The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-04-16

Facts of Interest About the Popular Beyer-
lsa age. SRA
New York CONFECTIONERY
The soda water season is nearly opened,
and the ssizz" of the fountain will soon be
heard throughout the land.
In 1907 Henry Thompson, of Tottenham,
England, took out the first patent, and in
1910 Simmonds & Rundell, Of Charlestown,
8. c., obtained letters patent ssfor impregnat-
ing water with fixed air" Europe may have
led in the discovery of the prlnciple of serz
alton, but it was for America to lead in the
invention or improved machinery, and in
making soda water q pleasant, exhilarating
and innocuous beverage for general use
Until within score of years ago the PRO-
ceeses OF the original makers were still in use
in the Old World. Such thing as drinking
soda water, except from a bottle, was I'M
known. 1t remained for the United States
to astonish and delight Europe
with the soda water fountain, and 10
teach even such makers as Ellis, of Ru.hin,
some new wrinkles IN soda water manufac-
ture. The soda water interest in the United
States has OF late years grown into enormous
proportions. Some S12 ,000, 600 are now in
vested in the manufacture of aerated drinks,
fountains and other apparatus.
As long ago as the London International
exhibition of 1862, the American soda water
fountain was the wonder of Europe and the
effervescing, ice cold liquid, with delicious
syrup and cream, was veritable revelation
to the British palate. The British taste runs
largely to hot drinks, and the reader can
imagine the sensations of q London civic
magnate who was led to the fountain IN the
American section at the London exhibition,
and there introduced to his first experience
OF Yankee soda water. The day was terribly
hot for London, the soda was deliciously
cold, creamy and foaming. The alderman
eyed the draught conservatively, took one
swallow, and set his glass down.
MY DEAR" he said, addressing the young
lady who dispensed the beverage, lave YOU
such thing as a drop of 'ot water?'
What is soda water? 1t is simply water
strongly impregnated with carbolic acid gas
The gas is obtained by pouring sulphuric
acid upon carbonate of lime
as it exists in marble dust and chips, in
powerful metal cylinder termed a gen
orator" Copper generators were formerly
in vogue, but frequent explosions, leak
sges, and inevitable corrosion. even where
the interior has been lined with tin, has led
- the substitution of steel. The contact
of the sulphuric acid with the carbonate of
lime produces tremendous effervescence.
The vitriol having stronger affinity for
lime than the carbonic acid gas has, liberatss
the latter, and sulphate of lime is formed.
The gas thus obtained is then passed through
washer-you can wash gas as perfectly as
you can wash a handkerchief-to remove
any trace OF sulphuric acid, and then it is
pumped under enormous pressure into the
fountains already charged with water. This
constitutes, in brief, the whole process of
carbonatng.
limitations of Vichy, Kissingen, Settler
and other mineral waters are made by dis
solving in the water in the fountains the
requisite amount of the salts held in solution
by the genuine water. Ginger ale, birch
bear, root beer and draught champagne
are made in the same way. except that
the aerated water is passed through
closed vessels holding the essences and
extracts in solution, which impart to
these drinks their characteristic fiavors. The
machinery required is intricate and costly.
The generators used in large establishments
cost about So, 900 each, and the other appli-
ances are very expensive. Very few drug
gists in cities make their own soda water, as
they can buy 1t very cheaply from wholesale
Chargers" .~1
The fountains vary from one draught tube
and five sirups TO six tubes and % sirups,
ranging in form from a simple square marble
box to an elaborate gothic temple OF the
most exquisite workmanship, and in cost
from $45 to s., 900. On no Other beverage is
there such an extraysgant outlay of money,
and well managed concern seldom fails to
be very profitable. With good sirups, an at
tractlve fountain and attendant, and strict
cleanliness. the soda water stand will pay
the rent. 1t is upon the sirups that the
trade turns generally. CONSCIENTIOUS deal
ers make their own sirups. some even max
ing genuine fruit sirups; but essences are
generally preferred.
Parsimonious dealers somestimes let their
fountains go to ruin by allowing the tin
lining of the coils and strip cans to wear
off, thus exposing the copper, and dosing
their customers with verdigris. An
Ypsilantl druggist once pursued this
system of mastery inactivity with
such success as to kill one man and lay
up another for an entire summer.
Who are the soda-water drinkers? Every
soul within reach of the fountain, almost.
1t is the great American beverage after beer
and whisky. Last year the cost of ice was
so high that most of the small soda men,
were squeezed out, as ice at 60 cents per 100
pounds was too much for them.
Soda water is a great social power. It is
the one drink to which a gentleman may
publicly invite lady; the fountain is the
only bar at which the sexes may meet with
perfect propriety, the lady slipping vanilla
and cream, and the gentleman moistening
his clay with club lemon. that is to say,
lemon with a stick in it." Courtships are
thus materially helped and matches facil-
iteted.