Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-05-09
EXCELSIOR SPRING.
3. L. McFadin Writes the Ledger
Interestingly of This Noted
Health Resort.



Correspondence Of the Ledger.
EXCELSIOR STRINGS, Mo-, May A.
The purpose Of this letter is to care
fully and concisely answer a few O
the many inquiries made, relative tC
the curative qualities Of the Elk
celsior Springs waters. The town IL
situated about 25 miles east Of Kan
sas City, the Milwaukee g. Kansas
City railroad running about a mile
to the north, the Wabash 10 miles u
the south-both connecting 1t witt
the outside world by branch roads
One Of the most important enterprises
Of this place is the Excelsior Springs
Betting Works, where three kinds Of
mineral water are carbonated without
coming in contact with the air and
bottled preparatory to being shipped
to all parts of the continent. The
quarters are complete and commodi
GUS, with all the machinery necessary
to a first-class bottling plant.
Although our stay here has beer
very brief, we feel thoroughly con
WINGED that many afflicted persons are
cured, or benefited, by the use of these
mineral waters. Water being the
natural vehicle for carrying to all
parts of the system the elements
essential to proper nutrition, or fol-
the purpose Of medication in the event
Of disease. While all do not improve
from the start, many complete cures
are effected that had been pronounced
beyond human aid by the physicians.
There are persons here with nearly all
the diseases human flesh is heir to-
but it is generally conceded that the
largest percentage of cures are in
favor of those afflicted with kidney
disease and rheumatism, while blood
poison or scrofula comes next.
Residents here claim this to be the
only place in the world that has a
splendid physic water and in about 50
feet another that is a perfect diuretic
and uric acid solvent; but upon that
subject we do not profess to be in.
formed.
About I miles north of this place
rests the bones of one of the most
noted d~esperadoes the world ever
knew, the late Jesse James. All that
was mortal Of the once famous bandit
sleeps unmolested in the yard where
his eyes first saw the light or day. His
old mother still resides there and the
thought here suggests itself: How is
it possible for the tender, true and
devoted heart of a mother to beaI
what hers has borne and still live;
Jim Cummings is also a nearby resi-.
dent, being a visitor here last Sunday.
He is not a bad looking fellow, but In
all probability has as many lives tc
his credit as either Of the James boys.
He is at present a quiet, law-abidlne
citizen and very likely would always
have been so had we had no rebellion.
We have met no one here we knew
except Mrs. Richard Worrel, Of Mex.
leo. She has been here several
weeks.
This Is a lively town; business all
on a boom at present. There are sew
eral thousand strangers here. Real
estate has almost doubled in value
within a year. The springs have been
handsomely arranged with substantial
masonry and other conveniences and
will receive other improvements In
due time. Bridges and walk-ways
over and along the crystal waters Of
Fishing River constitute convenience
to pass from one side Of the river t.
the other. The towering majesty OF
the lofty hills surrounding the city
provide pleasant rambles and secluded
prOmenades for the lovers Of nature
and romantic scenery. Here is a ripe
field for the pencil and brush Of the
artist. The north side towering hills
are beautifully terraced %bynature and
on each plat a be een rows of at
tractive residences and cottages. The
hills are covered with trees and rocky
outlooks, immense boulders and vine
clad retreats. The hill lies in a cres
cent-shape, overlooking the famous
springs in the valley. On the summit
of the hill is a grove and a native
groundwork for an immense reservoir,
in the center of which is a perpetual
midfuent spring, clear as crystal, anc
affording an untold supply of water
which is piped to all parts Of the city
We attended church here to-day anC
heard a splendid discourse. The
churches and schools here do not com,
pare to those in Mexico.
This is certainly a healthy place
leaving out the mineral water-for Z
more perfect system Of drainage coult
not be made and, taken on the whole
nature certainly exhausted her handi
work in creating beautiful, romantic
and natural scenery. Yours,
r. L. MCFADN.