ROADS AND DRIVES.

The roads and drives heretofore completed on Hot Springs Mountain have been kept in a good state of repair and have been in more constant use than almost any other of the Hot Springs improvements. During the year these have been added to by the completion of the roads and drives on North Mountain, which now make a continuous drive 6 miles long. The roads have an average grade of about 7 per cent and a driving surface of 20 feet in width, which afford ample room for passing in opposite directions. The construction of these drives has been somewhat difficult and not inexpensive, for the reason that they have had to be built on the steep sides of the mountains and on such grades as would finally bring them to the top. A large portion of the grading, which consists mainly of cutting on the upper and filling on the lower sides, has had to be done in solid rock. On most of the grounds it has been necessary to build retaining walls of either rock or timber on the lower side to hold the embankments until the fillings became settled and solid.

It has been found during the progress of this work that the surface of the mountains, or such of it as is not composed of rock, is made up of a cement gravel, which, after being put in place and allowed a sufficient time to settle, becomes so hard as to render retaining walls of but little further use. For this reason such timber as had to be removed from the right of way and other undesirable timber near it has been used for this purpose where the retaining walls were only required to be built to a moderate height, and has resulted in a considerable saving in the construction of the roads. Particular care has been taken to provide sufficient drainage, without which roads built on such steep grounds as these would be quite difficult and expensive to maintain.

HIGH POINT ON HOT SPRINGS MOUNTAIN.

The roads just now being completed on North Mountain are much appreciated on account of the beautiful views brought out from the high points reached, besides the additions made to the length. No other improvements made at Hot Springs have seemed to meet with such uniform approval from visitors and strangers as the roads and drives.

Hot Springs has become somewhat celebrated for its fine livery, and there is perhaps more horseback riding indulged in here than almost any other place. Many persons taking treatment here are advised by their physicians to take considerable exercise, and there is no other means of doing this in so pleasant and desirable a way as by horseback riding and driving over the well-kept mountain roads, where one is almost in the city and yet at the same time in the forest, and being successively greeted by pleasant scenery and beautiful views, extending as far as the eye can reach. It has been mainly for these reasons that I have for several years past urged the completion of the roads and drives as laid out by Capt. Robert R. Stevens in the general plans for the improvement of the reservation, believing that the class of improvements which seemed to contribute most to the pleasure and enjoyment of the visitors should be made first. Still in this belief, I respectfully recommend that the sum of $4,500, or so much thereof as may be necessary for the completion of the roads and drives on West Mountain, be allotted and set aside for this purpose, and that authority be issued to begin the work at an early date, in order that it may be completed by the beginning of the next Hot Springs season, the opening of which is considered to be the 1st to the 15th of December.

The roads and drives as now constructed on Hot Springs and North Mountains are all in good condition and are in daily use for both horseback riding and carriage driving. The roadbeds are perfectly solid and with only ordinary attention to the drainage and repairs will continue to improve by reason of constant use for many years to come.

The total amount of funds allotted for the construction of these roads since my last report has been $4,000. Of this amount $3,473.94 has been expended, as previously noted in my semimonthly reports of this work.

IMPROVEMENTS.

The improvements made on the reservation during the fiscal year have been the additions and improvements made to the free bath house, the completion of the Fountain street drive and the roads and drives on North Mountain, the repairs to the residence building, and refitting the pumping station for use as an office, and generally extending and putting additional grounds in Reserve Park under cultivation and planting trees and shrubbery, extending and improving the walks, and giving such care and attention to the improvements heretofore made and the Government property as seemed necessary.

The repairs made on the free bath house have been most extensive and perhaps the most needed of any made this year, and have added greatly to the usefulness of the building and to the conveniences it affords in giving baths. The addition of the new pools and cooling rooms enables me to furnish separate bathing facilities for colored people, a matter which is greatly appreciated by them and very generally approved by the public. The convenience with which the business of the bath house can now be conducted has been greatly facilitated by the improvements made, and the building is now in a good state of repair. The cost of the improvements has been $3,885.80.

The Fountain street drive has been fully completed to a connection with the drives on Hot Springs and North Mountains and is in constant daily use. It is one of the best and most frequently used drives yet constructed and affords general satisfaction to the public. A large portion of the work done on this drive has been done by the regular force of foresters and gardeners, only $500 being allotted for it, which has been entirely expended.

The roads and drives on North Mountain have been practically completed and have added greatly to the general attractiveness of the roads and drives on the Hot Springs Reservation. They, as the others, have been somewhat difficult to build, for the reason of being located on the sides of the mountain and passing over several ledges of solid rock, which had to be blasted away, and several other places where very high and strong retaining walls had to be built. These roads reach some of the highest points on the mountain and bring out some very beautiful views, besides being well shaded and passing through very pretty mountain scenery. There have been two allotments of funds for these roads, the first being nuder date of October 12, 1898, for $2,500, and the second May 27, 1899, for $1,000. Of these amounts $2,973.94 had been expended on June 30, 1899.

The repairs made to the residence building have consisted in mending the roof and plastering, papering the walls and ceilings, making needed repairs to the furnace and plumbing, and the addition of some carpets and furnishings. The total cost of which has been $521.82.

The improvements made in the pumping station, to fit the building for use as an office, have consisted of first removing the machinery to the boiler room, leaving clear the space 30 by 30 feet, to be converted into an office, the walls being entirely bare of any inside finishings and without ceilings or floors. This space was divided by partitions into three rooms, the first being 17-1/2 by 30 feet, the next 12 by 18 feet, and the last, which is used for closet and lavitory, 11 by 12 feet. Floors of hard yellow pine were laid, the walls plastered rough to receive oil finish, and steel ceilings put up. The interior woodwork is all of native yellow pine finished in hard oil, and the walls and ceilings painted and decorated in colors to harmonize with this. Combined gas fixtures, admitting the use of gas or electricity, have been provided and rooms fitted for steam heat, which is taken from the Lamar bath house near by. All the purposes and necessities of an office for the superintendent are now provided for in this improvement. The allotment of funds for this improvement and for office furniture, made October 12, 1898, was $1,000, of which $990.46 has been expended and previously reported, leaving an unexpended balance of $9.56.

The total amount expended for improvements this year, exclusive of the ordinary repairs and fixed expense, has been as follows:

GOVERNMENT LOTS.

Of the whole number of lots, tracts, and parcels of land laid off and platted by the Hot Springs Commission, 157 lots remain unsold, the value of which is at this time about $75,000. The lots lay mostly on the outskirts of the town, but many of them are desirable for residence purposes because of being of considerable size and suitably located for a residence and small garden. Some, however, are located near the center of the town and are quite valuable. Block 94, on Ouchita avenue, has heretofore been valued at from $25,000 to $30,000, and would probably sell for that now, while in block 194 there are several lots that are now in request for the fine oil stone with which they are underlaid, and would no doubt sell for a fair price, while the prospects generally at this time are that in the early spring a successful sale of these lots could be held. Real estate at Hot Springs, which has always been held at a very high figure, is again, after a season of depression, assuming its normal values, and will doubtless be further stimulated by the building of another railroad from this place to Little Rock, which is expected to be in operation by or before March 1, 1900.

Considering the advisability of augmenting the reservation improvement fund by the proceeds of a sale of these lots, which it seems now may be successfully held not later than next March, I take occasion to again renew my recommendation that such sale be authorized to be held during March of next year, feeling very sure that if all the lots do not find buyers at the appraised value, that enough would be sold to furnish sufficient funds with which to complete the improvement of Reserve Park, which, after the completion of the roads and drives on West Mountain, is the most desirable improvement to be next undertaken. I have, during the year, received some inquiries from persons at a distance and in other States as to when the balance of the Government lots would likely be disposed of, and besides this considerable personal inquiries are made at this office. From these and the general prosperous condition of the country at this time, I conclude that no better or more favorable time can be selected in the near future for a sale of these lots than the date above mentioned, March, 1900, and I respectfully request that this matter may at an early day receive the consideration of the Department, in order that sufficient time may be had for appraisement and such other details as may be incident to this sale, if it should be determined that one may be had at about the time mentioned.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The unexpended balance remaining in the Treasury to the credit of the fund for the protection and improvement of Hot Springs Reservation, Ark., on June 30, 1899, was $5,084.29, to which may be added $5,500 from the receipts for water and ground rents for the fiscal year of 1899-1900, which is estimated to be over and above the fixed and ordinary expense of the reservation, making a total of $10,584.29 available for new improvements during the next fiscal year.

The improvements which, in my opinion, are most desirable to be next undertaken are the construction of the roads and drives on West Mountain, which, when completed, will make a system of mountain drives on the Hot Springs Reservation somewhat over 10 miles long and fully complete the system of roads and drives originally laid out by Capt. Robert R. Stevens, U. S. A. For this purpose I respectfully recommend that the sum of $4,500, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be allotted and set aside for this improvement, $2,500 of which to be at once available, so that the work may be inaugurated and completed during the fall months.

The next most important improvement is the construction of an additional hot-water reservoir at the foot of the bluff back of the big iron bath-house site. On the hill back of this site is supposed to be a large body of hot water, a considerable portion of which finds its way through the tufa rock and discharges at the foot of this bluff. These springs have heretofore been secured by being walled in with masonry and a portion of the water piped away to supply some of the bath houses on the lower end of the reservation to which it would run by gravity, the balance finding its way through the general supply system to the impounding reservoir from which about 140 tubs are supplied. The masonry with which these springs was originally secured has for some time been giving way from the pressure of the water, allowing a considerable quantity of hot water to go to waste, besides the constant danger that the masonry might at any time collapse and cause considerable trouble and delay to the bath houses supplied from this source. For the purpose of constructing a reservoir extending across the foot of this bluff with sufficient capacity for storing and distributing the waters from these springs, I respectfully recommend that the sum of $1,392.50, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be allotted and set aside for this purpose, the same to be at once available. Plans, specifications, and estimates for this work will be furnished the Departmnent within a short time.

During the heated term of almost every summer more or less trouble is experienced with the broad concrete walk which traverses the reservation front, it being 15 feet wide and some 1,700 or more feet long. The work of constructing this walk does not seem to have been well done in the first place, and from time to time a considerable portion of the finished surface—say from three-fourths to 1 inch thick—parts from the lower portion to which it should have been firmly bonded and cups up and breaks in such a way as to render it impossible to mend the walk except by replacing the portion affected. Some 300 square feet, located at different places along the walk, is in need of repairs at this time, and I respectfully recommend that the sum of $75, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be allotted and set aside for mending the walk and for resetting one of the small exedra fountains, the water connection of which requires some repairs.

I have heretofore called the attention of the Department to the exposed condition of the residence building to fire; it is located back of the Arlington Hotel on the south side of Fountain street, some 350 feet from Central avenue and the nearest fire hydrant, and in case of fire could only be reached by a line of hose running up Fountain street. The dangerous exposure is a large four-story frame building, which was formerly a part of the old Arlington Hotel, but is now moved to the north side of Fountain street diagonally across from the residence building, and is at present occupied as a colored hotel. In case of the burning of this building, fire protection could only be afforded the residence building by running a line of hose from Central avenue up Fountain street, which the heat would soon cut off, and it is very probable that without some assistance from the fire department, which can not be reckoned upon, that the residence building would be sacrificed. If such an emergency should arise the efforts of the fire department would no doubt be directed toward saving the Arlington Hotel, the Hot Springs bath house, and other buildings which could be reached by the fire department from Central avenue, while the residence building would be cut off.

I have had some conference with the Hot Springs Water Company upon this subject, and am informed by them that they will lay a 4 inch main a sufficient distance up Fountain street to pass the residence building, and will at the instance of the city government put in one fire hydrant provided the Government will put in one, which might properly be located somewhat back of the residence, which with a small supply of hose to be kept on the premises would afford ample protection from fire and afford very much better water facilities for the building than are had at present. The water connection is at present through an inch iron pipe, laid from the mains on Central avenue, some 350 feet away, and which reaches the house under a very weak pressure. The water company proposes that the Government buy and own the hydrant to be placed on the premises, and to pay a yearly water rent therefor.

I respectfully recommend that I be authorized to enter into negotiations on this subject with the city government and the water company, and to submit to the Department the best proposition I can obtain for its consideration. with a view of providing such fire protection to this building as the circumstances would seem to warrant. The building is in need of some repairs to the outside woodwork, which is rotting away, and should be replaced; repairs to the roof, the plumbing and furnace, and painting, the estimated cost of which will be as follows: Repairs to woodwork, $27; roof, $23; plumbing and furnace, $35; painting out side and inside and roof, $138.

I also respectfully recommend that the sum of $150, or so much thereof as may be required, be allotted and set aside for the purchase of tools and implements for use during the current year.

I further respectfully request that I be authorized to employ a suitable person as park keeper, whose duties shall be to have charge of that portion of reserve park which fronts on Central avenue, and particularly to sweep and keep clean the concrete walk which traverses this part of the park, and look after the drinking fountains, and perform such other duties as are incident to keeping the walk cleanly swept, gathering paper and trash from this part of the park, etc.; salary to be $30 per month, payable from the regular reservation fund.

I further respectfully recommend that I be authorized to use so much of the funds now standing to the credit of the Whittington avenue improvement as will be necessary for removing the sediment from and cleaning the bottoms of the two lakes. Some complaints have been made by the citizens living near the lakes, under the impression that the settlings in the bottoms make them unhealthy in summer. I can not at this time furnish a good estimate of the cost of this work, for reason of not knowing the amount of sediment necessary to be removed, but do not expect that it would exceed $150 for each lake. I think it desirable that this should be done on the approach of cold weather, for reasons set forth elsewhere in this report.

I respectfully recommend that a sale of the Government lots be ordered to take place in Hot Springs, Ark., during the month of March, 1900.

I further respectfully recommend that such additional funds as may become available for improvements during the current year be allotted and set aside for the improvement and extension of reserve park, which seems the most desirable improvement to be next undertaken.

RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS.

The revenue which the Government receives from Hot Springs is from water and ground rents, and is collected quarterly in advance and deposited in the subtreasury at St. Louis, Mo., to the credit of the fund for the protection and improvement of the Hot Springs Reservation, Ark., being appropriated for this purpose by the act of Congress approved June 16, 1880; the water rent being at the rate of $30 per year for each bath tub under lease, and the ground rent, $2,500 per year being for the ground occupied by the Arlington Hotel. The total amount collected during the fiscal year amounts to $18,580, as shown by the following table

RECEIPTS.

The receipts of this office for water and ground rents for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1899, have been as follows:

HIGH POINT ON NORTH MOUNTAIN.

DISBURSEMENTS.

The disbursements made from the fund for the protection and improvement of Hot Springs Reservation, Ark., from this office have been for salaries, fixed expenses, and such other items of expense and improvement as I have been from time to time authorized to pay from this office, and other items of improvement for which payment has been made from the Department, all of which are shown by the following table:

DISBURSED BY SUPERINTENDENT.

EMPLOYEES.

There are in all 18 persons regularly employed on the Hot Springs Reservation, whose duties and pay range from superintendent to laborer. I have at all times been very careful in the selection of persons to be given employment on the reservation, and the utmost harmony and fellowship has prevailed among those who work together. It often becomes necessary to require extra work from the foresters and gardeners, such as sprinkling the grounds in summer, repairing the roads after heavy rain storms, and other emergencies as they may occur after working hours; but settlements are made on a basis of eight hours' work per day, and they are paid for whatever extra time that may be required of them.

There is no person employed on the reservation in whom the utmost confidence can not be placed, and I am greatly indebted to each and every one for the faithful and efficient manner in which their duties have been performed.

Table showing personnel of employees on the reservation, the Congressional district from which appointed, amount of compensation, and duties.

Duties of foresters and gardeners are to cultivate and care for the flowers, trees, and shrubbery; keep up the roads, drives, and walks, and make and maintain other improvements on the reservation under the direction of the superintendent.

ADMINISTRATION.

During the period since my last report considerable progress has been made in the quiet and orderly management of the reservation. The bath houses have seemed to enjoy a good season of business and have rendered a better compliance with the rules and regulations than heretofore, bath-house drumming has been considerably diminished, and more favorable attention has been directed to the Hot Springs Reservation than at any time in the past several years. The revenues accruing to the Government from water and ground rents have all been promptly collected and deposited in the subtreasury at St. Louis. All the improvements which I have been authorized to make have been practically completed, and generally the affairs of the reservation have progressed in a most satisfactory manner.

In the matter of the improvements and the purchase of material and supplies in "open market" and the employment of labor I have in no sense lost sight of the interests of the Government, and have endeavored to practice such economy as seemed consistent and honorable with all concerned and with public policy.

The free bath house has been enlarged and repaired in accordance with the plans approved by the Department for this purpose, and the convenience with which the business of the house can now be transacted has been greatly facilitated. All indigent persons applying for free baths have been supplied, and a large portion of those using the baths have been cured and put on the way to become useful citizens. The free dispensary, for some time past operated in connection with the free bath house, has accomplished great good and is beginning to receive more liberal support from charitable persons by whom it is sustained. If it is charity to help those who can not help themselves, the Government and all concerned have great reason to feel proud of that which has been accomplished at the free bath house and free dispensary during the past year.

The cultivation and extension of the parks has proceeded in a satisfactory manner; considerable additional shrubbery has been gathered up and planted and additional grounds set in grass. This branch of the reservation improvements is well in hand, and the parks themselves present a very creditable appearance and afford much pleasure and recreation to the visitors, and are much used and frequented by the citizens. A feature of considerable enjoyment in Reserve Park this summer has been the biweekly concerts given in the pavilion at the head of the grand central entrance, each of which is attended by a large number of people. The concerts are supported by public subscriptions.

Bath-house drumming has again been somewhat reduced, and it is probable that during the past year less of it has been indulged in than in any other year since the inception of the bath houses; that of it which is left at this time is so inseparably connected with the drumming doctors that it is almost impossible to reach it. Neither the drummers themselves nor the drumming doctors are permitted to take persons to or loiter in or about the bath houses, yet in some way a species of communication is kept up between some of the drumming doctors and some of the bath houses, which is the principal means of perpetuating that which is left of bath-house drumming.

Since the removal of this office to the present quarters the inquiries made in person about Hot Springs have very greatly increased and the business of the office has been very greatly facilitated. It is now located in the center of the business section and is accessible alike to visitors and others having business with the superintendent. During the year a great many inquiries have been received from all parts of the United States and some from foreign nations, including England, Germany, Austria, and France, generally calling for the minutest information about the hot waters, the mode of application, the cost of medical treatment, hotel and boarding-house charges, the cost of transportation, and the probable effect of the water on certain diseases, the necessary time to effect a cure, etc. To all these courteous answers have been returned, and the effect has been to bring a great many persons to Hot Springs, many of whom have been cured. Through these and others coming to Hot Springs a great demand has sprung up for authentic information descriptive of Hot Springs and the hot waters, in suitable form for mailing to friends and acquaintances who need the benefit of the waters; an analysis of the hot waters made by a competent Government officer is continuously called for, and anything bearing the stamp of the Government Printing Office is gladly and often eagerly accepted. I have collected and distributed all the reliable printed information I could, but have not nearly been able to supply the demand. Through these sources and other intelligent means of advertising, supported and maintained by the citizens and through the magical effect of the hot waters, Hot Springs is rapidly becoming famous the world over.

During the year I have received several requests for information about the unsold Government lots from persons desiring to know when another sale would probably be held and for specific information about certain lots and parcels of land yet unsold. From this and the somewhat frequent personal inquiries made at this office I conclude that a successful sale of these lots may be had at the pleasure of the Department after this date, and I think it advisable that such sale should be authorized to take place not later than March 15, 1900, in order that the proceeds thereof may become available for the continuance of the reservation improvements which have done so much toward bringing Hot Springs up to the high standard it has now attained.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. J. LITTLE, Superintendent.

The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR,
Washington, D. C.