Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-16
HOT SPRINGS
EXAMINATION OF THE WATER TO
BE MADE.
Date of Discovery of Place Unsettled
Was City of Refuge
for the Indians.

for the Indians.
From the time of first discovery of the
government hot springs in Arkansas dis
cussions and arguments have not decided
as to the source from which the water
derives its healing properties Whether 1t
is due to electricity, or to gases held in
solution, or whether down deep in natures
laboratory chemist of infinite genius is
mixing his healing agents in proper pro-
portions and sending the water on its mis-
sion of mercy and alienation, may never
be known definitely.
But by agreement between the Secretary
of the Interior and the Secretary of Agri-
culture an analysis of number of sam
pies of water obtained from the springs is
being made in the division of chemistry,
Department of Agriculture. A government
chemist was detailed by the Secretary of
Agriculture some time ago to make an eX-
animation of the gases contained in the
water. Later many samples of the water,
Theoretically sealed, were brought to
Washington, and the analysis is now pro-
crossing at the chemical laboratory of the
Department of Agriculture.
1t is said that SO far chemical analysis
does not show the presence of a single salt
or gas which could not be produced in the
laboratory and which is not prescribed In
some form by physicians throughout the
". i
of natural mineral waters is often effected
by the aid of science but there seems to
be always some quality wanting which les
sens their Alternative and curative proper
ties. 1t is suggested by the chemists at
the Department of Agriculture that prob
ably subtle element turks in the labora-
tory of nature which is too tenuous and
delicate for any known chemical test, and
that upon it depend the potential activities
manifested by the heated fountains in the
government reservation of Hot Springs.
There are those students of thermal
springs who believe that their chief value
depends upon temperature. 1t is said to be
question whether the efficacy of hot
springs is due to the temparture indicated
by the thermometer or to an allotropic
condition of heat, as ozone Is or oxygen
Date of Discovery Unknown.
Martin A. Eisele, superintendent of the
Hot Springs reservation, in his latest re-
port to the Secretary Of the Interior, wrote
at length concerning the history of the
place:
The date Of discovery of these world-fa-
nous springs has not been definitely set
tied to the satisfaction of the public, and
the theories to the source from, which
the water derives it's heat and healing
properties are subjects of discussion which
are equally unsatisfactory IN conclusion,
and it may be assumed for the present that
one opinion is as valuable as another. 1t is
here, it is hot, it relieves the physical in
firmities Of suffering humanity, and is I'M
der the wise control of beneficent govern
ment. To the afflicted 1t carries the sug-
gestion of restoration to health and hope
and happiness; to the tourist it recalls an
oasis in his experience where wearied en-
ergies may be recuperated; it is the BE
thesda,' Of modern times.
The legendary history Of this famous re-
sort is always interesting.
From childhood We have all been familiar
with the story Of Ponce de Leon and De
Soto's search for the fountain of youth
The Indians of Florida told them that it
was toward the setting sun, and they set
out to find 1T. That De Soto was here there
is every evidence in history and tradition
A Place Of Refuge.
The earliest Indian legends have associ-
ated with them the idea of the curative vtr-
tues of these waters. They surround every
Swallowed valley, mountain nook and rocky
cavern with a halo of romance that makes
the Vale of Vapors doubly interesting The
red man had known of the healing proper
ties of the waters of the Hot Springs from
the time when the traditions of his race
began. The Indian name of the valley was
Manataka, signifying "a place of peace"
In accordance with this idea it was thar
the valley of Hot Springs was neutral
ground, and here, though waged their wars
ever so fiercely, the members of the diff
ferent tribes brought their sick to battle
and met in friendship, ratified by the
smoke of the calumet which assembled as
incense to the Great Spirit. 1t was believed
Spirit would withdraw his breath from the
waters and they would forever be cold and
without life and healing. In this valley
of peace the shrill war whoop never chilled
the blood of defenSeleSs women and chill
dren; the twang of the bow string and its
missile on an errand of death was never
heard, and the deadly tomahawk was
never raised in menace or buried In hate
in the brain Of an enemy.
Today the great lake of boiling waters
Is gone, the dams of the Indians have dis
appeared. and on the site is a city of met
ropolitan proportions and COSMOPOLITAN
population. The eddying pools in which
the red man laved have given place to
bathing palaces furnished in marble and
brass and porcelain outriyaling the luxu-
ries II not the splendors of the ancient
Romans. But to their virtues is added for
the benefit Of the sufferer the experience
and skill Of modern science to assist them
In their work of rejuvenation and restora-
ton.
Many After Information.
A Boston newspaper recently published
paragraph that the Secretary of the In
terror had issued a pamphlet of informal
ton" concerning hot springs generally, and
that this might be obtained by addressing
the Bureau Of Information. Department
ever issued, but the paragraph is thought
to have had reference to the annual re-
port Of the Superintendent Of Hot Springs
reservation There is no bureau Of infor-
nation in the Department of the Interior
and communications SO addressed have
been referred to the superintendent of
documents. The paragraph referred to was
widely copied, and the result has been that
the department has received thousands of
Y<xx1 ov.A 81 rJ<,. . -