Fergus County argus., 1901-02-13
Description ofthe Famous EotSprings
and Their Government
Management
MET An OLD TIME MAIDEN FRIEND
Fear Of Negro Domination All That
Keeps the Democratic Party
Alive Today.
GStaH Correspondcnce.l

IStaT Correspondence
Hot Springs. Ark, Jan. 30. l9Ol.-.
This will he our third ana last week
at the world.fame1 health resort.
Possibly few lines about the place
might prove Of interest to the readers
of the ARGUS. These springs are SO
old aud well known that "A detailed
description OF them is hardly neces.
sary. History has it that Ponce de
Leon heard Of these wonderful "foun-
tains Of youth" and tried to find
them, and that De Soto also sought
them, while Indian traditions tell of
an army Of white men, with tattcred
banners and raiment, encamping on
the hills not far away. In any event
the waters hud n great reputation
among the aborgines for their cura-
tive properties.
But for information n little more
recent we have met here frequently
nm old gentleman named Thompson,
who first visited the springs In 1851,
he then being on his way to Callfor-
mia with n party of gold seekers. He
said ut that time the Indians would
first cover themselves with mud and
then enter the pool Of hot water,
thinking by this method to bedoubly
benefited by the baths. The old
gentleman has visited the springs at
intervals since and every year for the
past eighteen years. lie Is very act
i've ut the age of 81 and says he can
"kick down most any ordinary chan
delicr."
What produces this hot water IL a
question ns often heard here as in our
own state OF Montana, where we nj
SO have hot springs, and probably
just ny pregnant with curative prop
critics as these. Some say rom the
natural heat of the interior OF the
earth, Others that the water Is heat
ed by electricity, and still Others who
contend that the heat IL produced by
contact of the water with beds ~
sulphate of lime-chemical action.
The latter seems most reasonable.
The Hot Springs are located in the
Ozark mountains, l.0O0iect above sea
level and are seventy-one in number
The average temperature Of the water
Is l3J degrees Fahrenheit; the dis.
charge 1,OOO,O00 gallons per day. 1t
may not be generally known that
these springs are located on n gov
ernment reservation comprising 1000
acres. The L. :. government took
possession OF them and set them apart
In 1882 az "a National Park and San
itarlum for All Time" 1t has spent
81 100000 In turning the mountains
into parks and building fifteen miles
Of drive ways and In making other
improvements ilNit u un army anu
navy hospital, established In 1850.
There are twenty-five bath houses
which pay license to the govern
ment for the use Of the water. The
government fixes the price Of the baths
ut the different houses, and also the
attendants fees. There can be no en-
tortion practlced where the govern
ment IL concerned. For twcnty-One
baths the prices range from S3toSlO,
according to the equipment and elc-
gance oi the service. The govern
ment bath house Is free To those with
out means. Pools take the place Of
tubs. Free medical attendance and n
free dispcnsary arein connection with
1t.
Hot Springs has Il reputation as "a
pleasure as well ~ II health resort.
There are many beautiful mountain
drives and natural effects Of interest
to be seen. There are fine turn-outs
OF Kentucky bred horses and tally
ho" parties are nearly an every day
occurrence.
The hotels. also, offer great induce
ments to health and pleasureseekers:
that is, those of the first class. These
are the Arlington, Eastman and
Park; the former will accommodate
| 900 guests and the two latter 800
each. The rates range from 50 to s.
per day. Hotels Of the second and
thiri class, abOnt forty IN number,
are good. bad aud indifferent as TO
accommodations Besides these hO-
tells there are numberless boarding
houses. To find house without
the sign Boarding" or "Rooms to
Rent" IL rare exception.
The tirst-class hotels treat their
guests to orchestra music several
times a week and dancing parties In
their spacious dining rooms are OF
frequent occurrence.