Ottumwa Tri Weekly Courier

TUESDAY, January 18, 1910.

OLD MINERAL SPRINGS IS AN INACTIVE ASSET OF OTTUMWA;
COMMERCIAL ASS'N. MAY ACT

Curative Powers of Waters of the Once Well Patronized Resort in East End Make it Compare Favorably With Established Sanitariums

That nature endowed Ottumwa and this section with many natural advantages which have in the past and do still tend toward the commercial advancement of the city and section as a center of commerce, a pleasant place to live and good location for business houses or industry is a well known fact. It is also well known that coal abounds in large quantities in this vicinity, that water power and railroad transportation are convenient for the industrial enterprise.

There is one gift nature bestowed upon the city in the dim long ago, the existence of which is well known to many of the older inhabitants, even if it is almost forgotten by some, but is little known to the present generation or the resident of the city who has come to Ottumwa within the past decade. It is that Ottumwa has mineral springs, which for the curative powers of their waters, were once known all over the country and brought Ottumwa to be looked upon as the Carlsbad of the west.

Many Attracted.

Indiana has its West Baden, Missouri its Excelsior Springs and numerous other states have resorts of prominence, but none of the well known resorts attracted wider attention than the Ottumwa Mineral Springs, after its opening thirty years ago. Numerous persons from all parts of the country were attracted here by the wonderful curative powers of the waters from these springs. At its beginning as a health resort the wonderful healing effects of the water attracted to it many from nearby and gradually its fame spread until it was the best known sanitarium in this part of the west.

Its history goes back thirty years when in 1880 a boring was made in among the hills then east of the city, but now known as the foot of Vernon street in the East End. The land was purchased by Loten E. Gray, father of John W. Gray of this city. L. E. Gray had operated a health resort at Colfax Springs for some time and decided that the local waters were of greater value as a health giving liquid. Mr. Gray sold his holdings at Colfax after an analysis of the water of the Ottumwa mineral springs had been made by chemists and proved them to contain the elements that made it of the highest character for health-giving properties. He came to Ottumwa with the view of making a sanitarium on the site of the springs. On January 2, 1882, Mr. Gray, with George Godfrey, purchased the land from E. H. Stiles, a well known attorney of Ottumwa at that time. The following year the hotel was built and some $30,000 expended in erecting the resort that was to make this section of the state famous. Together, Gray and Godfrey operated the hotel successfully until 1885.

Burned in 1892.

Godfrey left the firm in 1885, and August 1, 1888, Dr. E. K. Shelton was taken into the sanitarium as the directing physician. April 4, 1889, the springs and hotel were leased to Doctors E. J. and E. K. Shelton, who operated the resort with considerable success until during the summer of 1892, when the building took fire and owing to its remoteness from fire protection, was burned to the ground. The first boring led to more wells being bored and the deepest was that of spring No. 1, which reached a point 1,314 feet below the surface. Various chemical properties were found in the waters and each boring revealed a greater quantity and better variety.

Will Exploit Springs.

The Commercial association has in mind to bring out the possibilities that lie inactive in the healthful properties of these waters and will make an effort to have them turned to a commercial value that will redound to the credit of Ottumwa and make the city once more the health resort that it formerly was. The value of the waters is not questioned and it is but a case of a valuable asset of Ottumwa lying dormant for want of being placed in its proper light to the investing public who might bring the springs to the position they justly hold as a healthful watering place for the good of suffering humanity.

Street Car, a-la Mule Power.

For years a street car service, a-la-mule power that served as a connecting line with the old General Hedrick horse-car line was operated by L. E. Gray for the benefit of his patrons and while the transportation was somewhat slower than the electrics of today, the service was thought excellent in its time. The electric cars succeeded the horse cars and a better service reaches the site today, which is still a point visited by many Ottumwans in strolls about the city on summer days.

How They Advertised,

A copy of the advertising pamphlet issued by the Ottumwa Mineral Springs Hotel, L. E. Gray, proprietor is interesting, and tells, among other things, of the chemical properties of the waters.

Large Hotel.

We have been unsparing in our efforts for the comfort of our guests in building a hotel containing eighty-two rooms at a cost of $25,000, says the pamphlet. There are four flowing wells furnishing the best mineral water in the United States. The deepest well, which affords an abundant flow of mineral water, is in the rotunda, in the center of the hotel. This water is highly charged with magnetism and strongly impregnated with carbonic acid gas. The building is heated by steam; there are sixty-six bed rooms, all well-lighted and ventilated, and furnished with new and comfortable furniture and bedding, and every effort will be made to afford the guests all the comforts of a well-kept hotel. The hotel has an elevator, and the bath rooms are supplied with every convenience. The water has been used constantly since it was discovered, by hundreds of our citizens, and all are highly pleased with it, and great relief has been experienced by a large number of sufferers from the following diseases: Rheumatism, neuralgia, dyspepsia, paralysis, kidney disease, liver complaint, female diseases, malignant sores, ulcers, skin and blood diseases, constipation, nervousness, etc.

Analysis of Water.

The analysis of the water of Mineral Springs follows:

Spring No. 1, 314 Feet Deep.

Chloride Sodium 51.805
Sulphate of Lime 38.230
Sulphate of Potassium 2.231
Sulphate of Sodium 200.875
Carbonate of Lime 22.265
Carbonate of Magnesium 30.802
Carbonate of Iron 2.940
Silicic Acid 7.299
Alumina trace
Organic Matter trace
Total Grains 355.417

J. D. CARTER.
Analytical Chemist, Omaha Medical College.

Total Grains 451.441
Also, free and half combined Carbonic Acid Gas.

S. R. MACY,
Analytical Chemist

Total Grains 36.490
Also, some free and half combined Carbonic Acid Gas.

Spring No. 2, 85 Feet Deep.
Chloride Sodium	...	.....	2.700
Sulphate Sodium	...	.....	13.105
Sulphate Potassium	...	...	trace
Carbonate Sodium	...	.....	10.212
Carbonate Calcium	...	.....	7.844
Carbonate Magnesium	...	.....	5.294
Carbonate Iron	...	...	.184
Silicic Acid	...	...	1.443
Alumina	...	.....	trace
Organic Matter	...	.....	trace
Loss	.....	.....	.662

Spring No. 3, 78 Feet Deep.
Chloride Sodium	.....	.....	1.610
Sulphate Sodium	.....	.....	6.814
Carbonate Sodium	.....	.....	13.576
Carbonate Calcium	.....	.....	6.713
Carbonate Magnesium	.....	.....	7.462
Carbonate Iron	.....	.....	trace
Sulphate Potassium	.....	.....	trace
Silicic Acid	.....	.....	.315
Alumina	.....	.....	trace
Organic Matter	.....	.....	trace

Just how the waters aided some can be seen from the following testimonials:

J. G. Baker, of Ottumwa, Iowa, make the following statement: I have been afflicted with paralysis for ten years, and during that time have spent much of my time at Colfax Mineral Springs, until the mineral water was struck at the Ottumwa Mineral Springs. Since, I have use it and it produces the same results with half the amount of water, and I cannot do without it, and would recommend it to all afflicted as I am.

J. G. BAKER,
Douds, Ia., Aug. 11, 1886.

Messrs. Gray & Godfrey:

Dear Sirs:-In April, 1884, I was terribly afflicted with inflammatory rheumatism, being entirely helpless most of the time. I went to your Mineral Springs a few weeks, and was greatly benefitted, so much so that I cannot speak with too much praise for your Mineral Water Treatment for Rheumatism, and would recommend it to all similarly afflicted.

Respectfully,
IRA M'CRARY.

Ottumwa, Ia., August 11, 1885.

It is with pleasure that I testify to the benefit I received from the treatment and effects of the use of the water. I am fully satisfied that there is great virtue in it. It effected a prompt and what seemed a permanent cure. It allayed suffering, eased pain and gave me rest, that I was not able by medicine to obtain. It restored a lost appetite. It is now almost a year, and there seems to be no appearance of the disease returning. Eczema was the trouble.

Yours truly,
MRS. I. P. TETER.

Ottumwa, Ia., June 16, 1886.

Mr. L. E. Gray:

Dear Sir:--I desire to add one more testimonial to your list. I visited your place in the summer of 1884 affected with what physicians pronounced rheumatism of the bladder from which I suffered almost beyond human endurance. I drank of the water and took the baths, and in twelve days I was cured, and remained clear of rheumatism until about one month ago when I had another attack in my legs and knees, which grew worse until I could scarcely walk. I then visited your place again and drank the water and took the baths for one week and I feel I am cured of the rheumatism in my legs and knees and would recommend the water to all similarly afflicted, believing it almost an infallible cure for rheumatism and many other diseases of the human family.

JACOB PRUGH.

Keosauqua, Ia., Aug. 12, 1885.

This is to certify that prior to the 1st of June last, I was for more than eighteen months afflicted with a nervous trouble which caused me to jerk and throw my arms in every way: it also caused my head to jerk and I had to pound myself till my body was sore. I was also troubled with kidney disease. I had tried three doctors and taken all the patent medicines I could hear of, but got no relief, but grew worse all the time. Through the advice of friends, I resolved to try the Ottumwa Mineral Springs as the last resort. I went to the Springs on the 1st day of June last and left there on the 11th of July, comparatively a well man. I make this statement for the good of humanity: I want to let everybody know that there is a remedy at hand. I know of my own personal knowledge that this Spring will cure the rheumatism, kidney disease, indigestion, paralysis, nervousness and other diseases.

SAMUEL OVERMAN.

Ottumwa, Ia., May 20, 1884.

Mr. L. E. Gray:

Dear Sir:-Through exposure in extreme cold weather, I took a severe cold and it settled in my back and kidneys, and I had severe pains in my back for more than two months. I had to leave my work and come home. I was induced to try the Mineral Water and was cured in ten days.

Yours truly,
FRANK FEIDLER.
519 W. Fourth St.

Mr. L. E. Gray, Ottumwa, Iowa.

On the 31st day of August, 1885, I came to Ottumwa Mineral Springs suffering with kidney and liver troubles. Now on this 9th day of September, I feel I am well and would recommend Ottumwa Mineral Springs to all similarly afflicted.

L. VIRDEN,
Chicago, Ill.

Mt. Vernon, O., Dec. 1885.

L. E. Gray, Dear Sir:-I desire to add one more testimonial to the merits of the Mineral Springs. I visited your place in November 1885, afflicted with kidney and bladder disease, my condition was such that I suffered all the time, was scarcely able to sit down or get up, to go up or down stairs. The use of the water and the baths in four weeks cured me, and at the end of four weeks I weighed 17 lbs more than when I went to the Springs. I make this statement prompted only by a desire to help suffering humanity and would recommend all similarly afflicted to go to Ottumwa Mineral Springs.

DR. A. J. BERRY.

San Francisco, Calif., March 1, 1886.

Mr. L. E. Gray, Ottumwa, Iowa. Dear Sir:--In accordance with a duty sufferers who have been benefitted or cured, owe to suffering humanity, I wish to add my testimonial to the numerous ones you already have. I arrived at the Ottumwa Mineral Springs, Dec. 12th, suffering with general debility, and impoverishment of the blood and after remaining six weeks I was perfectly cured and have gained 21 pounds in weight.

Yours very truly,
W. H. BROOKE.

Many Commend Waters.

The Mineral Springs pamphlet continues to read as follows:

OTTUMWA MINERAL SPRINGS HOTEL is in the Eastern Edge of OTTUMWA, IOWA, a city of 12,000 inhabitants, beautifully located in the valley and wooded bluffs of the Des Moines river.

Analysis of One U. S. Gallon of Water, 231 Cubic Inches.

Terms: Rooms, Including Board, $8 to $10 Per Week.

What the People of Ottumwa Say.

We, the undersigned, citizens of Ottumwa, Iowa, after using Ottumwa Mineral Springs water more or less for over one year, and knowing the effect it produces, would respectfully recommend it to persons afflicted with any of the above diseases, believing it superior to any other mineral water in this country:

W. C. Thompson, Clerk of the Courts.
J. W. Workman, Sheriff.
George Bane, Treasurer.
E. Washburn, Auditor.
J. W. Calhoun, Deputy Auditor.
Charles Lawrence, Wholesale merchant.
T. P. Baker.
Frank Dungan, Wholesale merchant.
G. H. Sheffer, Dry goods merchant.
Chas. F. Blake, Pres. Iowa National Bank.
W. B. Bonnifield, Pres. First National Bank.
J. G. Hutchison, Pres. Ottumwa National Bank.
G. A. Madison, Mayor.
S. E. O'Neill, M. D.
Samuel Lilburn, Lilburn, Baker Co., Wholesale shippers of butter and eggs.
W. A. Jordan & Sons, Dry goods and clothing.
J. G. Baker.
S. B. Evans, Editor Democrat.
B. F. Hyatt, M. D.
A. H. Hamilton, Editor Courier.
E. L. Lathrop, M. D.
T. J. Douglass, M. D.
J. E. Wilkinson, M. D.
J. C. Hinsey, M. D.
A. O. Williams, M. D.
R. H. Warden, City Editor Courier.

We do not claim that our Mineral Water will cure everything, but claim we can make a better per cent of cures than any water yet found.

The Street Cars now run direct to the Springs, and strangers in the city will find it to their advantage to visit this resort, which in time will become one of the most noted in the state, if not in the United States. A visit will amply repay any one, whether in poor health or not.

L. E. GRAY, Prop'r.