Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-06-15
.|NPROVEMENTSAT
. THE HOT SPRINGS
Sanitary Inspector Wallis
Tells of Work Being
Done by State.

otatc Goilitdiy ihsPcttoi odhicS -
Wallis, who has been on a visit to Lava
Hot Springs, In the southeastern part
of the state, brings back a very in
teresting report of that thriving place,
which he says cannot help but become
one of the best known health resorts
in the west Already 1t presents the
appearance Of a tented city, every tent
and cottage on the grounds having
been rented to visitors from other
states who have come to enjoy the cur
alive properties of the waters of the
springs. There are people from as far
east as Denver, st. Paul and Chicago,
and the state is unable to supply the
demand for accommodations, which is
increasing with every train that stops
at Lava.
The Lava Hot Springs are situated
In Bannock county, IL miles east Of
McCammon. The springs are the prop
erty of the state of Idaho, having been
decided to the state by the United
States government at the time of the
opening of the Fort Hall Indian reser-
walton, on which they are located.
There are 1877 acres of land in the
grant, portion of which is ideally sit
uated for camping and summer outing
purposes. The state has parked por-
lions of the level sections, beautifying
them with lawns and trees. The tent
houses maintained by the state, are
furnished for light housekeeping and
rented at moderate rates by the week
or month. The tent city is in charge
of a superintendent, who also has
charge of the springs and bath houses.
The hot springs rise in a picturesque
declivityi surrounded on three sides by
formation rock, resulting from the in
crustating properties of the hot water.
The volume of hot water is immense,
amounting to about 1000 second inches,
and the temperature varies from 10S to
148 degrees Fahrenheit. The springs
are noted for their medicinal proper
ties, being similar in character to those
of Hot Lake Ore The altitude at the
springs is 5000 feet and the climate is
ideal for summer camping.
To Change Towns Name.
The town of Dempsey, whose name is
soon to be changed to Lava Hot
Springs, adjoins the springs reserve on
the south and west. and has four hotels.
The Oregon Short Line, seeing the flu
ture of the place, has erected a com
open day and night and supplied with
a telegraph operator. An effort is now
being made to have the limited trains
stop there.
Commissioner Wallis met Senator
Frank ]. Hunt and T. E. Edwards, of
the Lava Hot Springs commission, and
spent some time going over the pro-
posed site of the new buildings which
are being erected there by the state. A
contractor, e. j. Sells, of Pocatello, has
a large force of men at work and the
contract calls for the completion OF the
improvements by Aug l. The main
building will have a plunge 70X35 feet
tapering from three to eight feet in
depth. Ample dressing rooms and pri-
vate bath rooms will be built around
the pool and will be deliberately
equipped in the most approved hy-
gienic manner. There will be a sepa-
rate pool in one of the wings for in
valids, and another pool In the other
wing for those having skin diseases.
There will be quarters for the medical
superintendent and matron; sun room
and pavilion. The upper of the present
bath houses will be continued in use
but will be used by negroes, Indians
and other nationalities, who now fire.
quent the springs in connection with
the white people on account Of not
having proper facilities to separate
them.
The land belonging to the state is
being laid off in building lots and will
be leased for a term of years not to ex-
coed 80; and from rentals II is antici.
pated quite a fund will be cleared for
the maintenance of the springs. SUI
perintendent Fullmer has the grounds
and buildings in excellent condition and
has made quite showing this spring
in the matter OF the care of the several
hundred trees which have been set out
by the state.
Arrangements were made by Com
missioner Wallis for the placing of
garbage cans at convenient points
throughout the grounds. and the erec-
ton of a number of sanitary closets In
connection with the cottages rented by
the state.