Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1907-12-27

GREAT NATIONAL SANITARIUM.
A Veteran, Now Dead, Picturesquely
Pictures It.
Thomas q. Mays, a we'll known SOL
dier, who was formerly The Chronicle
correspondent at the Marion branch of
the National Soldiers Home, who has
since passed on to the great beyond,
wrote the following interesting
letter to that paper:
Battle Mountain Sanitarium,
Hot Springs, South Dakota.
Editor Daily Chronicle:
A few months ago when I was the
Soldiers Home local reporter for the
Marion Chronicle, 1 found there was q
general inquiry as to this new Home
that was being erected away yonder in
the Black Hills by the government,
which promised relief from number
of diseases because of the discovery of
flow of hot water which Uncle Sam
at once reserved for the benefit of his
veteran wards. l did not know then
that l would be beneficiary of their
curative properties, yet the fact re-
mains that | am on the ground today
and can give facts at first hand. Feel
ing chat the boys of the Marion branch
and others will be Interested in a
description of this great sanitarium
the greatest in the world, if viewed
from all points, as national resort.
l herewith submit the following:
South Dakota is not all prairie, all
swirIing billiards., all treeless acres.
AS look out of the window can see
pine clad hills generously supplied
with a foliage that in this atmosphere
makes it seem at distance very dark
almost black-hence the name Of
Black Hills. The highest peak in this
chain Of hills that run hundred
miles in the southwest corner of the
state is about 5000 feet, and the alti-
tude of the sanitarium is 3,400 feet, so
it will be seen that it is not in a valley,
but we'll poised on plateau of ground
that gives most picturesque view of
most attractive environments.
After one has traversed the north
and eastern portions of the state, where
prairie scenes run riot, where billowy
undulations seem interminable, and
foliage, except along the water courses,
has no abiding place, it is a relief to
approach an elevation thrown up by
some great upheaval of Mother Nature
which breaks the monRtor y of miles of
fertile plains, aud gives taste of the
grand and lofty.
Hot Springs claims resident popu-
lation of 5000, but during the spring
and summer months there are fully as
many more in the valley, not only
those seeking relief from disease by
taking baths in the curative water that
flows in great abundance from the hill
side, its splendid altitude. 3,400 feet,
and the pure and invigorating air, but
also because it has attractions that can
not fail to interest the most inditfer-
ent.
The government has invested about
s2,OO0,O0O in the establishment of one
of the greatest sanitariums known to
the world, located on the slope Of
Battle Mountain, which rises 5000 feet
on the east side of Fall River Canon,
which enters the valley of the Mime
kahta few rods below. Here the
city of Hot Springs. The buildings
are hundred feet above this gulch,
where was found ample room for its
establishment. They are built of q
brown stone which is found in abund-
ance short distance away. The build
ings are massive, and the Spanish
American style has been follow.
ed.
There are six of these barracks, two
stories and basement, in each of
which there are two wards. They are
without stairways, inclined passages
being used from one floor to another,
made of concrete, as are also the floors
of each ward. The warming of these
quarters is almost perfect, the rooms
being ventilated at the same time it is
heated by an automatic system that
holds the temperature just where it is
desired. It is proving very satisfactory
for the first year of its introduction.
The general buildings are entered
from handsome arcade on the inside
which forms circle with splendid
covered veranda, arched and1 column
ed with this pink tinted stone, along
which ono can pass to the various
wards, the main moss hall and tho ID.
ministration building, q structure Of
four stories, where the governor, tho
medical stat, the hospital steward, who
10 practically the adjutant and tho
treasurer have their qusrters. A porte
cochers in front indicates the public
entrance which on ascending q few feet
opens into q rotunda fifty feet In diam.