Free Baths for the Indigent People of the United States.--By act of
congress approved December 16th, 1878, the government maintains a free
bath house for the indigent people of the United States of both sexes. No
baths will be supplied except on written applications made on blanks
furnished at the office of the bath house, making full answer to the
questions therein propounded: then if the applicant is found to be
indigent, in accordance with the common acceptations of the word, the
manager will issue a ticket good for twenty-one baths, which may be
reissued on the same application if necessary. The daily average of baths
given at the free bath house for the year 1909 was more than six hundred.
The government is very broad and liberal in construing the meaning of the
word indigent; and the fact that the applicant for free baths has some
property, seems not to act as a bar to the privilege of free baths. Ninety
per cent of the patients admitted to the Army and Navy Hospital are either
cured or relieved. Taking into consideration the large number of old civil
war veterans treated at the hospital, whose ailments have become chronic,
this is a very remarkable showing.
Physicians' and Medical Regulations.--The United States Government,
through the interior department, regulates and controls the practice of
medicine in connection with the hot waters. A local federal medical board
passes on the applications of physicians who wish to prescribe the hot
waters. All who meet the requirements of the board are placed on the
accredited list. Copies of this list are hung in all the bath houses and
only those whose names appear thereon are permitted to prescribe the hot
waters. For the benefit of visitors these lists are also kept at the
office of the superintendent of the reservation near the Army and Navy
Hospital. These regulations apply only to those who take medical
treatment. Others get the baths without formalities of any kind. In
addition to the Army and Navy hospital and the government free bath house,
there are twenty-five bath houses operated by private parties, eleven of
which are situated along the western base of Hot Springs mountains on the
government reservation, and fourteen are on private property at various
other points throughout the city. The relations of all the bath houses to
the government are the same. They each pay the water rental to the
Interior Department of the United States. The government's interests are
looked after by a superintendent of the reservation, who is appointed by
the President of the United States. He has charge of all improvements
going on, on the reservation and enforces all government rules and
regulations concerning the bath houses.
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Cost of Living at Hot Springs.--Hot Springs is not located in a good
agricultural section, and it is not a manufacturing city; therefore, the
boarding and lodging of visitors is their only source of income. Upon
nearly every house in the city is displayed the notice that board is
furnished, or furnished rooms are for rent, with or without light
housekeeping. A few places furnish board and lodging for $4.50 per week;
the most general charge, however, is from $5.00 to $6.00 per week. Renting
rooms, arranged for light housekeeping, is the cheapest method of living
at Hot Springs. The above prices are intended to show the minimum cost of
living.
Where to obtain additional reliable information relating to baths, board,
etc., at Hot Springs, Arkansas.--First. Apply to the superintendent of the
United States reservation, corner of Central and Reserve Avenues, Hot
Springs.
Second. The business men of the city have an organization known as the
"Business Men's League," which is intended and prepared to furnish
reliable information by letter or personal application to the secretary
and managers of the Business Men's League. Persons visiting Hot Springs
should not rely upon advice, information, or propositions from strangers
either on the train or in the city.