The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1916-05-04
ARLSBAD? Well,

either, as II LOOKS now NO,
nor Baden Baden nor any
other of the famous European spas.
But there is still the Arkansas Hot
Springs-now owned by Uncle Sam
and because of the European situation
it's likely to have a big boom. cor
respondent Of the Philadelphia Record
writes
The water is there. a million gal
Ions a day, SO pure that chemical
analysis shows but faint trace Of
mineral, and the ~ springs are all
hot. Not a drop OF this water is sold
From the various springs enc may
drink it by the cup and carry 1t away
by the gallon In the lighthouses one
may soak in it by the hour. at cost
within the reach Of every purse
This statement is made because
there are 81 private lighthouses. and
the large government bathhouse for
the INDECENT In the private bath
houses, which cost from 100000 TO
100000. the government regulates the
price. making allowance for the sum
invested the cost Of maintenance. etc
The average price for a course Of Il
baths is around eight dollars, and then
there is the fee for attendants, also
regulated by the government
Everything IS under government CON
trol-the water. the bathhouses- the at
tendants and the physicians. Many OF
the lighthouses are on government
property. that part OF the reservation
facing Central avenue, and known as
"Bathhouse row The occupants OF
these plots have no leases and pay no
ground reIt They are there because
the government allows them there.
and can be closed up in ten minutes II
their behavior is not all it should be.
The attendants are all negroes. and
none OF them can get job in bath
house without his or her little Ger
tifcate bearing the signature of Doc
tor Parks. representing the depart
ment of the interior.
Physicians Must Qualify.
The physicians. as the result OF
some high-handed robbery by auacks
in the old "wide-open' days when Hot
Springs was about as wicked a spot
as could be found on the map, have
to qualify before a federal medical
board before they are allowed to pre-
scribe the waters and baths. Any pa
tient being treated by a physician who
has not so qualified will not be re
\ceived at any of the lighthouses for
the bathhOuse so offending could no
from IFuFiA Sam
This term may seem tritle odd to
one not knowing tho conditions at Hot
Springs. but il exactly describes tho
situation The bathhouse owner rents
the water. paying $50 per annum for
the water for each tub in his bath
house This water belongs to the
government. and is under government
supervision in the pipes. in the tubs
and until it passes out through the
sewer connections
A larger sum TO be estimated only
through the imagination, in fact could
be realized il tho government would
allow the waters to be exploited COM
mercially Vast sums have been Of
fered for the hottlng and shipping
privileges, ana WNle tnc water uOupl-
less could be sent to the ends of tho
earth In perfect condition, Uncle Sam
will not allow any such experiments.
There are in the valley half dozen
springs. privately owned, whose wa
tiers are known throughout the coun-
try One OF these has a great reputa-
tion as a cure for Bright's disease.
Yet Uncle Sam will not allow them
even TO use labels which might mis-
lead people into believing that they
were a part OF the group OF wonder
working springs that the eminent
guarantees as being par excellence.
They are the flow OF outlying springs
not considered OF value at the time
the main group was taken over. and
probably are worth no more today.
from a medical viewpoint. than they
were AT that time.
Baths for the INDECENT.
II seekers after health who journey
TO the springs have not the where