The Sentinel=record., 1918-08-06
HOTEL MANAGE MENT HAD co. NoFERATED WITH GOVERN MENT FOR ITS USE AS
 HOSPITAL.
Letter From Attorney Curtis Explains How the Matter Was Presented to the Government From the Owners Standpoint

the Eastman hotel property to be converted into a. hospital, is all of now. according to information which reached this city yesterday from Washington Whether the govern ment will consider the building of a separate hospital here remains to be seen.
 That the people may fully under stand the interest the Eastman own ership took in having the govern ment take over this property, it's CO., operation, and that the consideration was never permitted to stand in the way, is all evidenced in the following letter from Attorney Curtis, repre- senting the interests here, to the war department.
 July 90, 1918.
 tAttention of General Noble) Surgeon General, U. $. A.
 Washington, D. C.
 Sir:
 You will recall that last winter my clients, tue owners of the Eastman Hotel, Hot Springs, Ark, were mo- tified by the department through General Gorgas that the government bad under consideration the acqusi- tion of said hotel property for hos pital purposes, and Mir. Gaines, the president of the company at that time came to Washington from St Louis in response to telegram from Gen. eral Gorgas, and after full confer ence with Colonel King, to whom he had been referred, stated that the company would agree to a sale of had been officially requested aMy clients were desirous of doing all in their power to further the efforts of the government 10 increase the facili- ties at the Army and Navy hospital, and by thus agreeing 'to turn over the hotel property they realized that they would afford the benefits of the i. healing waters of Hot Springs to our returning soldiers and sailors. The company likewise promptly furnished complete data as to the extent of the property, furnishings, equipments and the character of it's construction.
 Thus matters stood until it became necessary for my clients to be ad V vised definitely whether or not the government was to purchase the property because if not to be taken then immediate steps were necessary to be taken to obtain service help and close contracts for needed sup plies for the coming season. The de- lay in not advising my clients as to the decision of the department has caused considerable inconvenience and attendant loss, all of which l am sure will be appreciated.
 II is unnecessary for me to again invite your attention to the fact that my clients did not approach the off cials of the government and offer this property for sale, however, they ap- preciate that the nations needs in this time of war requires just such property for the housing and medical treatment of our nations defenders. and they now stand ready to deliver possession of the same if so request ed by the government.
 In passing, permit me to state that in every step in this matter from the time my clients were first advised of the gov ernments desire to acquire the property, there has been no disposi- tion on our part to profiteer, so called on the governments needs, and any suggestion that such idea was in their mind is absolutely groundles
 Upon the question of it's adapta4il- bty to the governments use for hos pital purposes deem 1t is useless for me o discuss. It's proximity to the existing Army and Navy hospital and the government springs of healing waters make it an ideal location for that purpose
 A question: 1 understand, has been raised as to the character of it's con struction and whether or not, in its present form it meets with all the requirements called for in govern mental hospital buildings and prop critics.
 Enclosed herewith will be found q report submitted by Messrs. Nam and Stearn. architects, of Little Rock Ark. addressed to my clients. Messrs Mann and Stern are the architects of the government in the work lik- ing to the construction Of the ex- tensive improvements at Hot Spring as approved by the government an' provided for in congressional appro priations.
 l beg to submit this report of thes architects for your information ant