Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-03-28
rplToalAL CORRESPONDENCE
HoT sPRINos. Afk Alarah d.

worth ones time, II within reasonable
distance. 10 Visit Tho season Ia
now ut Its height. II opens about
the middle OF January and lasts TIL
| about tho middle OF April. February
and March arc tbe big months. The
regular population OF the place IL close
to 1900. but at the present time II
Ia nearer 10000, there being over H..
| 900 visitors. This is conservative
estimate. from the fact that every one
OF the fifteen or twenty leading hotels
are filled to overfowiDg, Mr. II. and
| myself secured accommodations only
| after several attempts There are
probably one hundred second and
third rate hotels and boarding houses
and they are all said TO he well fIled.
Hotels greet one at every corner,
croAs-street and alley, and there are
some imposing structures The
Eastman covers al least two blocks,
and the Arlington, Park, waukcsha
and q few others nre fine hotels. The
first three have accommodations for
from 600 10 800 They are strictly
resort hotels aud planned especially
as such The cheapest accommoda-
dntions for one person IL SIT per week
mp TO &zl st the Arlington. and ms
much higher aH you desire TO 60 tran
sient rates being from 81 to s. per
day, All the large hotels have baths
In connection, and each bath with at.
tendant averages 90 cents extra.
There are dozens Of bath houses out
side of tho hotels where 2i-tickets
are sold for from 81 to 81 II is
said that very good accommodation
can be secured in private boarding
houses for from s. 10 SO week.
which enables those In moderate cir.
oumatanoes 10 visit the city and put In
n few weeks
The general Impression prevails
that most people visit Hot Springs ow-
ing to ailments. This may he true
10 certain extent. but II In safe 10
say that nine.tenths of the present
visitors are here for pleasure and to
travel In fas, company There are
few faster cities In the isnd, and the
'pikor" has no caste.
Next to the hotels come the saloons
and club rooms We have no idea
as to the number OF saloonH running,
but they are numerous. and 10000
s the lowest estimate placed on the
money that changes hands daily over
the gaming tables. to say nothing OF
the pool rooms where tho amount Is
much larger For the benefit OF the
sports III. prevailing limit is 800 and
5000 ut faro. and s25 aud $50 ON sin.
et.. ~ 10.
ehips being sold at less than 20 cents
Three and -four thousand dollar win.
nings ms well ms iosinRs are OF daily
occurrence There arc some nifty
gambling houaee At the South
ern and Arkansas clubs, with pool
rooms attached the daily transactions
run from $4,000 TO $4,000. and II Ia
said 100000 Is cleared daily by zach
house. And there are numerous
places almost an popular Men of
a sporty turn come from all over the
county 10 play the races and sport
generally. Twenty. NIFTY, and one
hundred dollar bills are the ones most,
" In use. II one has the nerve and
tho money Il To no trick to win SO.
600 on II bofee race on n 10 To | shot.
providing u comes his way, All pool
rooms are connected by direct wire
and results are known almost m soon
as on the spot This reference to
to sporting conveys direct idea OF
the life IN vogue here. and also cx.
plains why IN. plarc is Unknown ms
the Monte Carlo OF America There
IN much uDoasiness among the sport.
Ing fraternity generally. however, as
bill has passed the Arkansas son.
ate and honse. wi,ha motion to recon
slider in the house. putting a stop to
gambling and closing pool rooms The
measure is very drastic as II provides
for fine of from $500 TO 81 900 OF
anyone who knowingly permits gam
bling ON his premises. and also i'm.
poses a Ike nne on the prosecuting
attorney who falls 10 prosecute gam.
blers upon being called upon to do no.
and also impeachment for failure to
do so. A biz slush fund was raised
to defeat the measure and Il may yet.
prove potent Should the bill be-
come law II means that one-half the
business done horc viii be lost
Hot Springs is picturesque by loca.
ton. II Hes at the base of foot hills
OF small mountains. There is room
Tor one main street with stores on
either aldo except where the valley
opens up and and Affords more space
for building. The town extends up the
maia valley and slide gulches. ns II
were, which are from 100 10 100 yards
wide. The government owns the
springs which have made the place
famous, otherwise there would be
trust In control OF the waters A.
II is. IL the waters are free TO hotels
aud bath houses. aud there are sew.
crns fountains furnishing hot water
for drinking purposes There IL also
a government pool with brick onclo-
sure which is froe TO needy poor
There are bath tubs and pool,
aud parties visit there for free baths
who are scarcely able to walk. dcsti.
tute OF money and fricnds. but in this