New-York tribune., 1908-03-31
TO SAVE SARATOGA SPRINGS.

7,bore GRO several reasons for the enactment
of Assembly bill No. 922, now pending at al
banv, for the protection Of the natural mineral
.snrincs of the state and to prevent Waste ahu
.imDa irInent of It's natural mineral waters, any
one of which should be convincing. The meas
ure is general in It's purport and applcatlon'
and it NAV be that It would, If enacted now or
hereafter appIy to the protection OF other
snrings but the confessed primary aim OF IL 3
to prevent the destruction of the famous springs
of Saratoga which is now imminent anu IL ID
in that view that 1t is to be considereo. Ihe
circumstances are substantially these: The
medicinal sprncs of Saratoga, which for gener-
ations have enjoyed worldwide repute for thelr
undoubted therapeutic qualities. are dependent
not only upon the subterranean supply or wafer
and various salts but also upon that OF carbonic
acid gas. which gives the water its efrerVescent
oualitv and also is an Indispensable adjuvant In
holding the salts in suspension. Without fuil
s,1nplv of gas the water loses both its sparkle
and its chemical qualities. Now certain persons
or corporations owning land near the springs
have sunk wells through which they exhaust hy
artificial means the carbonic acid gas supply OF
the springs thus greatly impairing the value of
the springs and threatening them with entire
destruction.
This, we say should be stopped, because it is
wasteful thus to destroy the whole for the sake
4
the goose which lays golden eggs. The gas alone
can easily and cheaply be produced by well
known means without drawing upon the springs
while the unique natural combination Of water,
salts and gas cannot be supplied except from
that laboratory Of nature. 1t should be stopped
also because it IS inequitable thus to nfct an
rreparable injury not only upon the propretors
of the springs. but also upon the people to whom
the springs are a source of refreshment and
healing The gas can he obtained without med
ding with the springs but the springs cannot
exist unless the gas is left to its natural courses
Again the bill should be enacted because it is
fitted to facilitate and expedite the enforcement
of a legal principle which now exists and is rec
ognized as Just. We believe that the law as it
now stands theoretically affords protection to
the springs-to any springs-from such sp0ia-
ton But unfortunately the processes by which
that law can be made effective tedious, costly
and uncertain. The pending bill would make
them simple and direct, and to those who have
a proper aversion to "the laws delay that is
not the east strong of its recommendations.
Nor do hesitate to add that the Saratoga
springs are amply deserving Of the protection
contemplated. apart from all questions of prop
erty rights. on the simple ground of public in
terest in so remarkable q natural phenomenon
They are q part Of the perpetual endowment or
the race, which gene1 alton has no right to
destroy to the deprivation Of its successors. For
these and for other reasons sincerely hope
that the bill question, which has much inte1G-
gent and unsefsh support, will speedily be en-
acted into law, not only for the protection OF
Saratoga Springs, but for the general welfare
of the state and for the establishment of salu
tary principle.