Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-02-03
JOINT RESOLUTION
BY State Legislature Asking Congress to
Locate National sanitarium at
Hot Springs.


Hot Springs.
A joint resolution and memorial re-
questing the congress of the United
States to establish branch of the Ma
tional Home for disabled volunteer
soldiers aud sailors, within the limits
Of the city of Hot Springs, in the coun-
ty of Fall River, in the state Of South
Dakota.
Whereas, The people of the United
States. through their state and nation
al legislature have shown their appre.
citation of and recognized the unusual
kindness and generosity, the matchless
victories won in their interests by the
sailors aud soldiers in the war of the
Rebelli, n; and
Whereas, This recognition in part of
the great and arduous achievements of
the veterans of 1861 -65 has been in pro-
viding system of homes for the dis
abled and decrepit sailor and soldier;
and,
Whereas, rheumatism and nervous
troubles are those watch chiefly atfiict
these old heroes, and necessitates their
going into these homes; and
Whereas, The directors of the Ma
tional Home made test of great Sc
verify of the virtue of the waters ut
Hot Springs, South Dakota, as cure
for such ailments by sending there for
treatment car load of soldiers in the
worst and most stuoonrn stages of
rheumatism and kindred ills; and
Whereas, Said test was so entirely
successful that General Averill, Di-
rector and Inspector General of the
National Board of Directors for the
National Home, who had personal sup
ervison ot the test nel,l. made, report
ed to the full board that the waters at
Hot Springs, South Dakota, contained
the medicinal properties that were. in
in their application, a practical cure
for persons SO afflicted, and that the
per cent of cures effected based on the
number of occupants of the several
homes of the country, showed that the
cost of IL national sanitarium at Hot
Springs would be met by the number
of men that would be healed and sent
to their homes, and the public thereby
relieved from further expense in their
care; and
Whereas, The system of National
and State Homes cannot be completed,
nor brought to that state of perfection,
not only demanded but within easy
reach without the utilization of the
healing properties of these waters
through the means of a large and COM
modious sanitarium where the vet.
Grams can be properly and successfully
treated and cared for, and restored to
health and their own homes; and
Whereas, The greater the number of
homes for those who seek these advan-
tages, and the greater the number Of
occupants thereof, the greater the
necessity for the Sanitarium at Hot
Springs, South Dakota-the erection
and maintenance of which home and
sanitarium is not SO important for the
shelter of veterans bodies as for the
relieving of their pains and healing
the ailments with which they are
afflicted, as, upon the testimony of the
highest authority, they cannot be re-
lieved or healed elsewhere; and
Whereas, General William w. Aver
ell, of the United States Army, Assist
ant Inspector General National Home
for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, has
reported in favor of the necessity for
such sanitarium; aud
Whereas, The State Encampment of
the Grand Army of the Republic Of
the Department of South Dakota, at
its last session on June Z, 1898, unani-
mously adopted q resolution memor-
ializing congress to pass bill for the
establishment and erection of q branch
of the National Home for disabled
Volunteer Soldiers at Hot Springs,
: South Dakota; and
Whereas, The National Encampment
of the Grand Army of the Republic at
its last session held in the city of Gin
cinnati, Ohio, IN September, 1898.
unanimously passed the following re-
solution:
sResolved, By the Grand Army of
Republic in National Camp assembled,
that our representatives in congress
are hereby respectfully, but earnestly
urged to support the bill now pending
providing for the location of branch
Soldiers Home at Hot Springs, South
Dakota, to be equipped for and known
as the Sanitarium for the System of
Soldiers and Sailors Homes through.
out the country. And be it further
Resolved, That the Commander in
Chief of the Grand Army of the Re-
public is hereby authorized and di.
rected to appoint a committee of seven
comrades whose duty 1t shall be ia
wait upon congress and present in