We have had a long look at the past and a peep at the present. What of the future? In my opinion, the outlook for Eureka Springs is good. We have a problem, but its solution is not impossible if we have faith in the town as the founders had. The big problem of Eureka Springs is to operate successfully on a strictly tourist income and meet the competition of other Ozark resorts. We hear complaints that the season is too short and the tourist patronage too light. The town was originally intended as a health resort, based upon the curative properties of the water from the springs. This slant is now secondary to recreation. Our chief difficulty is in providing sufficient attractions to hold tourists more than a day or two. This problem must be solved or we will gradually fade out of the picture.

The building of two dams on White River, at Table Rock and at Beaver, will have a great influence on Eureka Springs’ economy. These dams will provide large lakes for recreational purposes. They will be within a few minutes drive of our city. We now have approximately 150,000 visitors a year but the average stay is only a day or two. When the lakes are completed, we should have 500,000 or more tourists a year and they should remain an average of five or six days. These figures are based on what has happened at the Lake of the Ozarks and at Norfork and Bull Shoals. Of course, it will require extensive advertising to meet competition. Our facilities for housing and entertaining tourists will have to be enlarged. The population of Eureka Springs should gradually increase during the next few years. With the most scenic location in the Ozarks, with flowing springs such as other towns do not have, with nearness to two lakes with the best of fishing and water sports, it is not extravagant to visualize the population of Eureka Springs as doubled within a few years.

Appropriations have been made to start Table Rock Dam and the contract has been let. Work started on November 2nd and will continue four or five years. It is estimated that the building of this structure will boost the region’s economy at least $50,000,000. Of course, Branson, Missouri will profit most for the dam will be located eight miles above the town, but other communities of the region will benefit also. The headwaters of the reservoir will reach within a few miles of Eureka Springs.

Beaver Dam has been approved by both houses of Congress, but appropriations have not yet been made. If these appropriations are made next year, work should get started by 1956 and the structure completed about the same time as Table Rock. The Beaver Dam will be located about ten miles southwest of Eureka Springs and it will be a big factor in promoting the growth of the community.

For a balanced economy a resort town needs a few small industries. With the coming of the lakes it should be possible to locate a few factories here that will provide substantial pay rolls. These industries should harmonize with the recreational background. Homecrafts should be encouraged.

The unofficial reports of the population of Eureka Springs in the 1880’s and 1890’s range from 5,000 to 15,000. Old-timers say that the population peak was reached about the year 1888. The official census records at the Bureau of Census in Washington do not agree with these unofficial reports, being considerably less. It is possible that the unofficial count took in people who lived outside the city limits, or who were not permanent residents. At any rate, here is the report from the Bureau of Census:

1880, 3,984—1890, 3,706—1900, 3,572—1910, 3,228—1920, 2,429—1930, 2,276—1940, 1,770—1950, 1,958.

These figures show that the town had its largest official population in 1880, its first year, and gradually decreased, reaching an all-time low at the end of the depression in 1940. Then an increase began. The city limits have been extended and a conservative estimate of the population at this present time is around 2,100. This increase should go to 3,000 by 1960, and to 4,000 by 1970. When the town reaches its Centennial in 1979, it should have a sound economic basis and a population about double what it is now.