Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-06-15

Marriage and Death Notices fifty conts. Obtu-
! aries will be charged st advertisement rates
Facts Of Interest About Soda Water.
The soda water season is fully opened, and
the "sizz" of the fountain is heard through the
land-which circumstance suggests writer to
indict tho lollowing:-
10 1907 Henry Thompson of Toltcntam
Euglsnd, took out the first patent, aud 10 1910
Simmonl5 e. Ruudc,l of Charleston. South
Carolina. obtained letters patent "lor imprer
nating water with fixed air. Europe may
have led 10 the discovery Of the principles Of
aeriz, ,tion, but it was for America to lead 10
| the invention Of improved machinery aud in
| making soda water pleasant, eXhlaraling and
| innccuous beverage for general use. Uutll
| within score Of years ago the processes OF he
| original makers were still used 10 the O'd
World. Such thing as drinking soda water.
except from bottle, was unknown. 1t re
manned for the United States to astouisf and
delight Europe with the soda water fountain,
and to teach even such makers as the EIliscs
of Rubin some new wrinkles 10 soda water
manufActurc. The soda water interest ia the
United States has of late years grown iutn
enormous proportions. Some $l2. 100000 o.
now invested 10 the manufacture Of aeral
drinks, fountains and other apparatus.
As long ago as the London International EA
hibiton Of 1862 the American soda water louu
tain was tho wonder of Europe, and the cfer.
vescug, ice cold liquid, With delicious sirup
aud cream, was veritablo revelation to the
British palate. The British taste ruus largely
to hot drinks, and the reader can imagine the
sensations Of London civic magnate who was
led to the fountain 10 tho American section at
the London Exhibition, and there introduced
to his first experience of Yankee soda water
The day was terribly hot, for London. tho soda
was delicously cold, creamy and foaming. The
Alderman eyed the draught oonservativey,
took one swallow and set bis glass down.
My dear, he said, addressing the yousg
lady who dispensed the beverage, Ave you
such thing as drop Of 'ot water?'
What is soda water? 1t is simply water
strongly impreguated with oarbonic acid gas.
The gas is obtained by pouring sulphuric acid
upon carbonate of lime as it exists 10 marble
dust and chips, in powerful metal cylinder
termed q "generator. Copper generators
were formerly in vogue, but frequent explo
siocs, lsakages and inevitab e oorrosion, even
where tho interior has been lined with tin, has
led to the substitution Of steel. The contact
of tho sulphuric acid with the carbonate Of
lime produces tremendous tttelvescencc.
The viriol having stronger affinity for lime
than the calboDc acid gas had llbcrates the
latter, and a sulphato Of lime is formed The
gas thus obtained is then passed through
washer-you can wash gas rs perfectly as you
can handkerchef-to remove any trace OF
sulphuric acid, and then it is pumped into tho
fountains, already charged with water. This
| constitutes in brief, tho whole process Of car.
| bouating.
limitations Of Vichy, Kissengcu. S:ltzer and
other mineral waters are made by dissolvlDg 10
! the water in the fountains the requisite amount
Of tho salts held in solution by tho genuine
waters. Ginger ale, birch beer, root beer and
draupht champagne are made 10 the Same way,
| tx,cpt that the a$rated water is passed through
closed vessels holding the essences aud extracts
| in solution, which impart to thcs. dfl0kS their
characteristic hAvors The machinery required
| is intricate and costly. Tho generators used
| in large establishments cost about $1,000
| each, and the other appliances arc very expen-
siyc. Very few druggists 10 oltles make their
own soda water, as they can buy it very cheapy
| from wholesale ''chargers.
| The fountains vary from one draught tubu
and five sirups to six tubes and twenty-five SIR
uDs. ranging IN lOrh from SslllRlesqiaTe ul6TD.o
| box to an elaborate Gothic temple OF the most
exquisite Workmanship, and in cosL from S45 to
Sd OOO. On no other beversgeis is there such An
extravsgsnt outlay of money, and u we'll man
agCd concern seldom fails to be profitable
With good sirup. and attractive fountain and
attendant, and strict cleanliness, the soda water
stand will pay the rent. 1t is upon tho sirups
THAT the trade turns genorally. conscientious
dealers make their own sirups, some even max
ing genuine fruit sirups. bu! essences are gen
orally preferred.
Psrsmonous dealers sometimes let their
fountains 20 to ruin by allowing the tin lining
of the coils and sirup cans to wear of, thus ex-
posing the copper, and dosing their customers
with verdigris. A Ypsilsnti druggist once pur
sued this system OF mastery inactivity with
such success as to kill one man and lay another
up for an entire summer. Who are the sods
water drinkers2 Every eoul within reach oftht
fountains, almost. 1t is the grost American
beverage after beer and whiskey.
Soda water is great social power 1t is th'
one drink to which q gentleman; may publicly
3 invite lady; the fountain is tho only bar q
0 which the sexes may meet with perfect propi
city, the lady slipping vanilla and cream, and tn
Q gent eman moistenng his clty with club lemon
that is to cay, lemon with atick in it," Court
| ships are thus materially helped and mstche
facilitated.