The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-06-14

Writes of the Famous Virginia
Eot Springs.


Eot Springs.
The Place Saia to be .'Not a Vile from
iIetl''-President Mckiniey's Recent
Visit There Wonderful Medicinal
Properties Of the Water Baths AL
ways faken Under the Direction Of
Skilled Physicians Where are The
Fires that Heat These Waters.
HoT SPRINGS, Va, June l0th-vir-
ginia stands easily in the very front
OF all the states in the matter OF sum
mer resorts Its ocean border stands
next to that of New Jersey, and its
interior stands out OF sight of all the
Atlantic states. Some of these resorts
are kept open all the year.
"0ld Virginia hospitality which
in years gone by was largely confined
to the palatial colonial homes, is
now exeInplified in the Virginia hotels.
There is perhaps no other spot on
earth where stranger in hotel is
made to feel so much at home as in
Virginia. Ii is not my purpose, at
present to catalogue the health and
pleasure resorts OF the cold Domin-
ion.n l wish simply to give a glimpse
of that matchless resort, the Virginia
Hot Springs. These celebrated springs
are delightfully."- located in the Hot
Springs Valley, Bath County, Vir-
GINA, at the terminus OF branch of
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, at
an elevation of ,, 500 feet environed
by mountains rising 1000 feet above
the sea. There are several great
groups of Springs which may be men
toned under three separate heads,
viz.
The Hot Springs.
The Warm Springs.
The Cold Mineral Springs.
The combined flow of these springs,
which constitute the Warm Springs
creek is estimated to be | 200 gallons
per minute, or l,72s, 900 gallons In
twenty four hours. IL is perhaps well
| TO mention that the volume OF water
| flowing from each spring and the tenn
perature of each remains constant in
all seasons aud in all conditions Of
weather.
As it is the purpose of this letter 10
speak especially of the Hot Springs,
/ will dismiss the others.
The Hot Springs consist OF several
groupes of springs which furnish inn
mense quantities of hot water--some
hotter than others-the hottest OF
which 1t is said, will cook eggs. j dc
not purpose to give an analysis of the
medicinal properties of these waters
when used either for drinking or fol
bathing. Those who wish informa-
tion on their questions can obtain il
by writing to the Hot Springs Com
pany.
This health and pleasure resort Is
kept open all the year around, and the
attendance is larger In winter than il
summer. | am told that the attend.
ance generally reaches high water
mark in the month of March.
Some idea of the attendance OF
guests at this resort may be formed
by the fact that while the population
is composed mainly OF guests, and the
houses consist mainly OF the great
Hotels and Cottages, the volume OF
mail justifies a Presidential postoffice
la looking over the Register of the
Homestead Hotel | find that, just one
month ago to-day President Mckinley
and party arrived at the Hot Springs
for a ten days outing. In order that
the reader may see how the presiden-
tial party registered, copy the entries
as find them: Tuesday May 8, 1895
William Mckinley and wife, three
servants, DIR. Rlxey, Mrs. Rixey, Sec.
lCortelyon, Mr.. Foster. These names
are connected by brace TO show who
compose the party, but no residence
is given. This is President Mckinley's
second visit to the Virginia Hot
Springs.
Many guests come here for pleasure
but | presume more come for treat
ment. Till they are otherwise in
| formed the managers seem TO take II
for granted that each guest who ar
rives has an ailment. Physicians OF
high standing in their profession are
on the ground at all times, ready u
examine each patient and give IA writ
ten prescription as to what he shall
eat, W hat he shall drink and what
kind Of bath he shall take.
When | applied for the privilege OF
taking bath / was asked by the Of.
ticials of the bath house for the phys
icians prescription stating the kind
of bath / needed to take, and l was
told that none but physician could
tell what kind OF bath needed to
take. After repeatedly assuring the
bath officials that have no ailment
that | am sound in health from head
to foot, and that / simply wanted to
wash and be clean, / was admitted to
the bath.
The water in the bathing pool is
warm enough for comfort, SO degree +.
and there are sundry spouts pouring
water into the pool; some warmer and
some colder, under which the bather
may stand, or sit, or lie. found this
bath real luxury, even better than a
bath in the sea. The two great bath
ing pools at this place are the largest
natural high temperature swimming
pools in the world
The Ladies Bathing Pool Is cir
cular bath $50 feet in circumference,
and is supplied by springs emerging
all over the bottom of the bath from
which springs myriatls Of bubbles Of
gas keeping the water constantly agi-
tated. The pool holds about so, 900
gallons of water. The gentlemen's
bath is somewhat smaller, it is an
octogon pool, about 40 feet In diame-
ter, and holds about As, 900 gallons Of
water. The overflow from this bath
is somewhat greater than that from
the Ladies Bath which makes it pos
sible to retain the initial temperature
of the water.
1t is claimed that a quarter of a
million gallons of hot water flow daily
from springs within the company's
grounds, while still larger volume of
natural warm water from other
springs flows off through the valley.
Where are the fires which heat these
great fountains? And where does the
fuel come from which keeps these fires
burning through ali the years of our
knowledge?
Tradition tells Of couple of native
Virginians living west of the Allie
ghenies who more than century ago
while on their way to Staunton, stop
ped in this valley to camp for the
night. One Of the men took his can
teen to flowing spring near at hand,