The National tribune., 1911-01-05
THE BATTLE MOUNTAIN SANITARIUM.
A Great Benefaction by the Government to Its
Suffering Veterans.
BY EARL II. KLOCK.

Situated In the southern part of the
Black Hills, is the best of 10 sanitari-
ums which the General Government
has caused to be erected for its dis
abled volunteer soldiers. The other
nine institutions are scattered thruout
the country from Maine to California
but the one located at Hot Springs Is
the latest and best of them all. Profit
ing by past experience in building and
inspired by the earnest personal enthu-
siaSm of the men responsible for its ex-
istence, this last of the 10 institutions
has been erected on the most modern
and scientific principles, and it stands
to-day fitting monument, not only to
its architect, but to its originators.
Credit to Capt. Palmer.
1t is due to the efforts of Capt. Henry
lE. Palmer, of Omaha, largely, that this
institution was founded, and 1t is due
to the local Congressman, z. w. Mar
tin, that it was located in the Black
Hills. Everyone who is or has been
connected with this institution is glad
that the originators' efforts were not in
vain. The purposes for which 1t was
| founded have not been baffled in any
sense of the word, for thousands of SOL
diers have visited this sanitarium since
| its official opening in 1907 and all have
been more or less benefited. Besides
| this, many have found there a COM
Portable home and an asylum from all
outside worries and cares.
To administer treatment and relief
| to the sick and distressed eX-soldiers
or to furnish the homeless ones a place
| of rest has not only been the aim but
the accomplished purpose of this splen-
did institution. Combined with the
most expert medical skill to be found,
there is the invigorating atmosphere of
the Black Hills and the wonderful
medicinal properties of hundreds of hot
springs gurgling out of the rocks at the
| foot of the southern hills.
Battle Mountain.
Battle Mountain, from which the
| sanitarium derives its name. has in it.
self a romantic tale. Years ago Indians
roved over these hills unmolested, saw
| ing from warfares among themselves.
These mineral springs, now known so
well TO civilization, seem to have been
as equally known to them. Here they
brought their sick from all sections to
| cure them of their diseases. One of
the springs they called Mipnekahta
| (prObably healing water), and that
spring retains the same name to-day.
BESIDES being to the Indians their
great medicine place, it was good
hunting ground. 1t seems that fish and
game were here in abundance. The
Cheyenne Indians held supreme sway
Ht UrSt, Dut later the sioux CdIfle over
| the plains from the East and sought
| to and did wrench from their swarthy
cousins this much-coYeted territory.
A terrible battle ensued on the side Of
one of these mountains, and the war
like Sioux were victorious. Tie place
where the fight occurred became
known as Battle Mountain.
Tile Sanitarimn.
Here, near this historic and romantic
/ l.
ed this great sanitarium. Over 1900
acres of land were laid off in military
reserve for this institution. Time nor
space will not permit a description of
all the structures. Suffice it to say
there is a Governors mansion, a Chap
lain's house, nurses cottage, tubercu-
losis hospital, power and electric
plant and the main sanitarium build
ling. Probably no other building in the
world is constructed exactly like this
one.
II person will imagine large circle
200 feet in diameter with large square
at the upper and lower sides of it, and
three oblongs extending out from each
of the other Sides then he can realize
something of the shape of this sani-
tarium, for 1T really is eight large
buildings In one. The ring or circle de-
scribed above Is a great arcade. The
two squares are the administration and
StINlCe WHICH dl the
head and the foot of the arcade, re-
spectively. Then, reaching off from the
other side of the arcade from the right
and from the left, are the six great
oblong structures which are known as
the ward buildings Each ward build
ing is three stories high. The admins
tration building is five stories high, and
the service building four. The entire
octagonal structure is built of pink
sandstone quarried out of these hills
and is rooted with bright red tling,
while black woodwork comprises the
broad porches extending along one
side of each ward The entire build
ing is patterned after the old Spanish
mission style and is very picturesque
and pretty indeed Kimball, of Omaha,
was the architect, drawing the plans
after a design suggested by Capt.
Palmer.
The Great Arcade.
The great arcade is nothing, more
than circular hallway walled on one
side by sandstone blocks and on the
other side by beautiful archways which
are inclosed with glass in the winter.
Leading down into the open court in
side are steps located at regular inter-
walls, and a flight of these takes one into
a pretty place indeed. In the center
of this court is a living fountain sur
rounded by flower beds, gravel paths
and plats of green grass.
When the arcade is inclosed in glass
the members of the home can do all
the ordinary things of life without go
ing out of doors.
The entrance of every ward is from
the arcade. Side by side, in six pairs,
are the oak doors which open into
each ward. But, instead of stairways
leading up to the higher ward and
down to the lower one, there are long
inclines and declines with fall of a
foot to every six running feet. One in
cline takes a person to the upper ward,
while the decline leads him to one be-
low. Thus the ex-soldiers are saved
the necessity of walking up and down
stairs.
Now in each ward the floor space
Is 800 by 108 feet in size. There is
connected with each one a smoker,
locker room, a pantry and nurses
office. All of these rooms have spot
less white walls and are finished in
light wood. There are copiOuS WIN
dows, 28 to each ward, and these have
the smaller-siZed window panes set in
six-pane double sashes to carry out the
Spanish mission effect.
The Quarters.
There is a living room or quarters in
each ward for 2S men. Fourteen men
live on each side of the room. Conse-
quently there are IA little white beds on