The west shore., July 01, 1885, Page 223, Image 29

THE, .WEST. SHORE.
223
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, MONTANA.
MONTANA possesses a health resort that will ere long
rival iu popularity and celebrity the famous Hot
Springs of Arkansas. Lying in the mountains to the
north of Bozeman and Livingston and to the east of
Helena, a short stage journey is necessary to reach it
from the line of the Northern Pacific The nearest rail,
road point is Townsend, in the Missouri Valley, and from
there the stage route of thirty-five miles leads through
some of the grandest scenery of the Rocky Mountains.
It crosses rugged spurs of the " Backbone of the Conti
nent," and follows for a long distance the canyon of
Deep Creek; bo closely confined by its rocky walls that
fifty-one bridges across that turbuleut stream are neces
sary to give it room. It is after suoh a ride that the
White Sulphur Springs are reachod, lying in a valloy
5,070 feet above the level of the sea, and at the base of
mountains rising several thousand foet above. One of
these overtopping peaks Mount Edith is clothed in a
perpetual robe of white and reaches an altitude of 12,000
feet, exceeding even the proportions of the kingly Hood,
the pride of Oregon.
The town of White Sulphur Springs is the seat of
justice of Meagher County, and contains a population of
some five hundred. The assessed valuation of projerty
in the county is $5,000,000, chiefly live stock. The town
is a favorite place of residence for wealthy cattle and
sheep men, and is the supply point for a vast extent of
country both pastoral and mineral. Within fifty miles
lies the Neihart mining district, in which a number of
the most promising mines have been bondod by an asso
ciation of St. Paul capitalists. When fully developed
these will add much to the trade of the town. Several
other mining localities are also tributary to this poiut
White Sulphur Springs is regularly laid out and contains
a number of good buildings, several of thorn constructed
of brick. Besides numerous business enterprises, there
are a bank and one of the best weekly papers to be found
in the Territory-the Rocky Mountain Hutlmntlman,
owned and edited by R. N. Sutherlin, ably assisted by W.
H. Sutherlin.
The greatest interest, of course, centres around the
springs. The medicinal properties of the water were
known to the Indians long before the Rocky Mountains
were invaded by white men. They held it as neutral, or
sacred, ground, and often tribes that had been at war for
generations met in peace by the side of these steaming
waters. Indian tribes for hundreds of miles around
visited the springs regularly to bathe in and drink their
healing waters, and now even the dumb cattle come for
miles in winter to drink the warm water as it flows in a
meandering steam-clouded stream across the valley. The
whole atmosphere seems to be impregnated with the sul
phur mist, and as one approaches the town the presence
of the springs is announced to him by the air be breathes
as well as the clouds of steam arising from them and the
little stream of which they are the source. Especially in
winter ia this steam made prominent by the frosty air, so
much so as to render the bath boose almost inraibU to
one standing noar the springs. The curative properties
of these waters were eorly nn(l r.rprcchtcl l- tLa
white people, and many visitors from a distance came to
test their virtues. It was not, however, till 1883 that an
adequate effort was made to improve thera and furnish
the facilities necessary to render them a popular health
resort At that time the White Sulphur Springs Asso
oiatiou was organised, with A. Horshfiold as president
and I. Sulhingor secrotary.
The improvements of the association are not yet com
plete in accordance with the present plans, but as they
now stand may be enumerated as follows: The springs
have been enclosed in a large square and eleven of the
hot ones have been openod and improved, as shown iu
our engravings. There are numerous others not yet
opened. Thero are also one ice cold sulphur spring and
one hot mud spring. A largo brick bath house stands
within the enclosure, iu which are a number of regular
bathing apartmonU and a largo tank for taking a plunge
bath. Baths are fifty cents each, or 12.50 pur week, lim
ited to three per day. From thirty to ninety baths jxtr
day are given now, which will undoubtedly be largely .
increased in the future. Opposite, the association haa a
small hotel for the accommodation of visitors. It ia the ,
intention to erect a splendid three-story brick, ooutainiug
from sixty to seveuty rooms, but even now visitors need
feel no anxioty about obtaining first class accommoda
tions both at the association hotel and the Uiggins House. .
Board ranges from 18 to tU per week. Near tho hotel
is a roller skating riuk, and in the rear is a lake, a pleas
ant little sheet of water, in which exercise in a rowboat 1
may be taken. The sportsman will find the adjacent moun
tains full of game and the streams abounding In flslu
Of the character of the water Mr. Goorge Atwood,
Fellow of the Chemical Society of England, who visited .
the springs and tested ths water ia jrcrson, says: "The
water oontains chiefly fixed alkaline curlonulr$. The .
exoess of carbon io acid makes the water more palatable
than it wonld otherwise be, and the small quantity of
lime and silica, with a charge, yet not an overcharge, of
the alkaline, combined with a moderate, quantity of sul
phur, makes the water not only safe medicinal drink,
but must beneficial for bathing purposes." The water,
applied both internally and externally, has proved par
ticularly beneficial in nervous diseases, sciatica and kin
dred disorders, is considered infallible in cases of Indi
gestion, gout, etc., and is claimed to be remedy for
Wright's disease of the kidneys. It is also good for ineb
riates, and constitutes a pleasant substitute by the use of
which a taste for liquor may be gradually overcome.
The heat of the water varies ordinarily from 108 to 110
degrees, reaching sometimes the extreme of 122 dxgreos
Fshrenheit The association Is very liberal in its treat
ment of the public Ths enclosure is free to all, who
may enter and drink of the water, and even carry it away
in buckets if they choose. A constant stream of people
may be seen daily going to and from ths springs. The
citixeus of the town make a practice of drinking tits water
regularly. The business man and mechanic, and even