The Washington herald., 1909-05-13

<aaAeE4C6l PVoplS n Lle-E OppoSllon u
the microbe better exemplihed than in
The growth OF the mineral water trade
OF the country. In ten years they have
doubled their consumption Of medicinal
and table waters. 70 say nothing OF the
increased patronage Of the watering
places of the country that has taken
place The Geological Survey has gath
cred together statistics OF mineral water
production, and its figures show that
over $4,000 gallons OF bottled water
sre Consumed by the people OF the
United States. Of which more than 81
ooQ,00o gallons come from domestic
springs. The experts at the survey claim
that there is a mineral spring IN the
United States 10 match every one in
Europe. and that there is TO water on
the latter continent for which America
cannot offer a duplicate The figures
prepared By the survey are for 1907, and
II IS conceded that the depression OF 1903
was felt about as much by the mineral
water trade. and about as promptly. as by
any other industry. But the sales for
the present year are reported 10 be get
ting back TO normal, and 10 indicate
even a heavier consumption than ever
before.
The great expansion Of the mineral
water trade is attributed 70 three main
causes. First OF these is the advertis-
ing that has been done. The expansion
OF the trade has simply kept step with
the expansion OF the advertising busi-
ness. The second Cause has been the
increased number Of people who are
able to buy mineral waters. But most
Of all. it has been due 10 the increased
interest Of the American people IN pure
drinking water. Despite the gradual
substitution OF filtered water in the cities
for the Oid-fashioned polluted supply
the consumption OF mineral waters con-
tinued unabated- In Washington a COM
plete filtration system has given the city
as pure water as any large municipality
n the country enjoys. Yet Washington
mineral wafer stores cOncede that they
have never sold so much water as they
have been selling since the filtration plant
went into operation. The prohibition
movement Is also said TO be responsible
IN a measure for the increased trade
n mineral water.
-Four States produce about one-half OF
all the mineral water entering into the
commerce Of the country. Minnesota
ranks arst with nearly 100000 gallons
70 her credit, New York second with
10000 gallons. and Wisconsin is a close
third Massachusetts produces 100000
gallons. and Virginia over 2000,o1O gal
Ions Indiana IS in a class al TO itself
IN the price It gets for mineral waters,
which Is GO cents a gallon West Virginia
IS its closest competitor. with an average
price OF % cents The average for the
United States IS = cents a gallon. Only
four States average more than 81 cents.
Il IS generally conceded that purity IS
about the only prerequisite 70 the sue
cessful exploitation Of table water, and
after that IL all depends upon advertising
a hillside spring that has hitherto render
ed no more important service than 70
supply water for a farmers stock may
be transformed into q paving spring
property. with It's output finding a mar
ket a. - cents Per gallon In twenty-five
years the number Of springs in the United
States furnishing medicinal or table
waters on commercial scale has in
creased from 1S9 90 ca. and the produc-
tiol has increased more than sevenfOId-
In addition 70 the sales OF water the
listed springs Of the United States have
accommodations for 1000 guests The
great majority Of these are open only
hsps as many springs which are resorts
and which do not sell mineral water. as
there are that DO. II is probable that
more than 10000 people visit the medi-
cinal springs Of the country for a period
OF al least two weeks. In the South
these resorts become the social head
quarters during the summer and the al
lu-emenIs Of the seaside can never take
their trade away. Elsewhere the sea has
been shown 20 be a greater drawing
card for the vaCauOniSt than the noun
tains- All the social world remembers
when the Greenbrier White was the
great meeting place Of the beaus and
bellies Of the North and the South. But
those romantic days have passed with
the generation that knew them.
Il has been estimated that there are
I01o0 springs in the United States whose
waters might have a commercial value.
# every city in the United States used
as much bottled water in proportion 20
the population as do the cities Of Mime
apOiis and St Paul il would take the
combined flow OF all these 10 supply the
demand Il is the heavy use Of table
waters in these Two cities. supplied from
large springs close by, that makes Min
nesOta the premier water producing State
OF the Union.
Some three centuries ago the world did
not understand where all the water that
supplied the springs Of the earth came
from, and men began 70 figure that they
would grow dry. But Haley. the emf
nelt English scientist who discovered the
great comet which bears his name, fig
ured out that the evaporation from the
E7-H~
springs and streams Of the world so long
as the process went on. and since then
mankind has rested easy on that score.
II IS peculiar fact that the mineral
waters Of the country are never con
slant II the amount OF mineral they con
tain Under the pure food law the
mineral water trade has been carefully
watched for evidences OF misbranding.
In many Instances waters have been
seized that did not measure I'd TO the
branded statements. and yet the vendor
was perfectly innocent Of anv evil intent
Analyses made ten years ago might well
have shown everything Just as claimed
but since that time there may have been
such a deterioration as to render fl
very different water. Often waters Will
De strong or mineral at one time and
weak at another. strong IN a dry season
S---l S0A Al Q "eI season II Is this
va-iableness OF mineral waters thar bss
led the physician 70 prescribe drugs nos
sessing the same properties instead OF
the water Itself, though there are many
waters for which K Is difficult for them
70 offer a substitute.
Hydrotherapy, or water cure, has been
q favorite in the therapeutic world for
many year. A recent case possesses
considerable interest a New York in
valid was told BY his physicians that his
days were numbered. and that he had
lust. as well prepare for the Irs,-i-.tt.