Believing the spring water was widely regarded as medicinal and seeing people travel long distances to drink it for their ailments, brothers Nathaniel H. and Waldo P. Cruce recognized that a town was forming. On July 20, 1881, they subdivided and platted the City of El Dorado Springs, conveying 10 acres and the spring to the public as a park. They continued to plat and subdivide their land into 8 subdivisions and about 1300 lots. The town grew to 500 citizens by December 1881 and to a population of 2800 by 1896. They helped incorporate the city in December 1881 with a mayor-councilmen government. As demand grew for lodging, bath houses, merchants, professional people, streets, utilities, and schools, the city faced increasing burdens. To meet financing needs, a bank owned by Nathaniel and Waldo Cruce was chartered in 1884 at Spring and Main Streets. In the late 1890s, the railroad arrived, bringing more tourists and increasing demand for lodging, bath houses, and the town's first taxis. Civic-minded promoters and entrepreneurs, the Cruce brothers continued to serve their community until their deaths, Waldo on May 23, 1904, and Nathaniel on December 1, 1925. The community remained grateful for their gift of the park and spring and for Taylor Cruce, widow of William D. Cruce, whose contribution improved and beautified the park.