Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-08

sunshine and so many warm pleasant
days in winter that outdoor recreation
can be enjoyed nearly all the time.
The summers are cool, the tempera-
ture being moderated by the mountain
attitude. Golf Is played on one of the
most sporty nine-hole links in the
country from early fall to late spring.
| Horseback riding and driving is the
leading form of amusement here. In
this it has no rival in the entire oou1-
try. 1t has long had a reputation for
horseback riding, and the dozen or SC
| livery stables make speciality of Ken
lucky saddle horses.
| Driving is not whit behind riding
The stables are equipped with abund
ance of up-to-date vehicles OF all kinds
| from the light runabouts to large six
horse tally-hos and brakes, which can
be had at moderate rates.
The Best Time for Cure.
The people of the north flock to the
hot springs in winter, particularly dur
ing the first three months of the year,
January, February and March, and this
is the season of the pleasure seekers.
The reason they go at this time is to
escape the seventies of the winters in
the north and revel in more genias
atmosphere. There is nothing reInar6-
able about this. 1t is only natural
they should do so.
| What is remarkable though is that
| those who are broken down in health
| and need the waters should go in such
large numbers at the same time as the
| pleasure seekers. There is no reason,
of course, why those who need the
treatment should not go then, but why
should they go during the balance of
the year?
1t may be and doubtless is because
of misunderstanding of the condi-
tions at Hot Springs. II the people
knew, as they should know, about Hot
Springs there would be as many or
more visitors there for their health in
April, May, June, July, August Sep
TENDER and October than during the
other months of the year.
There Is never a time during the
dullest months of September and Octo-
Der when there are less than 5000
seekers for health at the hot springs.
These, however, are principally from
the south. There is getting to be a
among them, and they should increase
. every year.
The advantages for treatment there
, in the months above mentioned are
Overwhelming and there are absolute
ly no disadvantages. The reason
northern people do not 50 to Hot
Springs in greater numbers in sum
mer is, doubtless, fear of hot weather.
This fear is utterly groundless. The
warm weather begins earlier there but
) the summers as a whole are no warm
J er than anywhere in the north, except
in the high attitudes of the Rocky
} Mountain states. According to anthem
tic records kept there the highest tenn
perature reached on any day last year
3 was 95 degrees on July T. This was
exceeded at every point in the north
j where government observations were
: taken. 1t is rare that the mercury
} goes above the eighties in the day
, time, and every night during the en-
: tire summer it is cool enough to sleep
under cover and the rule is still lower.
t This condition is due to the fact that
!, Hot Springs is located in the heart of
the Ozark mountains, about 1000 feet
r above the level of the sea, with peaks
t higher.
G These work wonderfully cooling
# influence on the temperature.
r Immediately after the sun sets the
air begins to cool and refreshing sleep
Y is possible from the early evening
e hours till late in the morning.
The waters have "a better effect in
1 summer than in winter, on account of
S the temperature being more favorable
1 to their action. The warm weather
!. aids and increases their action, per,
SEPARATION is freer and consequently
a elimination is quicker and more thor
e ough. There is less liability to colds
5 the cost of living is cheaper, hotel
l. rates of all grades is about 25 per cent
e lower and in every way it is more ad
e vantageous to the health seeker.
Y Those contemplating visit to Hot
Springs would do well to make a note
of these facts and if their health lie
: mands the baths they should feel that
) they can go at once; no matter what
: the season of the year, as the longer
V they delay treatment the worse it is
6 for them, and the cure can be accom-
n plished quicker in summer than in
s winter.
T Historical Sketch of Hot Springs, Ark
[ Who was the first white discoverel
K of the Hot Springs is not definitely
It known, but scraps of history go far tc
e establish the fact that De Soto founC
+ them in his wanderings, and legends
t connect them with the fountain Of
youth for which Ponce de Leon sought
5, That the Indians knew of their heal