Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-07-28
EYES ON HOT SPRINGS

EYES ON HOT SPRINGS]
Railways Boost the Health Resort Again
nnd are Kumored Bidders for
Spring Properties.
Under the above caption the Omaha
World Herald contains the following
article, which may or may notbe true. In
any event the railroads are just now
taking an unusually active interest in
Hot Springs. The article in part is as
follows:
"Hot Springs, s. D., July 11.-There
has been much speculation about the
numerous visits to Hot Springs this
summer and spring of high officials of
the Northwestern and Burlington rail
roads. And speculation and rumor
have agreed that the two great railway
systems are contemplating again TAX
ing Hot Springs under their protect
ing wings and pulling for the resort us
they did four or five years ago.
"Up to five years ago both railroads
entering Hot Springs worked for the
benefit of the place. At that time
there was much work being done, there
we're few or no idle men, and numbers
of laborers with plenty of work and
good salaries. The railroads helped in
the work of improving the place and
making an attractive little city, and
made good rates from all points. When
the panic touched the country, Hot
Springs felt it moro than other places,
owing to the character of its business.
With the revival of the business men
here and their energetic work in en-
deavoring to procure q national sani-
tarium for the old soldiers, the rail
roads again became interested in the
place and have been watching the. pro-
gress of the work intently. Some years
ago both the Northwestern and the
Burlington wished to purchase the
property known as the Evans property
and consisting of the Evans hotels and
bath house, the Hot Springs hotel and
Minnekahta bath house and the plunge
bath. But the owners of the property
would not sell. Perhaps this is one
reason why the railroads withdrew
their support from the town. The pro-
perty became involved in protracted
litigation. The company that owned
1t, the Dakota Hot Springs company,
became entangled in a family lawsuit
between it's stockholders. The proper
ty, which had been mortgaged prior to
that time, during the pendency of
these lawsuits, passed into the hands
of the mortgage by foreclosure Of
the mortgage. The Iowa Land and
Investment company, for the benefit
Of the holders of the Dakota Hot
Springs company's notes, about a year
ago got sherifs deed to the proper.
ty and now is the owner of it. The
Iowa Land company has been desirous
all the time of disposing of the proper
ty SO its beneficiaries might get the
money out of it. 1t has at last gotten
into such position that it can be
bought and for a reasonable sum-
"This spring the rumors of prospec-
tive purchasers of the property have
been rife. A Catholic priest from Chi.
cago spent May and June here and
made several overtures to the Iowa
company's agents here for the pur.
chase of the property; he wished to
buy it to turn into sanitarium.
sit may be that these rumors have
urged the railroads to quicker action
Not long since President Perkins oi
the Burlington spent several days here
It was only short time after his visit
that the Burlington put on through
sleeper from Lincoln to Hot Springs
y which has not been done for four years
Immediately after the Northwestern
officials began to arrive at irregular
though frequent intervals. Within
the past two weeks General Manager
Bidwell has been here twice for stay
Of several days each time.
"The railroad officials deny that they
have any intention of purchasing any
property in Hot Springs other thar
what they already have. If the Bur
lington, as is said, has purchased or il
about to purchase or is interested il
the Evans properties, it will doubtless
necessitate the Northwestern gettinl
hold in the lower portion of the town
possibly the Catholicon hotel ant
springs.
aIf the Northwestern should contem
plate purchasing the Evans propertie
and should do SO, it would be bod,
blow to the Burlington, and the lattel
road, foreseeing such possibility, ha
\, doubtless taken time by the forelocl