but slight breaks from regular slopes, and a cross-section of either would give a paraqolic curve. From the northwest mountain are long, low, rolling spurs, with slight elevations or knolls; but none with such abrupt slopes as have the mountains proper. At the foot of these spurs, between them and shorter though like spurs from the main ridge, lies the valley section, with average width of 300 feet, through which run the twe forks of Hot Springs Creek. To the south and east of the main ridge is a rolling, but by no means a prairie country, having a range of 100 feet in level, and being about onequarter of the entire area. This section is that which is the most generally built over. A heavy growth of hard and soft woods, pines and hickories, gums and oaks, standing side by side, covers the mountains and spur-slopes, as well as much of the rolling ground. And yet the rock, principally sandstone, of which these mountains are almost wholly composed, is covered with so thin a soil that a heavy rain-fall runs as from a roof, and, in a very short time, causes the creek to assume the character of a freshet. There are some dozen cold springs; otherwise water is readily obtained by sinking wells of shallow depth. Under your instructions that the engineering work should be done in a thorough and complete manner, commensurate with the importance of a sanitarium, and that it should progress as rapidly as possible, three parties were organized: possible, The first, under Capt. E. A. Douglass, an able and careful engineer and topographer, to make the survey of the Hot Springs and Hot Springs Mountain, in accordance with section 4 of the act creating this commission; The second, under Maj. William R. De Voe, an experienced land-surveyor and city engineer, to retrace and define the exterior boundaries of the reservation; and The third, under James W. Brown, esq., an experienced city surveyor, to survey the lots claimed by settlers upon the reservation. These parties were disbanded upon completion of the work for which they were formed. Later another party was organized under Col. Samuel Hamblin for obtaining the topography, and is still in the field. The natural obstacles to be overcome, a rough and rocky country, heavy forest-growth, and almost total obliteration of authoritative landmarks, render the more crecitable to these gentlemen the skillful manner in which they performed their respective labors. Simultaneously with the field-work, draughting of same was going on. At first this was in charge of Mr. E. H. Johnson; upon his retiring it was performed by Mr. S. W. Tullock, and upon his acceptance of a prof professorship, orship, Mr. W. G. Walbridge Walbridge, civil engineer, succeeded; and through his energy am I enabled to furnish the inclosed maps and plats, reduced from those on file in this office. The survey for the boundary-line of the Hot Springs Mountain reservation was begun May 21, the principles adopted being extreme accuracy of angle and measurement, and as to location, selection of line with such gradients as to make possible a carriage-drive about its exterior. Hot Springs Mountain and all the known warm springs, numbering seventy-one, of temperature from 68° to 157° (see inclosed list), are included in this tract, its area being 264.93 acres; number of courses, forty seven-shortest, 99.4 feet; the longest, 914.2 feet, and the total length of boundary 15,863.9 feet, giving an average course of 337.5 feet. Computation on of the field-work gave a plus error of 5.15 feet in latitudes, and plus 2.45 feet in departures. The survey, as thus designated by you, was accepted and approved by the honorable the Secretary of the Interior on June 8, 1877. (For plat of the reservation see topographical map.) A certified transcript of the field-notes of land-survey of the sections in which was located the reservation was obtained from the auditor of the State of Arkansas. These surveys, having been made in 1837 and 1838, made it a very difficult and delicate task to retrace the lines as first run, but by blocking out trees, the markings often overgrown four or five inches, every witness-tree, now standing, was developed, and the boundary-line has been as accurately determined in its metes and bounds as the possible question of title seemed to demand. Monuments, appropriately lettered, have been set at each section and quarter-section corner about the exterior boundary. (See line map.) The claims or lots included within these lines have been surveyed to the number of eight hundred and thirteen, and areas of same computed. (See claim map.) The system of grand squares was adopted for subdivisions, and after the exterior lines were carried into effect, producing sixteen app approximate squares; the same being designated by capital letters, A to R. Six of these squares, through the center of the reservation north and south, including the most valuable territory, are equilateral and equiangular; the remainder as nearly so as irregular general boundary permits, all excess or deficit being thrown into exterior squares, as shown on line map. The transit and Chesterman steel tape have been used in all of this triangulation and meas defined was urement. Additional to base-lines, obtained by subdivisions, there have been run some five miles of base-lines through the principal streets and the group of hot springs. The topography has been thoroughly carried over four-fifths of the reservation, upon plan of 10 feet contour, with primes over the most valuable ground. This, with transit and level, upon system of squares and meanders therefrom. (See line map.) The reservation may be described as one-half mountain country, one-quarter spurslopes, and one-quarter comparative rolling ground. The field-work has necessitated the running of over 225 miles of line, in addition to which were the meander-lines required in securing the topography. A summary of the field-work gives the following result: 1. Survey of the Hot Springs Mountain reservation; 2. Determination of exterior lines of reservation; 3. General subdivision lines; 4. Survey of claims; 5. Running street base-lines; and 6. Topography. The office-work accomplished is (a) Platting of the Hot Springs Mountain reservation; (b) Platting of claim-surveys on scale of 100 feet to 1 inch; giving metes, bounds, and name of claimant, together with houses and index number; one grand square to each sheet; (c) Platting of compiled map of claim-surveys on scale 200 feet to 1 inch (a reduction of which is inclosed); and (d) Platting of topography has been commenced. A detailed statement of expenditures is impracticable, from the fact that many of the accounts were charged in the general office expenses, instead of to specific purpose, but to November 1 the account may be rendered as follows: Pay-roll of employés.. Incidentals, including office and field material Total $7,871 724 8,595 There remains yet to be done: completion of the topography, and platting of the same; a thorough and careful study thereof, and determination of routes for avenues and streets consequent thereon; devisement of a lot system, and thereafter a laying down of the entire design upon the ground. The doing of this latter will be more expensive than is ordinarily incurred in town-surveying, both in that it will require skilled surveyors and also take more time. This arises from the fact that the varied character of the country will necessitate the adoption of a street-plan in which straight lines will be the exception and curves the rule. The cost of the greater part of this further work depends so much upon the detail of the plan adopted for street and lot systems, that estimates for its performance may be only approximated. To complete the work in a thorough manner, I estimate as follows: Draughting and office-work Office-material and incidental expenses Laying out streets and lots, including labor, monuments, stakes, and all fieldmaterial Total.. There are here three classes of country, to wit: 1. Valleys and spur-slopes; 2. Rolling ground; and 3. Mountains. $4,500 2,000 10,500 17,000 The topography of each should be carefully questioned, as for what class of private public undertakings it is comparatively suitable, itable, and each should be laid out with view to the development development of the utilities for which it is specially fitted by natural circumstances. Studied thus, it is evident that nature has peculiarly adapted each class for the following purposes: 1. Valleys and spur-slopes for a system of villa lots. por 2. Rolling ground for commercial purposes, and residences of those required to live in immediate neighborhood of their business. The more important portion of this section of the country will have ready access to the Hot Springs Railroad, it having right of way to the Malvern road. 3. Mountains, especially favorable for drives and health resorts, being neither practicable for residence nor commerce. Upon the mountain-proper, it is desirable that the forest growth should be preserved. This is almost a necessity, and appeals both to the heart and head, in that it is an important element of health, and in that it is a great addition to the beauty of the landscape. Remove the trees, and barren, bleak, and rocky slopes would meet the eye at every point of the compass; preserve them rigidly, and under proper management they may be made one of the most attractive featares of this locality. This may be done either by the mountains being reserved from sale and continued under the control of government, or it might be done if they were sidered, t. sold to liberal and intelligent capital, which would realize the necessity and have the means to carrry out the plans which might be made for their development The drainage question is one of the most important subjects which is here to be coned, both as a required provision to the needs of a community, and also in its sanitary bearings. A method for its solution should be adopted ere the new plans are matured, as it will greatly affect the street system. The Hot Springs Creek is the natural drain of nine-tenths of this reservation, and 800 feet of its course is through the permanent reservation. The manner of dealing with this subject should be uniform throughout the whole length of the creek, which is now the receptacle of all the refuse and filth of nearly the entire reservation, as it is also the only water-supply of many living near it. To cover it would be very costly as well as least healthy; to sink a sewer-pipe in bed of the creek and make an open water-way with sodded slopes high enough to carry any probable freshet, having on either bank a shady promenade, would cause it to subserve to the æsthetic and be the most economical treatment of the question. In any case, the putting of the creek into proper condition for meeting sanitary and recreative e requirements, would be beyond the means of the community, and it would seem appropriate that for this matter, as well as for other of the more expensive work which must be done here, the general government should grant a portion of the sum derived from sale of these lands. Further than this, it would be desirable that such construction should be performed under the management or direction of those designing the same, in order to secure their execution with the efficiency that is contemplated, as not only allowable but essential to the full enjoyment of and benefit from the Hot Springs of Arkansas. Respectfully submitted by your obedient servant, FRED. A. CLARK, Table of Springs upon the Hot Springs Mountain Reservation. 91.4 Constant flow. Datum of levels. The lowest point on the Hot Springs reservation, being on the east side where the Hot Springs Railroad enters the same, approximates 500' above tide-water of Gulf. 10 Table of springs upon the Hot Springs Mountain reservation. Continued. Giving summary as follows: Number of springs Range of temperature. Highest temperature...... Highest elevation 71 790 76° 157° 102.3 84'.3 186'.6 B. OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES HOT SPRINGS COMMISSION, Hot Springs, Ark., November 24, 1877. To the honorable Board of Commissioners in relation to the Hot Springs of Arkansas: GENTLEMEN: In accordance with your request, I have the honor to submit for your information the following table, which exhibits, in a condensed form, the appropriation made by Congress for the expenses of the Hot Springs commission, the disbursement, and the balance on hand November 24, 1877. NOTE.-The expenses for November (estimated at $2,500) are not included in the statement of disbursements. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. C. F. LARRABEE, Disbursing Agent. Estimated expenses of the Hot Springs Commission from the 1st day of November, 1877, to the 1st day of July, 1878. Salaries of commissioners.. $7,260 00 Salaries of stenographers and clerks 6,336 00 Salaries of engineer and assistants, including office and field force. 6,320 00 Material for engineering department 1,000.00 Office rent, fuel, messenger, stationery, and printing. 3,000.00 Contingent expenses 2,000.00 |