El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-05-03

bring it to the surface. Powerful
deep well pumps. ceaseIesIv operated
ny steam power. were installed in the
~ells- one company pumped daily over
-yV'VVU gallons, extracting the gas and
throwing the water away This was
estimated to be more than seven times
the total now OF all the natural springs
IN saratoga at the period of their
greatest activity.
consequence was a marked and
sIeauy drop of gas pressure in all the
springs and wells, and a lessening Of
the How of water. In many instances
ooth disappeared, and it became OBJ
Nlous that If the pumping was con-
uhued II would result in the lestruc-
uon OF all the natural wells and
nSs-those, that is to say, which
depended upon gas pressure alone. The
congress. Hathorn. Patterson, Putnam
ana others, forming the group near the
center OF the village. ceased to spout
OF their own accord from the ground.
as they had always done. 1t was even
alleged that the chemical composition
or the various springs was altered,
and that their medicinal value was
1eSsened thereby.
The situation gave rise to agitation,
claim being made that the reputation
OF the springs and Of the village as
a health resort was suffering. 1t was
unally recognized by the legislature
that injury was being done to the state
Dy the destruction of an important
natural resource, and in 1908 law was
passed regulating excessive and in
furious Pumping" at Saratoga. Suits
We're brought against the gas com
p2nies' Gas they called themselves but
those enterprising concerns fought Wig
OrousIy, and the pumping continued.
State Controls Springs.
Resort has been had, therefore. to
the eNpedient of buying up the springs,
all OF which Will be acquired before
long by the state and operated as one
property This has progressed so Ear
that pumping has now been stopped,
and, as result there has been
steady rise of the mineral water head"
II O., Of its level. In four months II
gained from 80 to 100 feet 1t is still
gaining at the rate of several inches a
day, and the opinion of eminent en-
Sineers IS that the depletion will be
made good before very long. with COM
plete restoration of the springs TO
their former condition.
The state commission now owns a6
springs from which mineral waters
are flowing naturally at the surface OF
the ground, without pumps. Their
waters are of diverse characteristics
viewed either from the standpoint OF
tHe chemist or from that of the ply
slclan- They range from powerful
same catharuc. 10 others so slightly
mlneratized as to render them paIat-
able and wholesome for use as bever-
ages IN some instance there has
oeeh very percepuble increase in
naturalization since the pumping was
stopped.
Ihe new Saratoga. according to the
plans now entertained is to Ice con-
Vertcd into 2 park-or rather series
OF paThS, each with its group OF
sDrlnEs-under control of the state
government Large numbers Of trees
are being planted, so that the reser-
walton may be wooded TO some extent.
The famous Garfield Casino terstwhiIe
the scene Of the highest gambling
done anywhere in the world is to be
converted into a "kursaal." where the
public may enjoy entertainments OF all
kinds With its large. high rooms
and magnificent ballroom. il is eZ-
ccllenty adapted for such a purpose.
The future of the older springs and
wells is not settled as yet Il is be-
licved, however, that they viii fully
recover But in any event the business
of bOttling and selling the waters can
be made highly profitable. At Gey-
ser Park, to the south of the village,
are new wells flowing without pump
ing. with large supplies of water as
highly impreEnated with minerals-and
as fully charged with gas as any wa
tiers Saratoga has ever known.
Get Commercial Gas From Springs.
In the meantime the state commls-
sion IS using the surplus water from
some of the wells for the production
OF gas. which is sold for commercial
purposes The Adams spring is fur
nishing 1900 pounds Of gas every "a
hours
When the plans have been fully. car
ried out ii may be that the authorities
viii make an effort TO discourage the
abuse OF the waters. which has been
very common in the past Because
they are good for health in moderate
quantities, many people have INDUCED
IN excessive and indiscriminate drink
ing Some of them are very heavily
loaded with mineral salts of various
kinds too much Of which is bad Cor
anybody. It will hardly be practica bic /
to do more than advise adults against
this form Of foOlishness. but excessive
drinking by children maF be prevented.
Rene Bache-