of
ALL, ,1Nr INN
sulphuretted hydrogen and containing
considerable quantity of various
salts, sulphur calcium, carbon, mag
nesia and soda. These springs flow out
of the side of Sulphur mountain so not
as to be nearly boiling. Bathing IN
them has a powerful sudoriiic erect
and q very remarkable specific action
upon the system and the waters. when
taken internally, are very eftcacious IN
eliminating posons from the blood
Marvellous cures from rheumatism,
neuralgia sciatica. and similar diseases
have been effected, even cases where
persons have been bitten by rattle
snakes. when life has been despaired OF,
have been completely cured, and acute
cases of sciatica have been relieved
while in the first bath. The physicians
say: THE invalids get well so fast
the lame walk, the blind see, and the
Doctors lee, SO wee, So Ntt' L ii'sN
springs some day are likely to be as
famous as Baden Baden. The temper
ature of the water at the real source
is 12O degrees, but at the baths it is ll5
degrees. AT the Sanitarium and the.
Canadian Pacific Railway hotel,
which get their supply by
pipes direct from the springs,
the temperature is 10 degrees: at the
Basin and also Cave, from 90 to % de-
grees. The hottest springs are up the
side of sulphur Mountain, 5,2OO feet
above sea level, reached by a charm
ing drive over a macadamized road.
The most important springs have been
improved by the government and pic
turesque bathing houses have been
erected and placed under the care OF
attendants.
IN A FAMOUS CAVE.
We took these drives and visited the
Sanitarum, the pools and caves, with
deep interest. A brief description of
one of the latter may be of interest to
the reader This cave opens into a
tunnel through the base of an old gey-
Ser cone. 1t consists of a glittering
chamber forty Ivy fifty feet. and twenty
feet to the dome. The dome, or roof
narrows down at the top to Il small hole
in the ground, through which the steam
escapes. After crossing a rustic bridge
lighted by coal oil lamps, the roaring
hot waters underneath and the heat
and fumes of sulphur making 1t an
uncanny entrance, short light OF
steps leads to a great pool of green
sulphur water, clear as glass and very
similar to the hot springs of Yellow
stone Park. The pool is only four or
five feet deep and bubbles and steams
constantly 1t is fenced around and
rope is stretched across the pool, for
there are several places where the
water pours from below with such
force as to carry the unassisted
bather off his feet, for drowning is
very easy in this sulphur water.
Here the bather gives himself up to
his delight in its velvety softness, with
stalacites and rocky shelves looming
above and about him in the weird half
light from the ceiling. Through the ex-
ertiOns of George A. Stewart, ID. l.. S..
superintendent of the park, and to
whom we are indebted for much val
liable data, the springs, cave and basin
have been at great expense made per-
feet for the enjoyment of visitors. In
fact. all parts of the park have been
made accessible by most perfect sys-
TEN of roads, walks and bridges,
planned and carried out by Mr.. Stewart.
These roads are concrete abundance of
clay being intermiXed with the earth
and gravel. We can but think what a
grand thorOugh-fare for the enthusiasts
tic wheelmen. These roads scale i'm
possible looking mountain sides and
pierce through pine forests, where
streams have been bridged and trails
cut. until the Park is a paradise for
the pedestrian, the equestrian, the hun
ter the fisherman, the canoiSt, the bO-
tanist. the geoOgist, the astronomer,
the invalid, the artist, and last but not
least, the kodak fiend. whose work here
is especially enchanting to every lover
of nature.
PARK WELL CARED FOR.
AS civil engineer the works of Mr.
Stewart through the park, which are
one of its most notable characteristics
show that he Is entitled to command
ing rank. Many valuable improvements
are due to his untiring zeal. No bar
room or saloon is permitted nor shoot
ing allowed within the park limits
Permits for camping may be obtained
from Superintendent Stewart. Boat
ing may be indulged in on the Bow
river and on the lake in whose waters
are excellent fishing; also driving
walking or mountain climbing over the
excellent roads and bride paths. The
present reservation is to be enlarged to
nearly three thousand square miles Gf
the project of Mr.. Stewart is carried
ou) for it's present dimensions are far
too narrow for the object to be at
tanned.
popularity Of the Bow river, which
is thousand miles long from its
source among the glaciers, to its june
tion with the Saskatchewan, is one
continuous rapids, with the exception
of that portion running through the
parl-where there is some eight or ten
miles of slack water that Nature Spems
to have provided especially for the en-
joyment of park tourists. Steamers
navigateit through the present domain.
For hours we enjoyed the sweet
breezes perfumed by the fir trees that
like the pine and hemlock has fra