IMPROVEMENTS AND MAINTENANCE. As was the case last year, no extensive permanent improvements have been made during this year by reason of the fact that some complications arose in connection with the proposed construction of the new administration building, free bathhouse, and clinic, all of which now appear to have been removed, so that it is possible that these buildings may be completed and in use before June 30, 1920. Provision has been made in the sundry civil act for 1920 for expenditures totaling $190,000 for this purpose. Extreme care has been taken in the maintenance of the improvements on the reservation, and it is believed the reservation never presented a more attractive appearance than during this year. It has taxed our regular force of laborers to the utmost to keep up this work. It has been necessary to devote much time to the maintenance and upkeep of the system of mountain roadways, which is one of the most pleasing features of this resort. During the year 946 yards of gravel have been hauled and distributed at points where necessary for building up and surfacing the roads. The gutters and catch basins on the sides of the roads have been kept thoroughly cleaned out, and the roads dragged and grassed as occasion required. Special attention has been given to the cultivation of hedges, shrubbery, and flowers. An unusually severe winter caused the top of the beautiful box hedge along the reservation front to freeze and die, so that it became necessary to cut the hedge down to a height of about 8 inches in order to facilitate its growth. In some instances the roots had died, and it was necessary to set out new plants. It has been carefully cultivated and its renewed growth has been rapid. About During his visit here in November the director of the National Park Service took much interest in the beautification of the reservation, and ordered a larger quantity of bulbs for planting this year than has been customary heretofore. Approximately 9,930 tulips of various colors, 4,000 narcissus, and 1,500 red, white, and blue hyacinths, a total of approximately 15,430 bulbs, were received and planted on the reservation. the time these bulbs were received, and at the instance of the director, Mr. Jens Jensen, the famous landscape artist of Chicago, came to visit the reservation, and made sugges tions as to planting, arrangement of color schemes, etc., which were carried out, with the result that during the early spring the reservation presented an unusually beautiful appearance, which elicited expressions of favorable comment from the visiting public. The roses also have been extremely beautiful this year, as have all the plants and shrubbery in their season, due to the careful cultivation received. All lawns on the reservation, including the west slope of Hot Springs Mountain, have been kept neatly trimmed. Winter grass seed was sown in November, so that the lawns might retain their greenish hue during the winter months, which makes them exceptionally attractive to visitors. The 423 four-foot park benches were repaired and thoroughly painted with two coats of paint. When finished and distributed for use they had the appearance of new benches. All the White Way electric-light poles on the reservation front were given two coats of paint, the body and arms being an attractive pea green, and bronze green base. All the electric-light poles along Hot Springs Mountain road and in Whittington Lake Park were given a coat of black paint. All the hand railings across concrete bridges and at various danger points where precipices occur were also given a coat of black paint. Much work has been done in Whittington Lake Park to promote its attractiveness, and it is becoming more popular each year. Repairs were made on the tenuis court. The three old toilet equipments were removed from the brick comfort station and three modern toilets installed therein, bringing it to a satisfactory sanitary condition. A quantity of fallen timber which had accumulated on the reservation was cut up and 98 cords of wood secured for fuel, most of which was used at the government free bathhouse. All pumps, pipe, and sewer lines have been maintained by repairs and renewed wherever necessary. GOVERNMENT FREE BATHHOUSE. The Government free bathhouse has been operated during the past year for the indigent in accordance with the acts of Congress of December 16, 1878, and March 2, 1911, with the following results: The average number of persons bathed daily at the free bathhouse was 285. By reference to the above table, it is noted that there is a decrease of 10,590 in the total number of baths given as compared with last year. The strict compliance required with act of March 2, 1911, which provides that only persons without and unable to obtain funds to pay for baths shall be eligible to admission to the free bathhouse, is largely responsible for this decrease, together with the fact that it appears that more people are able to pay for baths than formerly on account of the prosperous condition of the country generally. This bathhouse has filled a most worthy mission to diseased and suffering humanity which otherwise would be unable to avail itself of the great benefits to be derived from bathing in these healing waters. The existence of this old institution is nearing an end, as in its stead, on another location, a free bathhouse and clinic is to be constructed on most substantial and modern lines, and equipped with all modern facilities. Block 82 of the city of Hot Springs, Ark., which is on the opposite side of Reserve Avenue from the reservation, has been offered by the city of Hot Springs and tentatively accepted by the department as the site for the new free bathhouse and clinic, and an appropriation of $190,000 provided for in the current sundry civil act for its construction, less the amount which will be required for the new administration building. FREE CLINIC. The free clinic which is operated in the rooms over the government free bathhouse has been continued during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1919. The physicians engaged in this work are registered and give a portion of their time between the hours of 1 and 3 p. m. each day except Sundays and legal holidays. The only persons treated here are Indigent free bathers who can not secure funds with which to pay for professional services. Despite the inconvenience on account of insufficient quarters and equipment and the lack of laboratory facilities the report from the clinic shows a gain over last year. The Wassermann and other blood and serum tests were made in connection with cases treated for the purpose of diagnostic confirmation. A report from the genito-urinary clinic states that 249 cases were treated with the following results: The daily average attendance in the various months was from 10 to 30; mean average, 20. The approximate number of personal treatments given was 6,200. The following diseases were treated in this clinic: Gonorrhea, acute and chronic cystitis; urethral stricture; prostatic hypertrophy; rheumatism, gonococcal; epididimitis, gonococcal. The skin-syphilis clinic was operated continuously during the fiscal year. The report shows the following results obtained, with the 278 cases treated: Insufficient observation___ Slightly improved. Much improved The daily average attendance during the various months was from 5 to 12. were treated for syphilis, primary, secondary, and tertiary. 87 21 170 These cases The results of observations of these cases in connection with the baths confirm the studies made by the physicians and given in my report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1918. The continued observations made by the physicians relative to the therapeutic value of the water confirm the studies made before, and mentioned somewhat in detail in my 1918 report. The effects of the baths on the body temperature, the polynuclear cells and phagocytic power of the blood encourage the belief that the benefits derived from the Hot Springs mineral water are due to its action on metabolism and elimination, and the medical conditions most benefited are those in which the disturbances are due to a toxemia, either of bacterial or metabolic origin. The 527 dismissed or leaving the genito-urinary and skin-syphilis clinics during the year came from the following States: The work accomplished at the free clinic this year is commendable and has served to facilitate the progress of a large number of patrons of the government free bathhouse who otherwise would have been unable to secure any treatment or medical advice on account of lack of funds to pay for such services. The physicians who have given their time to this work may be assured their services have been appreciated. In the plans for the new free bathhouse, which are now being completed, provision has been made for a modern and up-to-date clinic, the arrangement of which has been gone over very carefully in connection with several physicians who are deeply interested in this work. The plans have been arranged in such manner as to detail that, when completed, the clinic should be satisfactory in every respect. It is intended to have a technician in charge of the laboratory, records, etc., whose services will greatly facilitate the work of the clinic's staff of physicians. PAY BATHHOUSES. There are at the present time 19 pay bathhouses receiving hot water from the Hot Springs Reservation, with the following rates for baths, fixed in each instance by the Secretary of the Interior, in effect therein : In addition to the above, there is a uniform attendant's fee, also fixed by the Secretary of the Interior, of 20 cents for a single bath, or $4 per course of 21 baths, which is collected by the bathhouse manager and properly accounted for to the attendant. All bathhouses sell half-rate tickets for 10 baths and some of the bathhouses sell quarter tickets for 5 baths at one-half and one-fourth, respectively, of the rates shown above for a full course of 21 baths. There are at present 23 hot water and ground leases in force, as shown by the following table: There is no doubt that the finest bathhouses in the world are located in Hot Springs, as this has been stated by a number of persons who have visited all the first-class bathing establishments in Europe. Those bathhouses constructed within the past few years contain all modern equipment and practical appliances. A high standard of service is maintained in all bathhouses at all times. Frequent official inspections have added materially to the efforts of the managers in obtaining such good results. The total business of the various bathhouses has shown a substantial increase over last year, which is satisfactory to the lessees. However, on account of the great increase in cost of maintenance and operation, a slight decrease in net profits is shown. This is not unexpected, since there has been no increase in the price of baths since January 1, 1916, and the increase in cost of maintaining bathhouses since that date has been great. The time for tearing down all the old frame bathhouses and rebuilding new houses on the sites of the Horseshoe, Ozark, Lamar, and Magnesia Bathhouses has been extended to June 1, 1920, at which time the hot-water supply will be cut off from these houses and they will be torn down, and it is probable construction of new and modern bathhouses on these sites will be begun. When these are completed the reservation front will present a magnificent row of beautifully designed, modern, and up-to-date bathhouses. Total receipts, less redemptions, of bathhouses, by months, for fiscal year ended June 30, 1919. Total.. 366.30 24,930. 23 24,730. 02 16,074.52 13,417.97 14,447.32 16,717.29 38, 137. 31 120.95 179.65 207.50 |