The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-07-27
TRIP TO HOT SPRINGS, 6. D.

as we were SOluS uO"H ''N AN"S anu
steep grade which winds down into
the valley Of the Cheyenne.
We reached Rapid City on time and,
after an hours wait, started for Hot
Springs where we arrived al 1l.l0,
"A. m. Mountain time.
Hot Springs is very p~rettily located
in the valley with the hills surrounding
it, making a very beautiful landscape.
The business street OF New Town"
faces the railway track for several
blocks, while "Old Town is located
somewhat further back in a broader
reach OF the valley and looks some
what more like the layout" Of our
prairie cities.
There are springs and bath houses
scattered all over the City and a hos
pital on nearly every hill to aid the
ailing and help the helpless and cheer
the Respondent and thirsty traveller.
We did not visit all the places Of in
tcrest or amusement or drink from all
the springs for we had little need for
water to Quench our thirst while there.
We visited the Soldiers Home and
found our Bookings friends nicely
located in their respective places and,
apparently, enjoying themselves.
Col. Orr is in command as Superin-
tcndcnt and fills the place with a dig
nifty and grace that has not been
known there for some time. As an
evidence Of the improvement OF o
ditions ana the popularity OF the Home
throughout the state for the short
time he has been in command the in
stitution is now full and applicants for
a home there will have to wait until
a vacancy is created
w. II. Cornell, as Quarter Master,
guards the state against extravaganza
in the purchasing Of supplies while
VIM. West looks after the freight and
equine departments. Geo. A. Williams
and wife are comfortably located in
"A cottage on the grounds. George was
sick while we were there but expected
to be out the next day.
The Table D'hote' was spread with
all that would be expected in any Wen
regulated private home. We could
see nothing in the Home for the resi-
dent soldier to complain of so long as
he complied with the regulations.
Mesdames Orr. Cornell, and West
We'd with each other in entertaining
us, ven poor little me" receiving
considerable attention while, of course
Brother Purdy, as usual, managed 10
obtain the lions share of attention.
The one thing of especial interest
was the fire escape. 1t is not an
awkward, wooden, or iron stairway
where the stronger can knock or push
the weaker ones IL of the way in a
panic, but, it is a "spiral-glide' where
one can jump in at the third story
and. after a toboggan-like slide five
times around inside a steel Enclosure,
land at the bottom all in a heap but
safe from injury OIL harm or danger.
The women offered to escape" in
order to prove to us it's efficiency.
SO, mounting to the third story and
procuring a rug for a toboggan, they
jumped in. Ethie came first with
Ethel hanging to her shoulder while
Anna came last with Ethie holding to
her feet to make sure she would keep
up. They landed altogether (None
separately and declared it vas far
more pleasurable than a ride on the
"Ocean-Wave."
Returning we made the trip on the
day train. Between Hot Springs and
Rapid City we saw two fields of corn
that were about three of three and
one half feet high and looked fresh
and healthy and in good growing con-
dition. Col. Orr told us they had just
bought fifty tons of alfalfa hay from
one farmer ear the city. Evidently
the soil will produce If properly at
tended. Coming cross what was
formerly the range country but where
the cattle and horses are now con-
fined in pastures We saw a number
of heards so confined and, in looking
over the pastures. n would thing
nothing could live in them and a sim
gle creature would starve, still, those
we saw looked to be in good condi.
ton, some lying down. contentedly
chewing their "cud," while others
were feeding on-one would naturally
ask-what?
Coming through Hyde and Hand
counties We were ~agreeably surprised
TO see a number OF fields that had
been cut with a binder and a number
more that were cut or being cut with