Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1906-03-23
THE SANITARLUM SITE.

LIE DAN III AhlU Nj Ol IN.
Some Contemplate "suppositions' Made
by u NIilead Newspaper Man-An-
swered by Mr. Martin.
The keystone Recorder has new
editor, man, we are told, who has not
had much newspaper experience, and
the manner in which he is permitting
himfelf to be worked would confirm
the report that he is indeed decidedly
new in the business. That the STAR
readers may know exactly to what
depths some people would go toward
defeating Mr.. Martin we reprint the
following from the Keystone Recorder
of March 10th, which was gleefully
copied by the Rapid City Journal and
Lead Call. Read it carefully:
"That the truth of certain rumors
regarding the location of the Sanitar-
ium at Hot Springs and the ownership
of certain land there might be definite
ly learned, Recorder man visited that
city Thursday. The insinuations he
found rife there among people in
general did not reflect any too much
lOnOr upon our representative at
Washington.
Loathe to believe that Congressman
Martin had any but the best inter.
ests of all the people of Hot Springs
at the center OF his heart of hearts,
the reporter went to the register of
deeds office and found the deed of
trust herewith published. Glancing
over the blue print maps of the city
it was found that this 400 acres decided
in trust to Mr.. Martin directly adjoins
the Sanitarium and court house as
we'll as the new park which was re-
Gently procured through the efforts
of our worthy Congressman.
The history of the location of the
Sanltarlum is as follows: In 1902
General Mcmahon, President of the
Commission of National Homes for
Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, visited
Hot Springs. With several business
men of the city the General looked the
city over carefully for a suitable site
for the proposed Sanitarium. Finally
spot centrally located and on a
Slight raise from which a view of the
town could be commanded was chosen
as the most desirable location.
General Mcmahon, however, did not
wish to make his decision final, and
this site he would leave the choice to
Captain Henry e. Palmer, one of the
managers of the National Home and
postmaster at Omaha. The General
deemed it advisable to leave his choice
with Capt. Palmer since he lived
nearest to Hot Springs. And what
did the worthy Omaha postmaster
do?
Utterly ignoring the place chosen by
the representative business men OF
Hot Springs, men who it would seem
should have at least word to say in
the location, with fine disregard for
the recommendation of General McMa-
hon, Captain Palmer located the Sani-
tarium at an entirely different place,
far removed from everything except
400 acres-principally owned by MIR.
Martin.
"But why did he do this?," asked the
reporter. His answer was knowing
shrug of the shoulders and the counter
question: "How did Capt Palmer
receive one fifth interest in this 400
acres?"
This question provoked another
hunt through the books in the register
of deeds Office to ascertain where or
from whom Capt. Palmer obtained this
one-tifth interest There is nothing
to show that Henry ID. Palmer ever
had any interest in this land except
that shown in this declaration of
trust.
Where then did Capt. Palmer get
his title to the land? And from whom?
And what was the consideration? The
records are 80 eloquently silent upon
this point that not only Capt. Palmer
but Mr.. Martin should answer. For
mark you, Mr.. Martin is the principal
owner OF this land and of the other
owners one is his brother and the other
his law partner.
1t would seem that this ground for
its greater value must needs be near
the Sanitarium, and since the 400 acres
could not be conveniently moved the
SanitaIium must be moved. To do
this it was necessary to move Captain
Palmer. 1t appears the Captain rose
to the occasion and proved himself to
be by no means stationary"
What do the Hot Springs people
think of that? There isn't resident
of this place who will publicly endorse
such falsehood and libel and the STAR
challenges the editor of the Recorder
to name citizen Of Hot Springs who
has ever made any reference to Con.
gresham Martins or Capt Palmer's
connection with the National Sanitar.
ium in any way but praiseworthy.
The committee of citizens of Hot
Springs to whom was left the entire
matter of dealing with the Board o
Managers in selecting the site was
composed of w. J. Mcgowan, Col. Kel
lar, E. S. Kelly, E. R. Juckett and H
D. CLARK. Ask any of these gentlemen
about how the Sanitarium was located
We repeat: We challenge and def,
our mislead brother of the Recorder
to be specific and name even one per
son who made such "insinustions" q
he refers to. To proclaim that tn,
"people in general" made such "insinu
ations" will not satisfy the homes
voters who desire to know the trutl