The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-05-05


will forever of necessity, pass within 300
yards of the place where our camp fire is
burning that near this spot must be cree
ted resting place for the long lines OF
caravans between The harbors Of the Pa
ciiic and the waters of the Missouri
would of themselves interest all who are
Witnessing the irresistible movements OF
civilization upon the American continent.
But this spot has other objects of inter-
est: its geology and mineralogy; and |
might well say the chemistry of it, for
there are laboratories and gases here in
the greatest profusion, which will hereafter
occupy the attention Of the lovers of these
sciences.
The Soda Sprinns called by the fur
traders Beer Springs, are The most re-
markabe objects of the kind within my
knowledge. They are situated on the
north west side of the river, n few rods
below a Grove O. sIa- ars, and about
/ ano ,arjs Em inc shore. There are
s.v moHf a' .lem other words,
t- Us ems mH a#. sunken about
SO fet below al, s.ound around, Of a
circular form Z or feet in diameter, in
which there are number of fountains
sending up large quantities of gas and
water, and emitting a noise resembling
the boiling of immense chaldrons. These
pools are usually clear, with gravely
bottom. In some Of them however, grow
boys or hassocks of coarse grass, among
which are many little wells, where the
wn,er bnhh!e4 so merriy ;hai was
tempted TO drink at one of them. But as
| proceeded TO do so the sullocaling pro-
pertes Of the gas Instantly drove me from
my purpose.
After this rebuff however, | made an
other attempt at a more open fountain,
and drank with little difficulty. The wa
tiers appeared to be more highly imprcg-
mated with soda and acid than those of
Saratoga; were extremely pleasant to the
taste, and fumed from the stomach like
the soda water of the shops. Some of
them threw of at least gallons OF gas
second And although they cast up large
masses of water continually, for which,
there appeared no outlet, yet at different
times of observation could perceive no
increase or diminution of the quantity WIS.,
ible. There are five or six other springs
in the bank Of the river just below, whose
waters resemble those have described.
One of them discharges about 40 gallons
minute.
One fourth of mile down strem from
the Soda Spring is what is called 1.-The
Steamboat Spring The orlice from
which il casts its water is i'll the face of a
perpendicular rock on the brink OF the
stream, which seems to have been formed
by the dispositions of the fountain. 1t is
inches in diameter. Six feet from this,
and on the horizontal plane Of the rock,
is another orifce in the cavern below,
On approaching the spring, deep gurg-
ling, Kissing sound is heard under ground.
1t appears 10 be produced by the genera
ting of gas in cavcrnous receiver.
This, when the chamber is filed, bursts
through another cavern filed with water,
which it thrusts frolhing and ioaming into
the stream.
In passing the smaller orilice, the pent
gas escapes with very much tho same
sound as steam makes in the escape pipe
of steamboat. Hence the name. The
periods Of discharge are very irregular.
AT times, they occur once in two, at 9TH
ers, once in three, four or five minutes.
The force OF its action also, is subject to
great variation. Those who have visited
it often, say that its noise has been heard
TO echo far among the hills. When |
visited II could not hear it al the dis
lance of 200 yards. There is also said
to be difference at different times in the
temperature Of the water. When | ex.
amned it, it was little above blood heat.
/ Others have seen it much higher.
The most remarkable phenomenon con-
neced with these springs, remains yet to
be noticed. The whole river, from the
Steamboat spring TO the Soda springs, a
distance Of more than fourth of mile,
is sheet Of springs, thousands in num-
Der, which bursting through , feet OF
superintendent running water, throw
! their IOamlng jets, some six inches, and
some less, above The surface. The water
1s-mach the same in its constituent. quail
tiles, as that of the Soda springs.
There are i'll the immediate vicinity OF