Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-08-01

Re0oFding the SODA water Trade in
Spring feid-some ething as to the Quanti-
~ Of Cooling Drinks sold, but Little "a
to the Profits.
person would naturally suppose that
these warm and sultry days would be a har-
vest to the soda water dealers OF this city.
As a matter Of curiosity G.. r. reporter went
the rounds Of several drugstores in the city
and made inquiry as to how the co bling bev-
erage was being sold. Nearly all agree that
there has been slight decrease since the
fourth Of July, with the exception Of the last
few days. The aver &c number Of glasses
sold per day by the tweuty dealers Of this
city is roughly estimated at from | 200 to
l,40o. This depends, Of course, very much
on the weather. The dealers are almost unani-
nous in saying that their greatest harvests
were during the republican convention and
bicycle meet, it being almost impossible to
supply the demand. Ginger ale Is drank
great deal by the gentlemen, and
soda water is called for mostly
by the ladies' The sale of mineral waters,
Of all kinds, is very small, they being sold
mostly to travelling men.
One druggist accounts for the decrease by
the fact that times are so hard. He says
that two years ago a man would enter his
store with three or four friends and "set 'em
up" all around, but now he comes in by him
self and then has to skirmish around to find
his five cents to pay for it.
The same druggist tells us the story of
Young fellow who entered his store one day
and asked for stree cents" worth Of sody
water"
The Introduction Of the ice CRATER is a vast
improvement over the old style of plain soda,
there being difference OF 10 degrees in tenn
,perature, between the plain soda and that
with ice &. ated over 1t. But, strange to say,
the public seemed to prefer theirs straight"
and 50 the scheme was abolished.
1t is said that the latest idea in this line is
wine syrup. 1t is sold q great deal in the
east, but has not struck this town - vet.
Another new wrinkle is to drop raw egg in
q glass with the syrup, CRATE ice over it, then
pour the soda over that Thia is said to be
very delightful drink. A few of tie drug
gists say they have regular customers who
come in for drink three or four times day.
Chocolate and lemon seem to be the most
popular syrups, although this depends, OF
course, altogether on the taste Of the man
who Is paying for it. A great many men,
business men especially, prefer little phos-
phate mixed in with their syrup, as it gives
tart, but not q disagreeable, taste. Two
druggists tried to introduce milk at the first
Of the season, but owing to the poor pastures
and the email demand for it, they gave it up.
Ar. Joseph Spangenbsrger is the only man
In the city now, who charges soda founts, and
he says he is kept very busy although not so
much as last year. The expense OF running
. soda fountain Is not 90 very much, but
dealers all cay that unless they can make from
eight to ten dollars per day on it, it 10 not
worth the trouble it gives
A coda fountain is q much more pensive
article than one would suppose. A certain
I, dsuggist in this town hes 81 $50 apparatus.
But most OF the fountains in town average in
price from $500 to $780, Several confection.
cry stores and bakeries were also visited but
their trade in the frosty drink does not differ
Substantially from what has already been said
concerning that OF the .druggists.