Hill of Fort Smith and Dr. CP Meriwether of Little Rock had traveled out west hoping to find relief for their TB. In 1908, they were joined by a third fellow Arkansan and State Senator Kie Oldham. The men decided to try and help Arkansans suffering with the disease, but who were unable to travel long distances. Upon their return to Arkansas the men met with newly elected Governor George Donaghey,
who had lost a number of family members to tuberculosis and was an especially sympathetic listener. The Governor presented the plan to the legislature, and on March 31, 1909 Act 378 of the Thirty-Seventh General Assembly passed. It enabled the building of a tuberculosis sanatorium “somewhere in Arkansas”. Several offers of land from around the state were made, and a committee spent several months on horseback searching for the right location. They eventually settled on Potts Ridge outside of Booneville. It was described as having rugged and beautiful scenery, clean air and being free of malaria.
