The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-11
"HOT WATER" UNDER FEDERAL CON-
troll.
Uncle Sam Makes Small Profit from His
Arkansas Reservation Every Year.

Uncle Sam Makes Small Profit from His
Arkansas Reservation Every Year.
BY an act Of Congress passed in April. 1882.
when Arkansas was still a territory. the Hot
Springs, with four sections OF land. were set
aside for the future disposal OF the United
States By the act OF March. 1877. the ap-
pointment OF Commissioners 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 special
tax on water taken from the hot springs was
authorized. the money arising from water
rents to be used in improvement OF the reser-
Walton By the act of June. 1890. those divi-
sions OF the Hot Springs Reservation known as
North Mountain. West Mountain and Sugar
Loaf Mountain were dedicated to public use as
parks on permanent reservation, aggregating
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 bath
houses amounts to about 100000 gallons daily
and the amount collected and passed through
the impounding reservoir about 100000. max
ing total quantity Of hot water under control
Of about 950.0oO gallons daily The hot
springs are not only under Government con-
troll. but are directly managed by the United
States Government. which has an investment
in them in excess OF 100000. As shown by
the last published Treasury report. the total
receipts from lighthouses and hot water rent at
the h1t springs f9r the tiscal year ended July
the superintendent for salaries. superintend-
encc: repairs, fuel. lights. and water lcold were
Gf nSS st,ie hi 8, tGPGT6esented profit to the
large number Of the patrons OF the hot
Strings are ,indge1t persons who. unable to
themselves Of the pnid bathing opportunities,
dispensary under direction OF a United States
army surgeon. The total mum Der OF patrons is
about 1000 day. though the facilities OF the
not springs allow. as at present arranged. for
is about 5000 and the average number Of per
sons IN town patronlzing the seventy hot wa
tel, springs is about 1000 additional
The hotel lighthouses in Hot Springs are
sublct to individual proprietors. and the same
course is adopted with the baths not con-
nectet with hotels the policy of the Govern
ment being to operate so far as practicable the
hot springs without loss and without any large
profit By act OF Congress passed in October
1879. S3l 900 was appropriated for providing
system OF rescrvolrs piping and pumps
necessary to the collection and economical
distribution of hot water from the hot
springs. Pursuant to this authority CON
tracts for the work were let All lighthouses
on the reservation are supplied by gravity, and
those on the reservation. where not supplied
by gravity, are required to pump the hot water
from tho impounding reservoir at their own
expense.
- 1t is supposed popularity that many OF the
able. but the fact is that he makes o consider
efPGs 9p ee q tbe
tons OF the Mint. and cons iderable sum from
the sale and leases OF public lands