The Washington herald., 1913-05-04

| Companies were formed to exploit the
i springs in this new fashion, and the bust
! ness proved highly remunerative. Later
| on il was discovered that profits could
| be greatly increased by forcing the wa
ter out Of the ground by powerful pump
| ing machines, and plants were installed
| for the purpose.
Originally Ito go back fifty years in
the history of Saratoga the natural
| springs were supplemented by adjacent
borings. They acquired fame because of
their medicinal virtues. Large and ex-
pensive hotels were built. and multitudes
resorted hither to partake of the healing
waters. All the springs flowed by their
own gas pressure
Demand Is Created.
The growing popularity of the waters
created great demand for them, not only
at the springs. but throughout the coun-
try, and large quantities were bottled and
Eow been stopped, and, as a result. there
has been a steady rise of the mineral
water head E., # it's level. In four
months 1t gained from thirty to 100 feet.
1t is still gaining at the rate of several
inches day, and the opinion of emin-
ent engineers Is that the depletion viii
be made good before very long, with COM
plete restoration of the springs to their
former condition.
The State Commission now owns thir-
ty-six 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 chem
list or from that of the physician. They
range from a powerful saline cathartic
to others So slightly mineralized as to
render them palatable and wholesome
for use as beverages. In some instances
there has been very perceptible in
crease in naturalization since the pump
ing was stopped.
The new Saratoga. according to the
plans now entertained, Is to be con-
verted into a park-or rather, series Of
parks each with its group Of springs
under control of the State government.
Large numbers of trees are being plant
ed, so that the reservation may ne
wooded to some extent. The famous Can |
field Casino (erstwhile the scene Of the
highest gambling done anywhere in the
world is to be converted into ''kur- |
saal.r where the public may enjoy epter-
of all kinds. With its large, |
high rooms and magnificent ballroom IT
is excellently adapted for such a pur-
pose. ~
Water and Gas Escape.
There are at the present time too many
outlets for the waters. and it is thought I
hat the latter, as well as the gas, should
De conserved by closing number OF the
low flowing springs and wells, as soonj
Is 1t has been determined by scientific
tudy which ones are most valuable for
.se. - 1
1t is likely that the boiling anQbath-
ng facilities will be leased. But all
,ottling of the waters will be done un-
Ter proper supervision. and each bottle
will have a distinctive label, with metal
ap, bearing the State colors, so that
he public may know that. the State gov
rnnlent stands sponsor Tor the purity
t the contents. as we'll as for the ac-
uracy of the statement OF mineral in
rodents on the label-the latter bear
ng, as already said, the arms of the
tate.
The future of the older springs-and
1elIs is not settled as yet. 1t Is be-
eved, however, that they VIII fully
ecover. But in any event the business
bottling and selling the waters can be
,ade highly profitable. At Geyser Park ,
, the south of the village, are now wells
owing without pumping. with large Ia
upplics Of water as highly impreE-
ated with minerals and as fully Fl
harged with gas as any waters Sara !
,ga has ever known.
In the meantime the state commits
ION is using the surplus water from {
,me of the wells for the production i
gas, which Is sold for commercial i