The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-03
UNDER FEDERAL CONTROL.


Uncle Sam Makes . Small PROFIT Out
Of HIS Arkansas Hot Springs.
BY an act of congress passed in April.
1899, when Arkansas was still territory,
the Hot Springs. with four sections of
land, were set aside for the future dis
posaI Of the United States. BY the act
of March, 1877, the appointment Of COM
missioners was authorized to lay out into
lots and streets certain tracts OF land
in Garland county. a part OF the Hot
Springs reservation. The levying OF a
special tax on water taken from the hot
springs was authorized. the money arising
from water rents to be used In improve
ment OF the reservation BY the act OF
June, 1850. those divisions OF the Hot
Springs reservation known as North
Mountain. West Mountain and Sugar Loaf
Mountain were dedicated TO public use
as parks on a permanent reservation, ag
gregating 900 acres
The hot water issues from the base and
side OF the Hot Springs mountain. and the
actual quantity is not known. That which
is under control and being used to supply
the lighthouses amounts to about 10000
gallons daily. and the amount collected
and passed through the impounding reser-
voir about 1000. making a total guam
tity OF hot water under control about 950.-
coo gallons daily. The hot springs are not
only under government control, but are
government which has an investment in
them In excess of 100000. As shown by
the last published treasury reports. the to-
tai receipts from lighthouses and hot wat
er rent at the hot springs for the fiscal
year ended July I. 1895 was $N1n. The
disbursements by the superintendent for
salaries, superintendent. repairs. fuel.
lights. water (cold) were $l2,3ss. This repre-
scented profit to the United States of S.
00O
large number OF the patrons of the
hot springs are INDECENT persons who, un-
& abie to pay the ordinary hotel charges or
TO avail themselves OF the paid bathing
opportunities are supplied free. There Is
moreover. free dispensary under direc-
ton Of United States army surgeon. The
total number Of patrons Is about 5000 a
day. though the facilities OF the hot
springs allow. as at present arranged for
5000. The resident population Of Hot
Springs is about 5000 and the average
number OF persons In town patronizing the
seventy hot water springs Is about 1000
additional.
The hotel lighthouses in Hot Springs are
not run by the government directly, but
are sublet to individual proprietors, and
the same course IL adopted with the baths
not connected with hotels. the policy Of
the government being to operate so far as
practicable the hot springs without loss
and without any large profit. BY act Of
congress. passed In October. 1855. 81 900
was appropriated for providing system
Of reservoirs piping and pumps necessary
to the collection and economical distribu-
ton of hot water from the hot springs.
Pursuant TO this authority contracts for
the work were let. All lighthouses on the
reservation are supplied by gravity. and
those of the reservation. where not sup
piled by gravity, are required to pump the
hot water from the impounding reservoir
at their own expense.
II is supposed popularity that many Of
the outside ventures" OF Uncle Sam are
improbable. but the fact IL that he makes
a considerable profit on some Of them,
$4,000 year on the patent office. s. 500, :
600 from the operations, of the mint and a
considerable sum from the sale and leases
Of public lands.