Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-03-02
A VISITORS OPINION.
Hot Springs as seen by Visitor. who
writes to his home Paper in Ohio
<y,o ,~1oDo

from the writing and talking of the
thousands of visitors who flock here
every year. 1t therefore behooves the
good people of this place to always
speak we'll of their own home and also
to treat our visitors in a courteous,
pleasant manner. 1t is generally re-
marked of health resorts and watering
places that their only care for the
st rangers who visit them is to get what
money they have. But there are some
exceptions to this wayof doing, and we
hope Hot Springs will be the leading
exception. The following letter from
Mr.. N. G. Hart we copy from the Day
ton (O) Evening Press. He speaks
good word for Hot Springs, and we
have no doubt such letters will do and
are doing an immense amount of good
in sending seekers for health and
pleasure to one of the best resorts in
the country.
Hot Springs, S. d.. Jan. 8, 1900.
Captain Case, National Military Home,
Dayton, o.
Dear Captain: I-shall now try, after
long delay, to make good my promise
to give you brief description of Hot
Springs of South Dakota aud the ad-
jacent country.
There are about seventy five in all,
but the Minnekatha, or Old Indian
spring, Kidney, Catholicon and Sloan
are the only ones whose waters are utl-
lized at present. The first and last two
have comfortable bath houses attached.
These waters do not cure all kinds of
diseases any more than a single article
of food will sustain the whole body by
giving sufficient nourishment to each
of it's of it's several parts; but it has
been shown by chemical tests that
they do contain mineral and medical
properties and that they are pure from
all vegetable impurities. l have suf-
ficent evidence, after careful obser-
walton of the nature of diseases treated
here during the past season, to con-
vince me that these waters aided by
this healthy climate will cure all cases
of catarrh, bronchial, asthmatic, pull
monary, kidney, liver, material and
rheumatic ailments that are not ab-
solutely incurable.
This little city (Hot Springs) is To-
Gated in a narrow valley or gulch sur
rounded by the Black Hills. 1t is the
capital of Fall River county, and has
population of about 1000. 1t has no
particular attractions except large
hotels, boarding houses, and public
buildings. There are thirteen large
hotels. The Evans alone cost GU artel
of million and is capable of accom-
modating 500 guests The court house
and school houses are magnificent, tc
say the least, in architectural design
and finish There are also religious de-
nominations represented here. The
Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians,
Congregationalists and Catholics.
This county (Fall River) lies in th'
southwest cornor of South Dakota
and is bounded on the south by Neb
reska and on the west by Wyoming
and within its borders may be seel
many attractive physical features such
as the Lost Wells, Cascade Springs
Cascade Falls, Battle Mountain and
Wird Cave. Near Cascade Springs
large petritied log, three feet in di
ameter and about fifteen feet in length
and down the river little further
turtles of various sizes, serpents, frogs
and other smaller kinds of amphibiou
animals are found in perfect state Q
petrifaction.
Battle Mountain is about thre
miles from Hot Springs and has a
, elevation of 164O feet above Main street
Upon the summit of this mountain wa
fought, many years ago, the decisiv
battle between the Grow and Siou
Indians-hence the name.
: Wind Cave-This striking phenom'
g non has no rival among the subterrs
mean caverns of the Western continent
at least. 1t has been eXplored-includ
, ing it's several chambers-a distanc
of ninety -one miles, thus outrivaling, i
the extent of its exploration, the Man
moth Cave of Kentucky. can't de!
cribe it. can only say that it's ma
: velously diversified interior elicits th
Il astonishment and admiration of I'll
u thousands who visit it annually.
q The Black Hills are loaded down,
n it we're, with precious metals, such
II gold, silver, copper, lead, tin and zin
There are several gold mines Of d
% ferent capacities in active operate
h here, but the Homestake located
/. Lead City, is said to be the secor
# largest mining company in the worl
rs The increase in the production of go
g during the past two. years is surprisir
h Mr.. r. L. Graves, q young man wi
Y is personally interested in several mi
80 H>nk