New-York tribune., 1869-05-11
THE SODA WATER BUSINESS.

With the approach of Summer the demand
for cooling drinks is becoming general and preparations
arc being made by the caterers to the public taste 10
supply ls want Such luxunes AS iced wines, cocktails
ueps punches and the like. may be enjoyed by those
who have means but the of the public must be
content with cheaper beverage OF which soda water
one OF te most popular. Inc se oi @ TINS alo'e Ws @ LOT
OF small amount, but 1t has greatly Increased OF late
years. and "a no" business ~ ts9H dncte arc thtee
retailing OF soda water draft, beside capacions
fountains at every apOthecaIys IN addition 10 these,
there arc ak manufactures Of soda for fountains
fifty firms engaged in bottng, four manufacturers OF
medicinal mineral water, and three 10 four hundred
makers OF soda water apparatus Nearly G,OO0 tuns Of
marble are annually used by firm alone Ia generating
soda water is about 5000 quarts Of the bottled Kind and
1000 quartz Of draugh IN the hight Of the season the lat
est manufactures Of soda water apparausin the country
is situated the east side Of the city, near Twenty
sixthst and occupies four buildings, covering six lots
One OF these buildings Is notable having been used
penitentary before Blackwes Island was taken for that
purpose IL is very nassively constructed OF sOne the
walls being three feet thick at the third story;
but Its present appearance contrast IRA strongy WIN
poses The whole establishment Is remarkable IN other
respects No less than sixteen different trades are carried
on in it by 100 wOrkmeD including carpentry. casting ap
Piled chemistry, wheelwrighting, brass Flushing, Cng
neeriDg, eectrotyping, designing, and marble work.
while nearly every known metal IS used In the process
OF manufacture, from gold and silver to zinc and
water apparatus follows The fountains, varying
in from four TO forty gallons first made OF cast
ro and lined either with pure tin in seamless Sheets
or with porcelain fused upon the interior at red heat
by which all contact with tho iron Is prevented. Each
fountain is severely tested and Will bear pressure OF
800 pounds to the square inch Glass fountains with an
external case OF metal also used Each fountain
when finished and tested is filled with carbonic asd gas,
which has been previously generated from marble dust
and Is then ready for use To transmit this gas from
the fountain 10 the consumer u Is passed through India
rubber tubes Of great strength and Afterward through
filter and cooler constructed either Of glass block tns0
that no poisonous tant be communicated 10 the water
The draught fountains which are used as an outward
covering the apparatus In apothecares stores are
pensvely and elegantly constructed. The material is
usually marble imported expressly TOT ta9 purpose ana
Rose and other coored marbles from the Pyronees Noun
ns make the best varieties though those from Tonnes
very handsome. These draft fountains cost
from S2 $50 for the inferior kinds and $25 10 81 800
for the best They sent TO all parts OF the country.
and IL Is found that the most expensive ones are IN the
greatest demand There IS silver fountain In
Establishment with bds relief OF Florence Nightingale,
which was used at the Great SANITARY Fair In this city,
and another in br0DZe restored from the antique which
cost s. 900. The manufacturing establishment before
referred 10 turns out average OF so 10 GU tuns OF
material per day, which is equivalent to six TO eight
compete sets OF apparatus NewYork is the center Of
the business, with tho exception OF making the marble
counters and draught fountains which Is mostly done In
Boston. The bOttllng trade here Is large, and the
arrangements for making and HING the bottles are oiten
inQcuiOuB