Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-02-23
running trains from Chicago directly
to Hot Springs.

time by reading all he says. Speaking
of the location he says;
SIT is a location possessing advant-
ages that can not elsewhere be found,
advantages provided by nature, and so
rare in their combination that they are
duplicated in only few instances the
world over. From the surrounding
hills come forth unfailing streams of
water, medicated and tempered in the
great laboratory of subterranean earth
endowed with health giving properties
in relative proportions SO exact that
man, with all the skill that scientific
knowledge imparts, may strive in vain
to improve upon and at last can only
initiate. 1t is the result of centuries
of processes-a part of the grand
scheme of nature, which, in preparing
the earth for mans habitation, made
provision also to combat the ills to
which man has fallen heir.
| ADVOCATES THE LOCATION
The following extract is summary
of the report:
"The demand upon the facilities of
these homes of refuge is a growing one,
and will increase rapidly for number
of years. The defenders of the nation
have reached an age when many of
them must succumb to physical dis
ability and disease, and those whose
declining years are attended sby too
frequent poverty must place them
selves under the bounty of the nation.
The Importance, therefore, of branch
home that can be readily extended to
adapt itself to augmented numbers is
apparent.
Regarding the curative properties
of the medicinal waters of the hot
springs, your committee desires to
speak at length. These springs were
the resort of the Indians long before
the white man found his way into the
'jealously guarded realm of the Black
Hills country and were considered by
the aborigines as panacea for all dis
eases. Their fame had penetra ted to
the confines of civilization long before
the advancing wave of white settlement
had swept back the line of opposition
and driven the Indians from their last
rallying point. AS soon as the Anglo
Saxon had possessed himself of this
long contested ground business meth
DDS began to be applied to the medicin-
al springs. They were made available
to the public, their properties ascer-
tanned, and their curative qualities
proclaimed. An extensive hotel was
erected, baths constructed, and conve-
niences for the sick provided. In 1889
the State of South Dakota located and
erected soldiers home at Hot Springs
and it is now a large institution, filled
with veterans of the late war who re-
side in South Dakota. The waters of
the springs have been thoroughly test
ed, and in every instance have been
found etiicacious."
GEN. AvERILL'S REPORTS.
In the same report will be found the
reports and letters of Gen. Averell.
We need not suggest that Gen. Averell
:. was the best equipped man in know
ledge of matters pertaining to soldiers
home work in the United States. He
: has repeatedly inspected the national
and the state homes. His reports
show that his work is never perfuncto.
rily performed, but careful considera-
L. ton is given to every detail pertaining
u to theNsuccess of the great work of pro.
viding homes for the old soldiers.
The unequivocal endorsement of the
hot waters, climate, and healthful To-
cation of Hot Springs by Gen. Averell
was not made hastily or on limited in.
4 formation. He has inspected the state
o home located there seven times, care
o fully examined every claim made for the
: efficacy of the waters in cases of rheu
: matism and other diseases prevalent
!. among the veterans. Under his direc
h ton test was made in 1893. Thirty
members of the western branch al
d Leavenworth we're selected, and eacf
Il case was carefully diagnosed befor.
IS being sent to Hot Springs. The mel
y were treated sixty days, a very shor
i. time for a test in treating chronic dis
e esses, and vet it is a most remarkable
= showing. The report shows eight o
g. the rheumatic cases were PRACTICAL,
IS cured; balance, except one. improved
D. If the patients could have rename,
d six months instead of two, there is n
If doubt a much larger per cent. woul,
have been cured.
n A DELIGHTFUL CLIMATE.
n. A member of your committee aske
l. if the climate is not vigorous one
le We assure you that it is most delight
b, full climate latitude 3,4s2 feet; littl
N snow in winter. never very hot or colo