The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1901-11-29
ARKANsAW's HEALTH RESORT.
Visit to Hot Springs Controlled by the
IT, s. Governments.

railway took party of Wisconsin news
paper people out for trip over their
lines through the south. AS this enter
prising system is the most popular high
way to the Gulf states, they were espec-
tally anxious that the party should be
given an opportunity of viewing the
country to the best advantage and sent
along as chaperon Capt. j. E. Merry,
one of it's passenger agents, who is ia
miliar with every mile of road and most
of the people in She towns touched by
this system. The writer was fortunate
in being a member of that party and it
is our purpose to relate some of the I'M
pressions gained during the ten days
passed on southern soil.
A nights run from Chicago on the
CentraPs limited train brings one to
Memphis at the breakfast hour. From
here our route planned side trip to the
Hot Springs in central ArkansaW, a dis
lance of something over 200 miles over
the Choctaw Route, line that has been
constructed in recent years leading from
Memphis out into Oklahoma. 1t has
about 900 miles of road and cuts all the
trunk lines running into the southwest
and taps large lumber, grain, cotton
and live stock territory. Memphis is en-
tered over new steel bridge that spans
the Mississippi, nearly two miles in
length, that is used jointly by all the
lines entering that city from the west.
The big bridge is so feet above high
water and is said to have cost, with APP
proaches, over four million dollars. It is
the only bridge below st. Louis on the
river and is owned by corporation in
dependent of the railways and toll of
so cents for each passenger, $40 car, is
demanded for all transportation that
passes over it. The country from Mem
phis to Little Rock is low about the en-
tire distance, subject to overflow when
ever the Mississippi gets over it's banks,
and covered with a heavy growth of
hardwood timber. The wealth of tim
Der which has just begun to be develop
ed is bringing capital into this section
and of course induces traffic for the rail
ways One would almost imagine there
was oak enough in sight along this line
to furnish railway ties, barrel stuff, ETC.,
to last for many years to come. The
usual agricultural pursuit of cotton
than before the war. The next sixty
miles beyond Little Rock the road seeks
to higher elevation and commences to
traverse the foot hills OF the Ozark
range. AS the country became rougher
good deal of pine is scattered through
the forests and gives another element to
the lumber industry. A tortuous wind
ing about the bluffs for number of
miles finally lands you at the famous
Hot Springs of Arkansaw which is prob
ably the most largely patronized health
resort of the country. Here nesting in
a narrow, winding valley lies a bright
little city of about 10000 inhabitants,
but which from the holidays on to the
coming April doubtless shelters more
than double that number Of people, while
the resort season is at it's height. The
valley is so narrow that the main street
is built over the bed of creek and bust
ness houses run back into the bluffs on
either side so that the second and third
stories open out onto the level Of the hill
in the rear.
The healing qualities of the waters of
the Hot Springs were known long before
the state of ArkansaW was organized and
the u. S. government set apart reser
walton of mountain and valley Of 1000
acres, including all the springs, which it
has ever since retained control of. BY
retaining ownership of the hot water the
government has been able to prevent
extortionate charges upon the public.
There is in all twenty-five public bath
houses which pay the government for
the privilege of using the waters, who
also fixes the price of baths at all Of the
different houses and also the attendant
fees, which are graded according to their
facilities and equipment, but generally
ranging from S. to $40 for Fl baths. The
government also maintains free open
pool where INDECENT persons may also OBJ
tain the benefit of the water. The tenn
perature of the various hot springs that
lie at the base of the mountain, ranges
from SO to 1873 degrees and volumes of
steam also gush from the crevices of the
rock that is utilized for vapor baths.
The water is almost entirely free from
organic matter but contains mineral So
luton that has proven great specific
for diseases of the blood, secretory and
digestive organs, govt, etc. The ailments
that are most treated of all are rheumat-
ic and syphilitic affections. The govern
ment maintains large army and navy
hospital here whose records show that
80 per cent. of patients are either cured
or greatly benefited by the treatment
there.
But it is as fashionable pleasure re-
sort that Hot Springs has attracted the
greatest attention of late years. The
erection of several immense hotels con-
Quoted on modern ideas and catering to
the pleasures of wealth and fashion
draws thousands of resort people during
the winter months. The climate of the
winter and spring months is excellent
for invalids or pleasure seekers of out
door sports or recreation. The money
derived by the government for rentals
from the springs is devoted to improve
ment of an elaborate park system, and
some beautiful mountain drives have
been constructed about the reservation.
While the social season is on Hot
Springs is wide open town and several
elaborate gambling resorts are run that
cater to the desires of the sporting fra
ternity which gathers here annually.
The business of the city is in the hands
of an up-to-date, enterprising class of
citizens who always extend the glad
4 L I 49, IN