There are forty-two springs within the corporate limits of the city. First in importance, in the volume of its waters and the number of cures attributed to it, is the Basin Spring, so called from a circular depression eighteen inches in diameter and a foot deep in the solid limestone rock, in which a portion of the water from the cliff above was received. Twelve feet below this there was originally another basin, of similar shape, but much larger. Both have been destroyed in improving the street (1888).

On the same bench, northeast of the Basin, is the Sweet Spring, so called from the peculiar taste of its waters.

Next in order and in importance to the Basin is Harding Spring.

Congress Spring, in the immediate vicinity, was discovered in blasting rocks, and its entire flow is utilized by the Crescent Hotel. (note: Read Newspaper Articles about the opening of the Crescent Hotel.)

Continuing on Spring Street, Crescent, the Twin Springs and Dairy Spring are successively passed. The latter was formerly utilized in the business which its name implies, but has been opened to the public, and is protected from contamination.

The Hollis Spring is a half mile northwest of Dairy Spring, and thence, southwest, are the Johnson and Oil Springs. The waters of the latter have peculiar oleaginous qualities.

The Sycamore, Arsenic and several others are also in this vicinity.

The Little Eureka, east of the Basin, remains unchanged by the heaviest rain-fall.

To the northeast, in the direction of the railroad station, are the Iron and Sulphur Springs, so named from their mineral qualities.

The Magnetic Spring, whose waters have the property of rendering an ordinary piece of iron magnetic, is in this vicinity.

Careful analysis has demonstrated that the waters of the various springs differ but little in their essential elements. The following is the report of the United States Government Chemist, February 15, 1887:

TOTAL SOLIDS IN PARTS PER MILLION OF THE WATER.
Crescent Spring 92.0, or 6.44 grains to an imperial gallon
Dairy Spring 108.0, or 7.56 grains to an imperial gallon
Basin Spring 119.6, or 8.37 grains to an imperial gallon
Magnetic Spring 132.0, or 9.24 grains to an imperial gallon

These waters contain mainly carbonate of lime and magnesia, with small amounts of sulphates, chlorides and alkalies. They are too weak to warrant complete quantitive analysis. They differ but slightly from one another, and the results here given show that the published analysis of the Basin Spring is sufficiently trustworthy for all practical purposes.

The Basin Spring waters, as analyzed in 1880, by Profs. Porter and Riggs, of Washington University, St. Louis, were found to contain following constituents to gallon of 231 cubic inches:
Chloride sodium grains, 0.19
Sulphate soda grains, 0.09
Bicarbonate soda grains, 0.15
Bicarbonate potash grains, 0.13
Bicarbonate lime grains, 4.43
Bicarbonate magnesia grains, 0.47
Iron and alumina grains, 0.08
Silica grains, 0.31
Total solids grains, 5.85
Free ammonia, parts in a million grains, 0.14
Albuminoid ammonia, parts in a million grains, 0.07
Carbonic Anhydrite cu. in., 10.42
Nitrogen cu. in., 11.96
Oxygen cu. in., 6.14
Total gaseous contents per gallon cu. in., 28.52
Specific gravity at 60º Fahrenheit 1,000.103
TEMPERATURE AND CAPACITY OF THE DIFFERENT SPRINGS.

Spring Temperature.: Basin, 64º
No. gallons per minute.: 11
No. gallons per diem, 24 hours.: 15,840
 
Spring Temperature.: Harding, 60º
No. gallons per minute.: 10½
No. gallons per diem, 24 hours.: 15,120

Spring Temperature.: Congress, 57º
No. gallons per minute.: 4
No. gallons per diem, 24 hours.: 5,760

Spring Temperature.: Crescent, 60º
No. gallons per minute.: 11
No. gallons per diem, 24 hours.: 15,840

Spring Temperature.: Dairy, 60½º
No. gallons per minute.: 10½
No. gallons per diem, 24 hours.: 15,120

Spring Temperature.: Johnson, 67º
No. gallons per minute.: 7½
No. gallons per diem, 24 hours.: 10,800

Spring Temperature.: Sycamore, 59º
No. gallons per minute.: 28
No. gallons per diem, 24 hours.: 40,320

Spring Temperature.: Arsenic, 59½º
No. gallons per minute.: 13
No. gallons per diem, 24 hours.: 18,720

Spring Temperature.: Little Eureka, 63º
No. gallons per minute.: 5½
No. gallons per diem, 24 hours.: 7,920

Spring Temperature.: Total
No. gallons per minute.: 101
No. gallons per diem, 24 hours.: 145,440

The earliest traditional history connected with this part of the State is associated with the springs. There is reason to think that the 'Fountain of Perpetual Youth,' of which Ponce De Leon received such glowing accounts from the Indians of Florida, and for which he explored a large part of the southern country in vain, was none other than the Basin Spring, described with the powerful figures of the Indian language to a credulous listener.

Prior to their migration westward, the Cherokees had a tradition of wonderful springs in the mountains far to the west of the 'Father or Waters.' They were said to possess virtue in the healing of various maladies. Years after the settlement of this tribe in Indian Territory it was their custom to hunt through the valley of White River, when such as were afflicted with various diseases drank the waters of these springs. It would also appear that similar knowledge was possessed by the savages of the north.

Jean Baptiste, whose mother was the daughter of a Sioux chief, related to Col. Gilbert Knapp, of Little Rock, the following tradition of that tribe: Many years ago, during a long and severe winter, many of them perished, and the chief, thinking to save the remainder, set out upon a journey south. They reached the forks of a great river, where game and corn abounded, and would have been supremely happy but for the fact that the daughter of this chief was blind, or almost so. Her father was told of a stream of water flowing through beds of rock to a natural basin, two days' journey distant, and prevailed upon by a medicine man to take his daughter thither. They remained six moons, when she was entirely cured.

Hon. J. M. Richardson, of Carthage, Mo., in a conversation with 'White Hair,' chief of the Osage Indians, in 1847, learned of a remarkable spring in this vicinity, at which any Indian might be cured of sore eyes by washing and bathing a full moon. The basin was said to have been scooped out by 'Black Dog,' a chief, about seventy years before.

Dr. Alvah Jackson was the virtual discoverer of the springs, so far as their medicinal qualities and present wide reputation are concerned. One of the earliest settlers in this part of the county, he found little exercise in the practice of his profession among its sparse population, and turned his attention to the more exciting pleasures of the chase.

It is related that while thus engaged, in the summer of 1858, he camped with his sons upon the present site of the Southern Hotel. One of the sons was suffering from a painful inflammation of the eyes, and having none of the usual remedies with him, his father directed him to bathe in the Basin Spring. He obeyed, from desperation rather than faith, and in the course of a few days was agreeably surprised at a favorable change in his condition. Having thoroughly satisfied himself of the efficacy of the water in such cases, the Doctor extended his practice in this direction. 'Dr. Jackson's eye-water' acquired a wide reputation in this and adjoining States.

The springs first reached the dignity of a health resort toward the close of the Civil War. Dr. Jackson was frequently called upon by the sick and wounded of both armies, among whom was Maj. J. W. Cooper, of Cooper's battalion, Cherokee brigade, Confederate army. This officer contracted rheumatism and chronic malarial poison while campaigning in the Southwest, and having obtained leave of absence, he came to Dr. Jackson, in February, 1865. As this section was then occupied by the Federals it became necessary to take refuge in the mountain fastnesses; and a party, consisting of the Doctor, the Major, William Nichols, Sine Creeley, and two others, took refuge in the 'rock house,' near the present site of the Southern Hotel. Here they lived in archaic simplicity, and in a few months the soldiers had completely recovered.

The curative properties of the springs were not utilized from this time until May, 1879, when Judge Sanders, of the county court, who suffered from erysipelas, was induced by Dr. Jackson to test their efficiency. He did so, and in ten weeks was completely cured. He was widely and favorably known throughout this section of the State, and the fact of his recovery induced others to follow his example in coming here.

It is to this remarkable cure that the existence of the city is directly traceable.

Headstone of Dr. Alvah Jackson and wife Nancy, Grandview Cemetery, Carroll County, Arkansas. Alvah Jackson was born July 29, 1806 in Georgia, to William R. Jackson and Nancy Terrell. Dr. Jackson died May 21, 1880 Berryville, Carroll County.