Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1913-11-28
R|NF WRITES
FROM GALVESTON
GIVES SHORT WRITE UP OF HIS
TRIP THRU THE SOUTH.
VISITED THE ARK. RESORT
CLAIMS THAT HOT SPRINGS. S. D.
HAS Them ALL BEAT AND GIVES
REASONS WHY.

Following is letter from w. d.
Rine, @. & N. w. agent at this place,
who is making trip thru the south.
This letter which is to Postmaster j.
A. Stanley, is mighty interesting read
ing, as it is encouraging to all OF US
who are longing, hoping and striving
to have our own Hot Springs become
big and great and famous-as are some
OF the other resorts-for we know that
we are justified in that ambition. This
letter deals with Mr.. Rine's stay at the
Arkansas Hot Springs and sltho prob.
ably not intended for publication will
no doubt meet with his approval AS
Mr. Rine never objects to publicity
boosting
Galveston, Texas, Nov. 1S, 1918.
Dear Mr.. Stanley: Have Just come
from Hot Springs, Ark our own oity'e
namesake, but not rival hy any means.
My primary object in going there was
to study it's environments rs compared
with that exceptionally gifted city
the Gem of the Black Hills. The result
is that am more infatuated with Hot
Springs, South Dakota, than ever be
fore.
The Arkansas CITY is larger, but for
that there are good and sufficient rea-
sons. 1t has been on the map since
154l, and it is 81 years since the govern
men ownership of the waters became
absolute. In addition, it ia the distrib
uting point for very large agrioultur-
al district.
1t is winter resort pure and simple,
January, February and March being
the tourist months. The largest hotel
is open only during those months You
must, therefore, call i; a pleasure re-
sort rather than one for health; and
not unlike most pleasure resorts. the
visitors have little to do but eat and
sleep.
There are many hotels and nearly
every residence is roomin9 house.
called at little brick hotel of 70 rooms,
steam heat, hot and cold running water
in every room, and during four consec
utive days in the first week of Novem-
Der there was not new name on the
register.
Nine months in the year the strang.
ers are those who are taking baths as q
means Of medical treatment.
g., ;,
Arkansas, with 80 beautiful AL exterior
as the Evans. In Arkansas they are
all constructed. of red brick which
becomes more dingy from year to year.
We often ask what shall the visitors
do for amusement? You have Hot
Springs, Arkansas beat q mile. That
city has provided park in which are
two bear, four ooons, some monkeys
and birds, dancing pavilion and NOV
ing picture show. The two latter we're
closed. No one visits the park. was
there at three O'Clock one sunny after
noon and made the total of all the peo
pie with the exception Of sleepy at
tendant, There is an ostrich farm and
two gator farms. but no one goes to
them for all who have Travelled at all
have seen the same on much larger
scale. There is absolutely nothing else
in the way Of attractions except the
government reservation. This is GER
tsinly beautiful. Two million dollars
has been spent identifying it, and the
roads and walks are most attractive.
However, they have no Wind Cave
which alone is greater than anythins
in the Arkansas resort. Neither have
they the Lost Wells. The mountains(?) p
are much like the hills of Pennsyl-
vsnia. covered with growth of timber,
but not of tho rugged beauty of the
Black Hills. Your two plunge baths
are greater attraction than every
feature of Hot Springs, Arkansas, com.
bined. During the ten days did not
see an old soldier. The government
buildings do not compare in beauty
with those of Battle Mountain Sauitar.
ium.
We have our work to do to make Hot
Springs, South Dakota, ideal, that Is,
prevail upon the federal government
to 'park" Battle Mountain 1t will be
done some day, but the sooner the bet.
ter. With Battle Mountain parked
with walks and drives one fractional
part as good as has been done in Ar