lessee had intended to erect a sanatorium in connection with the bathhouse, as was the case before the fire, but as yet has not fully completed his arrangements.

Three of the four remaining frame bathhouses on the reservation, the Ozark, Horseshoe, and Magnesia, the leases on which have long since expired, have been given until September 30, 1915, to prepare and submit plans for the construction of new and modern bathhouses on these sites. The fourth, the Lamar bathhouse, is the best of the frame houses and has until December 31, 1916, to continue on its present lease.

I am pleased to report that in the matter of the rebuilding of the Superior bathhouse, plans therefor are practically matured and a company is being formed for the purpose of building on the Superior bathhouse site a sanitary bathhouse, to cost not less than $50,000, to operate with a moderate rate for baths to cater to persons desiring baths at popular prices. It seems at this time that the rebuilding of this bathhouse is practically assured, as the plans have been approved except as to some minor details.

The Park bathhouse, which was destroyed by the fire of September 5, 1913, has not yet been rebuilt and the water rent thereon has been remitted until December 31, 1915.

Close supervision has been maintained over the bathhouses and attendants during the past year and frequent inspections have been the means of improving the service. The bathhouse managers are unaware of the times when these inspections are to be made, and in that manner can be seen just what service the bathhouses are giving from time to time and the degree of cleanliness maintained at all times. Advertising matter of all kinds whatsoever has been eliminated, and altogether it is believed an entirely satisfactory condition exists. All reports made by the bathhouses are full and complete and the records in this office are valuable, not only to the office but to persons desiring to locate friends whose address otherwise they are unable to obtain.

The following tables, showing the details and results of the operation of the bathhouses, have been compiled from the reports and other data on file in this office.

There are at present 18 bathhouses in operation in Hot Springs, with the following rates, approved by the Secretary of the Interior, in effect therein:

Half tickets for 10 baths are sold in all the bathhouses, and quarter tickets for 5 baths are sold in many of the bathhouses, at one-half and one-fourth, respectively, of the rates shown above. Also, in addition to the rates shown, there is a uniform attendants' fee, approved by the Secretary of the Interior, of 15 cents for a single bath, and $3 per course of 21 baths, which fee is collected by the bathhouse manager and by him accounted for to the attendant.

There are at the present time 26 leases of hot-water and ground privileges, and two have been discontinued, as shown in the following

1 Water used in private bathrooms in portion of tubs leased.

2 Completed and opened for business Mar. 1, 1915, replacing Palace bathhouse.

Lease expired and bathhouse closed May 15, 1915.

4 Remodeled and opened for business Jan. 1, 1915.

Lease submitted but not yet executed.

Tenants holding over.

7 Lease discontinued and bathhouse closed Sept. 30, 1914.

8 Completed and opened for business Nov. 1, 1914.

Destroyed by fire Sept. 5, 1913.

10 Completed and opened for business Dec. 16, 1914, replacing Crystal bathhouse.

11 Closed for repairs June 30, 1915.

12 Negotiations now pending for issuance of new lease to Superior Bathhouse Co.; bathhouse closed Mar.

12

Apr. 16, 1904

Apr. 15, 1914

18 July 1, 1901

June 30, 1916

10

Feb. 1.1914

Jan. 31, 1924

16

Sept. 15, 1896

Sept. 14, 1906

20

Mar. 24, 1893

Mar. 23, 1913

2

Oct. 18, 1912

Oct. 17, 1917

Fees received by bath attendants in the bathhouses during the fiscal year ended June 30,

1915.

RADIOACTIVITY OF THE WATERS.

In 1904 the Secretary of the Interior authorized Dr. Bertram B. Boltwood, of Yale University, to report on the radioactivity of the waters. The following résumé of Dr. Boltwood's conclusions appeared in the Annual Report of the Secretary of the Interior for

1904:

* * * The results of the electroscopic tests of the gases obtained by boiling the waters were very satisfactory, as they showed that the waters at Hot Springs are radioactive to a marked degree; and from other tests, taken to determine the properties of the emanation from the waters, it was found that the properties of these radioactive gases were identical with those of the radium emanation.

On the other hand, when water from which the gas had once been taken was boiled a second time, after being allowed to stand, no radioactivity was detected in the gas obtained from the second boiling, and it was therefore concluded that little or no radium salts existed in the waters. This conclusion was strengthened by the fact that a test of the residue of the waters which had been left by evaporation also failed to disclose any sign of radioactivity of this solid substance. A sample from the tufa deposit, formed by some of the springs on issuing from the ground, was also tested, and it was found that the amount of radium contained in 100 grams of tufa was less than one one-millionth of the quantity of radium, associated with an equal weight of uranium in pitchblende. Samples of the gas which arose from the springs were also tested, and its radioactivity was found to be less than of an equal volume of gas obtained by boiling the waters from the springs. The following conclusions are reached by Dr. Boltwood as to the result of his investigations:

1. The waters of the springs on the Hot Springs Reservation are all radioactive to a marked degree.

2. The radioactivity of the waters is due to dissolved radium emanation (a gas), and not to the presence of salts of radium or other radioactive solids.

PHYSIOLOGICAL TESTS OF THE WATER.

The pronounced benefits, in certain conditions, derived from the proper use of the Hot Springs water have been fully recognized both by the medical men and the laity. The therapeutic value of these waters in certain diseases appears to be well established by the concensus of opinion of the many bathers who have been benefited