The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-25
ARKANSAS HOT SPRINGS
A HEALTH RESORT OWNED AND
CONDUCTED BY GOVERNMENT.
Example of PaternaIism, Charges of
All Descriptions Being Regulated
by National Authority.
New York Tribune.

these wonderful hot springs
The functions OF government take odd
turns sometimes, and here is an example
of the EXTREMIST paternalism exercised by
the most liberal of governments. The
United States is here engaged in the heal
ing business on a tremendous scale both
directly and through the instrumentality of
others.
The hot waters which flow from the side
of one of the Ozark mountains down in
Arkansas, in volume approaching 900
gallons daily, are all under the direct own
ership and control of the United States. The
government not only owns the springs
themselves and the mountain from which
they flow, but three other adjacent noun
tains and intervening property amounting
to one thousand acres.
Not a bath can be taken nor a. glass of
water drunk except by the consent of the
government. Individuals, of course, do not
have to apply for the privileges of the
baths, but the concessions have to be first
obtained by those who dispense them to the
public The hot springs are held as gov
eminent monopoly just as the making and
sale of postage stamps are, and the income
derived from the use of the water by the
various lighthouses is all expended in i'm
proving and identifying the reservation.
The process of Improvement has been going
on for years under the charge of the SUI
perintendent appointed by the secretary of
the interior, in whose department control
of the springs is vested. 1t is one of the
governments most beautiful and artistic
pieces of property
Without going into details it is enough
to say that early in the present century
the government became convinced that the
waters of Hot Springs, Ark, possessed mar
velous curative properties, and it would re-
suit in a great wrong and hardship to the
people to allow them to remain in private
hands, so in 1892 by act of Congress they,
with ample land around them were set
apart "a national sanitarium for all
time and were dedicated to the people
of the United States to be forever free from
sale or alienation" so the act reads.
By this act the government became the
owner of SeVenty-two hot springs. with Il
temperature reaching as high as ISL degrees
and averaging 136 degrees Fahrenheit. and
now controls them in manner similar to
the control exercised by their respective gov
ernments over Carlsbad and Baden Baden.
The springs issue from the ground from a
few feet above the base of the mountain to
two hundred feet up its side, and are now
all inclosed in masonry and conducted to
reservoirs, with two or three exceptions,
where they are left open for the inspection
of those curious to view the wonderful phe-
pONSAbAC ~
the fountain head.
REGULATION OF CHARGES.
The lighthouses pay for the privilege of
using the hot water at the rate of $50 a
tub There are twenty-four lighthouses, eX-
elusive of the government free bathhouse,
using the hot water and they have capacity
for about 5000 baths a day, and there is
water enough to increase this number to
$4,000 if necessary. The number of baths
actually administered in the fiscal year clos
ing Aug. 1 last was 324,307, not including
those bathed free by the government, which
was 1S4 $50, making a total of 5GS, 9S7.
The price of baths and attendance is fixed
by the government for each bathhouse ac-
cording to it's equipment and facilities, and
the bathhouse is not allowed to depart from
this price in either direction. 1t can charge
no more and no less. under penalty of hav-
ing the hot water cut off, The rule is rigidly
enforced, and no imposition is possible.
OF the lighthouses about half are scattered
on the reservation, as is also one of the great
hotels, the Arlington, for which a rental is
paid, and the others are scattered about
the city. They vary in quality from plain to
the most elaborate and luxurious.
ton me- form what IS Known p as Bath6onse
Row and it is probably as beautiful and
certainly as unique a sight as is to be seen
in Uncle Sans domain The place presents
a variety of choice architecture, extending
for about three ordinary city blocks along
Central avenue, and the lighthouses them
semi-tropical trees and shrubbery which
form beautiful park, through which runs
The government free bathhouse is one OF
the prominent features of 1.-THE Row." 1t is
a little back and higher upon the mountain
than the other lighthouses, and is devoted
exclusively to bathing the INDECENT, those
who need the treatment and cannot afford
to pay for baths at the regular houses. Thus
the government inSureS the benefit of the
waters to all, and people in needy circum-
stances are provided for, as we'll the most
opulent. In this bathhouse pools take the
place of tubs. Four large pools are pro-
vided. one each for white and colored men
and one each for the women of the two
races. An average of five hundred day
baths. Sufferers from almost every known
aiment plunge into the pools, which are
kept at the proper temperature by attend
ants. Statistics from those thus treated
show that over 70 per cent. of them are
either cured or greatly benefited. Plans
have been approved at Washington. and
establish a free dispensary and free medical
attendance for the ailing poor, in connection
In the early eighties the government Sc
lected Hot Springs as the seat of its Army
and Navy General Hospital, and constructed
a building or group of buildings for the
treatment of the sick soldiers and sailors
and officers of the army and navy and SOL
diers of the civil war. The hot water treat
institution. 1t was on account of the hot
waters that Hot Springs was selected for it's
site. III mas an eIIlclenL neulcdl corps anu d
dispensary, and the record of cures ana
materially benefited reaches the astonishing
figures of more than 80 per cent.
WHAT CAN BE CURED.
In an official circular signed by George
M. Sternberg, surgeon general of the United
States army, and r. A Alger, secretary of
war, the government makes known just
what ailments are treated and benefited at
this hospital 1t states that "relief may
reasonably be expected at the hot springs
in the following conditions: In the various
forms of govt and rheumatism, neuralgia,
paralysis not of organic origin, locomotor
ataxia, early stages of Bright's disease.
functional diseases of the liver, dyspepsia
catarrhal affections of all kinds, malaria
and skin diseases" Thus the government
not only conducts the hot springs. but in
dorses them for the cure of this long list of
human ills.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars have
been spent by the government for improv-
ing and beautifying its reservation here.
All of it's income from the rentals of the
hot water and ground privileges is thus ex-
pended and in addition a large sum recent
" realized from the sale of city lots which
were reserved when the government took
possession of the springs. The mountains
have been converted into beautiful parks,
with walks, drives and bride paths en-
circling and leading to the top. Choice flow
ers and shrubbery have been planted and
the natural situation has been taken adj
vantage of for architectural adornment.
The various entrances to Hot Springs are
highly ornate, while the main entrance is
composed of a grand succession of artistic
designs in masonry extending a distance of
two hundred feet up the mountainSide and
crowned with a Grecian temple. This is a
monument to the Harrison and Cleveland