REPORT OF Doctor Paul Haertl of Bad Kissingen to the Commissioners of the State Reservation at Saratoga Springs - February, 1925

Sep 21, 2026

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Formal letter report by Doctor Paul Haertl of Bad Kissingen to the Commissioners of the State Reservation at Saratoga Springs, dated February 1925. It reviews recent improvements made over twelve years—new bath houses, expanded drink facilities, pipe lines, laundry and bottling operations—and evaluates Saratoga’s therapeutic development using European medical-bath experience. The report argues for major enhancements to drinking and bathing infrastructure, emphasizing modern technical comfort, spacious halls for public drinking, and first-class bath-house facilities with up-to-date hygiene and convenience.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

RESTRICTIONS ON USE

TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA

FILM SIZE AND REDUCTION

DATE FILMED AND IMAGE PLACEMENT

REPORT

Purpose and background of the visit

Achievements during the twelve years

Standards and need for modernization

Requirements for a modern drinking hall

Requirements for a large first-class bath house

97-84062-6Haertl,Paul Report of Doctor Paul Haertl...[New York] [1925] # COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISIONBIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED-EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD ## RESTRICTIONS ON USE: Reproductions may not be made without permission from Columbla UniversityLibrarles. # TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE: 35mmREDUCTION BATIO: 10:/DATE FILMED: 4-2-97追 IIB IMAGE PLACEMENT:IA ## INITIALS: 23213 ## TRACKING\#: FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. 308 二 REPORT 174 OF Doctor Paul Haertl of Bad Kissingen to the Com-missioners of the State Reservationat Saratoga Springs. FEBRUARY,1925 To the Honorable,the Commissioners of the State Reservation atSaratoga Springs,State of New York: GENTLEMEN.—Following a second,very flattering invitation ofthe State of New York extended by the honorable State Reserva-tion Commission,I have just spent some time in Saratoga Springsin order to inspeet the new buildings,groundsand improvementswhich have been wrought sinee my first visit to this beautifulresort twelve years ago;and also in order to study the situationwith regard to the springs with the aid of various printed reportsand the willing personal assistance of the members of the StateReservation Commission,as well as of the engineers,chemists,andadministrative officers there engaged. The purpose of my coming was,as I understand it,to give inthis report to the honorable State Commission:first,my opinionof what has already been done at Saratoga,and second,to makesuggestions and give such adviee as I may be able as to ways andmeans of earrying to completion the projeet—already so wellbegun—of making this wonderfully favored natural treasurehouse one of the finest,most modern,and most valuable curativeresorts in the world. Much has been done during the twelve years since my previousvisit.Two large new bath houses—the Lineoln and the Washingtonbaths,the enlargement and improvement of the Hathorn drinkhall,the numerous new pipe lines—some of them in splendidsubterranean tunnels,an up-to-date electrie laundry for the linen,a model bottling plant for carbonated table waters,and manyother things testify to the fact that the State Commission hassuccessfully taken a long first step toward the therapeutie utili-zation and perfection of this spa.Fortunately this balneological 2 sueeess has,as was to be expeeted,brought about a very notableimprovement in the sanitary and economie situation as is evidentfrom the inereased number of visitors,the greater number ofbaths given,and the growing receipts,as shown in the annualreports of the Commission. It is not my nature,nor is it my business to offer petty eriti-eisms of the great extensions and improvements that have beenearried out.But if the purpose of my eoming is to report honestlyand frankly,on the basis of years of experience at Europeanmedieizal baths,just what must be considered as necessary orvaluable to the fullest development of Saratoga along the lines ofour best spas with like or similar springs,I trust that no onewill take it amiss if I state that the present drinking and bathingestablishments may perhaps pass—judged by European standards—as suitable for the great middle-elass and the greater group ofthe less well-to-do,but—and here every Ameriean who has visiteda modern European Kurort will agree with me—they ean noteome into account for the fastidious,well-to-do resort clientelewhich visits our European resorts in sueh large numbers. I have eome now to the essential point and repeat today whatI said in my report twelve years ago.If Saratoga is ever to beable to enter into serious and highly desirable competition withthe great health resorts of the world,it absolutely must haveextensive,impressive buildings with all the up-to-date techniealimprovements,comforts,and aeessories of sueh resorts

FAQs

What is the purpose of Doctor Paul Haertl’s February 1925 report?

To provide his opinions on what has been done at Saratoga and to offer suggestions for completing the project toward making Saratoga a leading modern curative resort.

Which improvements does the report highlight from the prior visit twelve years earlier?

It mentions new bath houses, improvements to the Hathorn drink hall, numerous pipe lines (including subterranean tunnels), an electric laundry, and a model bottling plant for carbonated waters.

What does the report say Saratoga must add to compete with major world health resorts?

Extensive, impressive buildings with up-to-date technical improvements, especially a bright, spacious drinking hall with attractive fountains and ample space for guests in all weather.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Sage