Page:The Souvenir of Western Women.djvu/64

58 school originated, I think, the first thought of the Baptist college, which afterward found a permanent home at McMinnville.

The seminary was continued as a day and boarding school for girls under different teachers until the advent of Francis E. Hodgson, when boys were admitted.

Throughout the Oregon country, and far beyond, are scattered those who attended these early schools. The number included many people of wealth and of influence who have filled high positions in social and civic life, and many, very many, have passed on across the borderland of time.

This handsome building is after the design of an ancient Moorish structure, and is surrounded by beautiful grounds. It is situated at the end of the electric car line about one and one-half miles from the center of the city. It has a diving plunge 122×61 feet, with a depth ranging from three to fourteen feet. There are 120 dressing rooms for plunge bathers and a large number for private baths of all kinds. These baths are supplied with natural hot water from artesian wells having a flow of 800,000 gallons per day; temperature at the wells, 170 deg. In addition to their wonderful cleansing properties, these waters have rare medicinal qualities. They are of great value in all kinds of skin diseases, digestive and liver troubles, rheumatism, gout, ulcers of the stomach, etc. In addition these waters are used for domestic and heating purposes in the city. They are conducted through iron pipes to the Natatorium, thence to the city, supplying many large buildings and private dwellings with heat. The loss in heat sustained varies from 3 to 5 degrees. The total cost of this property is $130,000. It is owned by the Boise Artesian Hot & Cold Water Company.